The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-09-16
COST OF OUR NAVY.

From remarks of Clyde H. Tayen-
ner, member of congress from ILL
nOis.
The increase in the cost of our
army and navy in the last 20 years is
enough to stagger the lmaglnatlon
and bewilder the senses. The cost OF
our army and navy is greater IN pro-
portion to it's size than that OF any
other nation on earth. The increase
in cost is absolutely abnormal when
considered in proportion to the in
crease in our population or the IN:
crease in wealth, or when considered
in proportion with the Increased cos,
of preparation of war in other coun'
tries in time of peace. In this con
nection it is legitimate to ask to VIVA
extent the awful increase In cost II
due to the systematic agitatlng OF inc
possibility of war by those who prom
financially by the ever increasing ex'
penditures of the military branches
of our government.
In the last 80 years our population
has increased IS per cent, our wealth.
|lS5 per cent, and our expenditures
400 per cent.
During the Is years prior to the
Spanish-American war our annual
appropriations for the navy ranged
from $4,000, 900 to $30,OO0,OOO and
for the army less than $4,000 900,
averaging for both less than $5o,'
100000.
In 1883 our appropriations for the
navy was $14,9O3,559; in 1890, ap-
proximately $4,000, 900; 1914
$4,000, 700. Our appropriations
for the army and navy combined Tor
the ensuing year will be in the neigh
borhood of $240,OOO,O0O.
During the year 1912 our entire
revenue, not including postal receipts
amounted to 100000. or this
we expended $645, 100000 to defray
the entire expense of the govern
mont; $444,0UU,O0O or 67.SS per
cent, was paid out for war and on
account of war. Just before the out
break of the European war Germany
was spending SIS per cent of her rev.
enue for war and on account of war;
Japan As per cent; Great Britain 81
per cent: and France 35 per cent.
Our army contained 81, 416 men;
the navy 52,757 men. The Germany
army during the year indicated, con,
tanned $4,000 men; navy 66'1S5
men: Japan, army 100000 men;
navy 51,O54 men, with reserve nava
force of 114,OOO men. Great Britain
army 254,50O men; navy 1890
men. France army 100000 men;
navy 6O,621 men.
| Great Britain's revenue was great
er than ours by nearly 3O0,OOo,OOO
but our expenses for war and on &C
count OF war was more than 800,
100000 greater than hers. Yet thu
aggregate of her army and navy was
nearly four times as great as ours.
Germany's revenue exceeded Oul
by $6O,OOO,0O0 but our expenditure
for war and on account of wars ex
ceeded hers by moro than $5O,OOO,
i 600, yet her army is more than eigh
times as large as ours.
The revenue of France is NOR
than $233,O0O,0O0 greater than our
but our expenses for war and on &C
count of wars is nearly $15O,0OO,0V
more than hers, Notwithstanding he
army is eight times as large as our
and her navy exceeds ours by 1900
men.
Although our revenue is nearly \
times that of Japan, yet her army
, nearly three times as large as our
/. with a naval force of nearly fou
times the size of ours, yet our ez
: Jpenses for war and on account Q
wars is more than three and hal
: ftimes that of hers.
How the cost of our navy is SOal