The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-12-07
GREAT EXPENDITURES PLANNED
FOR MILITARY PREP AREDNESS
Immense Peace Budget of 81 285 7so8 Is the Esti
mate Submitted at pening Session.

ment asked $4,000 to use in collect
ing statistics of internal commerce and
900 to investigate foreign markets
for agricultural. mineral and forest
products An echo of the EastIand
steamship disaster is heard in a re-
quest for an increase of $4,000 for
the steamb boat inspection service and
of $4,000 for employment of inspec-
tors to prevent overcrowding of pas
senger vessels.
Labor conciliators the Labor De-
partment says, will need $75,O0o this
year in place Of $4,000. The Chif-'
dren's Bureau asked for $17. 900 more
than last year
The Department of Agriculture ask
edsfor $2.50O.OO0, the same as lasr year
for eradication of foot and mouth dis
ease, $45,750 to enforce the cotton
futures act, and $110,26O to enforce
the insecticide act.
Postmaster General BurIeson again
proposes to conduct the rural free de-
livery service for less than it cost in
previous years. His estimate for the
service is put at $48, 100000 co11I-.
pared with $53,00O,oQO appropriated
for the year which ends June 80 next
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion asked generally for little more
than last year but wants $3,0Oo,00O
more for physical valuation work. The
Federal Trade Commission, which
came into being last March, asked for
its first full years work $544, 566 or
about 100000 more, most of which is
to be expended in the salaries of at
torneys, examiners, etc.
The Interior Department wants S.
PAT, 900 for the Alaska railroad, COM
pared with $2,000,0OO appropriated in
1915.
s. Both the SECRET Service and the
Bureau of investigation of the Depart
Of oh hoe TaJ1s
with investi cations of an unusual
character on account of the war. ask
ed for increases, the Secret Service to
SIPS, 1000 from $145,090 and the Blu
reaj1 of Investigation to $550.000 from
$485, 900. In the request for an in
crease for the Bureau for the first time
appears a statemen that part. Of the
fund may be used in work for the
state Department The Department
of Justice asks for $25O,0O0 instead of
$3o0,0oO to enforce the antitrust
laws.
one new feature of the estimates is
the incorp GRAFTON of a proposal for a
government monopoly of telephone
and telegraph service in Iaska, Porto
Rico and the Hawaiian Islands. It
is proposed that the wires in these
territories be acquired for the POST
Office Department by proper proceed
ings after appraisal by the Interstate
Commerce Commission so that they
may be actually taken over by July /,
1916. The Postmaster General would
be authorized to license private par
ties to construct and operate lines but
with the reservation that the govern
ment might buy them. The sum of
$500, 900 is asked for the purpose
The pension bill apparently is one
of the few decreasing items, $3.50, $685.
900 being asked in place of $164,1OO,-
900 last year For public buildings
the estimates are about $3,00O,o0O
less than last year.
For the Panama Canal exclusive of
361, 1853 compared with SIS, 1000
last year. For the reclamation ser
vice the estimate is 1880, 900 over
$9,9Ss, 900 appropriated in 1915.