The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-08-24
Prepdredness And Suqar


Treasury McAdoo to the summer capitol at
Cornish, New Hampshire, early in the month for a
conference the state of the national finances in
connection with the Administrations sudden ex-
pousal of plans for military and naval increases,
is significant, and there appear to be sound and
sufficient reasons for the relief that there is close
political tie between the Administrators defense
program and possible abandonment of its former
attitude towards the sugar tariff, Up to three
weeks ago, Presidents Wilson has maintained a
lukewarm, not to say disinterested, attitude to.
wards the question OF preparedness OF the nation
for war. sbR. 49, '+t.+a ", 81
While it is not likely that he embraced the
views of his former Secretary Of State, Mr. Bryan,
that million men would spring to the defense of
The country between two should their services
be required there has been nothing in his public
itterances nor in his messages to cClgress which
Indicated that he regarded the question Of sufh-
Aient Importance to demand his attention.
There have been many evidences during the past
car of rapidly growing public interest and CON
:ern in the defense question and it must have
been plain to the Administration that the matter
was receiving the approval and support Of the Re
publican leaders. II is significant that President
Wilson's announcement that he intended to give
he matter close study followed Colonel Roose-
,elt's spirited San francisco address by but three
lays. Any one who reads the signs of the times
nay see that both the Republicans and Colonel
Roosevelt, either Separately or under one stand
lrd, are prepared to make the issue political one
md the Administration apparently has no choice
in the matter, the issue must receive the Demo
ratio stamp OF approval. 39 IT.
Now, in the consideration of plans for the i'm
reasing Of the national defenses through develop
nent of the Army and the Navy, there will have
o be faced the serious problem of raising revenue
Tor this purpose. President Wilson and his party
eaders realize that regardless Of these plans. the
natter of national revenues will rapidly come to
he front when congress opens. u
The question is serious enough without the ne
essty, political or actual of increasing the exper-
itures for larger and more efficient Army and
Navy, but serious as it is, this new issue must
met and funds must be provided from some
ource. -ET-
Secretary McAdoo's position is not a happy one
His department has reported deficit in the fiscal
operations of theHgovernment during the fiscal
ear ending June 80 last of over $35,OOOyOOO The
lehct thus far in the present fiscal year-l9l6-is
| eported to be ovqf $l6,OO0OOo.r With the pros
}ect of greater fefcit on the thirtieth Of next
une, and an evenA larger deficit during the fiscal
rear 1917, the outipek from the viewpoint al The
Democratic party hat bright for heavy military
md naval increase{ unless other Federal expendi-
ures are curtailed or unless new means for reve-
Tue are devised or new bond issue provided.
Now one large source of loss of revenue during
! he coming fiscal year will be the sugar schedule
Unless in the coming session congress repeats the
provision of the Underwood tariff law to place
ugar on the free list next May. Hawaii is pretty