Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-17
LESS RETURN FOR OUR MONEY
From the New \

current discussion. In Congress and
outside that body. is Indirectly empha-
sizing certain facts about the outlaws OF
inc United states for national defense
mat ought to be deeply considered and
taken to heart throughout u. country.
MOST Of the talk about war cNpendi-
lures comes from those VINO complain
mat provisions 10. the defense Of our
territory aud coasts is inadequate. They
constantly compare the number OF yes
sells IN commission, the size and vari-
ely or the guns available, and the en-
iSt"d strength Of all arms Of the sery-
lc. Win tho corresponding ngurne for
foreign nations. Sucn comparisons are
OFTEN striking and we'll founded what
ever may be thought Of the point OF
view OF those who make them. They
however, neglect certain essential facts
that cannot hr overlooked without
missing some Of tn. most Fundamental
points at issue
III Is not true that the United state.
has cramped OF limited its military or
naval OUTLAWS. Comparison of Ameri-
can and foreign statistics shows that
the present war budget compares favor
aDly in size with thOs" Of some Of the
most advanced military nations OF Eu-
rope. The difference docs not lie in
niegarhliness or undue economy hut in
tn" failure to get results for the money
spent. Constantly advancing pension
expenditures have taken up a large per
c"ntage ~ the heavy annual appropria-
lions due to provision for war and for
the results Of war. Naval expenses hav.
been greatly added 10 hy the existence
OF many navy Yards. most Of them uu-
available or illy-adaptcd TO tie Pc
InirencntS OF ship construction ana
ship repair. The efficiency of present
methods or buy ing or producing war
material IL. IN many Instances or"u 10
the sravcst doubt Non" Of these con
ditions necessarily implies the least
actual irreEularity in the appropriation
or use OF the public funds. but merely "A
wastcful ana reproductive policy IN APP
plying money To tn" purposes for which
II is spent Those military ana naval
experts who find fault with the present
type and equipment OF battlcships ana
fortifications may or may not he cor
rect in their structures: what is GER
tain is tina; the tinted states gets prob
ably less for It's outlay than any of the
principal modern nations that are in
the Inarke, for military and naval
stores and munitions.
nurlrn of tho Pension system.
a good deal has been SAID Of the Of
f.cts OF the military policy Of Contl-
mental countries in reducing their own
productive capacity. Compulsory serv-
Ice in the ranks for from one TO three
years or more for every adult is n srri-
Gus limitation upon the national labor
power, ana IL is a common form of self
CONCENTRATION to note that In this
country that element OF waste has been
avoided. Closer examination. however.
scarcely susiains this comfortable
point Of view. The overgrowr and cS-
ccsSive pension system has beyond any
question pauppriHcd mn appreciabie per-
centage Of the popula ton. Indiscrimi-
nate distribution Of such personal sub
oil ttfI eilEn r. ri, t.. ,,f
the system have had no relation to past
actual service or real present merit. 1t
is the sober and emphatic verdict OF
both military experts and civilian stu
dents of social conditions that the pens
sion largcSse has deeply injured tho
scif-rcliancc and industry of great
body OF men who have bccn enabled by
it to subsist without labor. or with
much less regular ana steady work than
would otherwise have been Necessary
for their maintenance.
go much scarcely admits OF contrn-
versy when unbiased examination 10
given tn the facts. It ought. how
ever. 10 be equally clear that tile sit
uation holds out 81 positive lesson for
the future. The United states cannot
afford to enlarge IFS war and navy
expenditures very greatly, unless 1t is
prepared to reduce or abolish the cX-
travagance noW practiced In those
branches OF public outlay. 4 revision
of tho pension. navy-yard and other
departments OF tile budget would easily
Yield all the funds that could possibly
be wanted Under any ordinary cDlidi-
tons and would normally have ~ large
margin In addition. as compared with
the present basis Of expense. These
conclusions have been made evident
MANY times within recent years. but
have received practically no widespread
national attention whatever. Thcy are,
nevertheless, the foundation from
which all sober consideration Of the
subject must proceed. 1t would be
most unjust even if not absolutely out
of tho question, 10 expect n marked
expansion in the national defcnsc
budget coupled with persistence in
the present policy Of waste. The bur
den of Federal appropriations Is already
much heavier than IL should he.
Up 10 Public Opinion.
This Is Fundamentally n question to
be settled by public opinion. Tho pres
cnt state OF things is not the work
OF any one political party, but has been
tolerated aud aggravated by III. rho
latest exclusion Of the pension system,
which occurred some three years ago.
was the joint work OF the different
Sroupa in Congress. and was con
ccssion to the demand Of those who
were already protitinS from s,ich out
lays. Few American politicians have