Evening star., 1916-12-04

The greatest sum ever asked for the
conduct of the government was re-
quested of Congress today when Secre-
tary MsAdoo sent the annual esti-
mates to the Capitol, the amount of the
recommendations for expenditures for
the fiscal year 1918 being s1.S54819,
654.03. This is greater by $4,000. 900
than the original estimates for the
current year, and greater by S240,000,
geo than the estimates for the present
year, when swollen by the changed
| world conditions. and extra requests
to the border. The huge sum asked for
today includes sinking fund require
ments of $50, 74s, 900, and postal service
needs amounting to s325,355.S $50. The
latter sum is expected to be returned
to the Treasury from the postal rev.
enues. The total estimates excluding
these items amount to 1925, lis, 1874,
and the total appropriations for the
current year were s1,1s4.157.5l7.
The increase for actual governmental
needs is approximately ss4. 600. 900. and
this in large measure represents the
trend Of the Thigh cost. of government"
An army and navy, costing as much in
a year as an empire. asks for s757 .5s4. $50
and this military feature OF the govern
ment. coupled with the general advance
in the estimates for salaries and wages.
mas evidently caused the administrators
officials to pare down many other prof.
ects. The preparedness program, the in.
creased cost Of living and the burdens
thrust upon the country because Of the
war are responsible mainly for the in
creases in the estimates.
In nearly every office under the gov
ernment increases in salaries and wages
hap hazn aclxd M dnR nj
increase In statutory salaries has been
recommended; but the individual salary
increases recommended are to be reck-
oned in the thousands. Congress. already
about to take up the legislative execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill carry
ing $1,000 salaries. will be indeed deaf if
il does not heed the clamor from the ad-
ministration's officials asking that gov
ernment clerks salaries, long due for a
merited increase. shall be brought closer
to the advanced cost of necessities.
Sum for Army and Navy.
The estimates submitted by the army
and navy. through the proper depart
ments, indicate that before the present
session closes Congress will be asked
to appropriate approximately $780,
0O0, 900 for the military and naval needs
of the country. The estimates laid be-
fore Congress today are about $4,000
900 less than this sum. but statements
committee by naval officers who have
appeared there already. lead members
70 expect enormous supplemental esti-
mates later in the session.
The Larger army demands s373,O74,-
565 an increase of about $4,000 600
over the amount appropriated for 1917
yAbic cll
is an increase of S66.451.14s over the
current act. the largest of it's kind
far Panama canal Notifications will
take s5,35S.30O. an increase. of about
$500, 900.
More than s10,000.O00 of the army in
crease will go into the payment of reg
ulars, national guardsmen and mem
bers of the reserve. total of ss7.
| 1895 is sought under the pay item
and the estimates show that the num-
ber of privates provided for under this
section is 25S,594. OF that total. 94,279
would be in the regular service and
164,3l5 in the National Guard.
Provision also is made for the pay
ment of % 900 members of the regular
enlisted reserve and for full-rate pay
ment of these men for fifteen days
field training during the year. The
provision for payment of reserve Off
GERS is s3l5l,9 1888, and that for paying
National Guard officers s3,3s6,94o.
Another 100000 of the increase will
W
mits estimates for the expenditure
! during 1913 of s6.200.000 on new aero
planes and s1,000,O0a for balloons. A
| separate item submitted, 1t is stated,
at the request of the Navy Departmen mt
/ in the Panama canal estimates. is $780,
/ 900 for the establishment OF an avia-
! ton station in the Zone.
For the protection of the canal it Is
| shown that $7s0,000 is TO be expended
| for armored cars and locomotives.
| searchlights and other equipment for
the mobile troops which army officials
| have declared must be ready to repel
| an attack by land. New military roads
are to be laid out under this plan
More than s1,500.000 will go into new
| big guns and emplacements for the
! sea coast defenses of the canal.
| Funds for National Guard.
| In round figures. an additional
$4,000, 900 will be spent for the train
ing and equipment of the National
Guard. and s1o.o0O.oo0 more than the
1917 appropriations for reserve stores
of ammunition. guns. rifles and field ar
tillery. A million additional is asked
| for armored motor cars, $1.500,000 addf-
! tional for civilian training camps and
IS, 900, 900 in new items for the Reserve
Officers Training Corps. Authority to
make contracts totaling many millions
| in addition to the purchases actually
made also is asked. following the
CONTINUED on Twelfth Page.)