Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-02-05
HEAVY COST OF WAR;
Past Conflicts Were Big Drag on
Uncle Sans Purse.
Sixty Per Cent Of Appropriations IL
for Debts Growing Out of Past
Wars and for Maintenance of
Army and Navy.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.


(Staff Correspondent Western Newspaper
Union)
Washington.-Ahout sixty per cent
of the total appropriations of money
authorized by congress and to be paid
out of the purses of the people is for
payments of debts growing out of past
wars and for the payment of bills
contracted for ia the maintenance of
military and naval forces for defensive
or offensive purposes in wars Of the
future. If AS years ago the nations
of the world had laid down their arms
for all time it would cost the United
States government today only half the
sum which it is necessary to apprO-
pirate to run the country.
In the course of the present fiscal
year 1914-15, the United States will
spend for war purposes $503, 1S2, 100.
Have the people right to know II
this enormous sum is being spent to
the best advantage? In other words,
have they right to know whether
our army and navy are at the highest
point of efficiency possible to obtain
through proper expenditure of such a
huge sum of money?
When it is said that more than a
half billion dollars is being spent this
year for war purposes it must be ex-
planned that a little more than two
hundred million dollars of this sum is
IN account of wars that are past. The
full amount, however, represents what
war has done to Uncle Sans purse
and what possibility of war is still
doing to it. The expenditures are re-
garded by the lawmakers as neces-
sary. An inquiry into our military
preparedness probably would help to
answer the question.
The payments made necessary by
the wars of the past are for pensions,
retired pay and support of homes for
veterans and for other kindred pur-
poses. During the present year the
pensions. the payments to retired sol.
diers and the support of veteran
homes will cost the United States
$1S6,697.951. The interest on war
debts. the sinking fund provisions for
these debts. trust funds established by
war requirements and special funds
and accounts for war purposes amount
to $57, 600. 900, so that we have a grand
total Of payments on account of wars
that are past amounting to $245, OO0,-
900.
This year we are spending for land
and sea defenses, a term which in
cludes the support of soldiers, sailors
and ships. about $255. 5000. 900. To this
must be added all the expenses of the
administration of the war and navy
department Offices. including the office
Of insular affairs. The total reaches
into the millions.
The total as given for war purposes,
$5O3, 1921 does not include money
which must be spent for general ad-
ministrative purposes, the legislative,
executive and judiciary. The fact
that we have an army and navy neces-
states greater appropriations for
these branches Of the government, be-
cause their functions and expenses
are increased by the fact that we
have military and naval establish.
ments. So 1t is that the money which
Is spent by the United States every
year because of the necessities which
are the outgrowth of wars or of a
possibility of war exceeds the amount
Of money spent for civil or for what
properly may be called peace pur-
poses.
Men in Washington, who have made
study of the military problems of
the government. say that 1t Is a mis-.
take to think that preparedness bears
no relation to the burden of expenses
which has been put upon this country
by the wars of the past It is urged
that II the United States had been
prepared properly even for the small
war with Spain. that the present cost
Of that conflict would be nothing like
as great as 1t is.
Men suffered in the campaigns Of
1898 who ought not to have suffered
at all. The sufferings produced last.
ing physical ailments for which they
are drawing pensions today. Accord. !
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