The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-08-01
THE COST OF WAR.
PROMISES TO EXCEED $4,000, ,OOG,-
600 A YEAR AND MAY REACH
TEN BILLION.
war Department Alone Calls for S5,-
21S.636,OOO and Great Addition is
Expcctcd-Largc Task Ahead for
House Financicrs.


SaET 40
Washington, July 26.-The new war
budget to carry the government
through to next July and to cover ad-
ditional credits to the allies promises
now to far exceed $4,000. 600, 900 and
may amount to $4,000, ,OOO, 900.
War departments estimates sent to
congress today call for new appro-
prations of $5.27S,636,OOO for that
branch of the military establishment
alone. Estimates totaling another
$1,000. 900 or more are expected
tomorrow when the other depart
ments report and in addition Secre-
tary McAdoo has indicated that be-
fore the year is out congress will be
asked for a $4,000, 1000, 900 appropria-
ton to increase the fund available for
loans abroad.
AS soon as the departmental reports
are In the appropriation committees OF
congress will go to work on an inn
mediate budget which probably will
total in the neighborhood of $7,0O0.-
100000. The senate finance committee
will meet tomorrow to consider what
part Of the new expenditures is to be
provided by taxation and on what
commodities the new levies are to fall.
The committee hopes to have a re-
vised war tax bill ready for next
week.
Congressional leaders do not expect
to have to provide Immediately for
the additional credits to the allies.
The gross estimates C'bmitted by
the war department today totaled
$5,917.S7S.347 but that covered all ex-
listing and expected deficiencies in the
department funds. including upwards
Of $640.000,00O already appropriated
for the aviation program. The latter
will not be included in the budget,
but congress will have to provide rev.
enues to meet 1t since it was not on
the ledger when the war tax bill was
framed.
How much of the new war expenses
should be raised by taxation and how
much by bonds or treasury indebted
ness certificates is a warmly debated
question. Committee sentiment tonight
seemed to be in favor Of increasing
the $1,670. 600. 900 M.-r tax bill only
by about $1,000. 100000 with author
ization both for a new bond issue,
possibly at a higher interest rate and
In serial form. and for the issuance Of
Treasury certificates Of indebtedness.
Secretary McAdoo is said to favor
a much larger levy of taxes and a few
committeeman favor increasing the
bills total by $1,000. 0.OOo or at least
to s2.225. 100000.
Whether the interest rate on the
new bonds shall be increased also is
causing much discussion. Some COM
mittee leaders fear it may be neces-
sary to issue 4 per cent. securities.
Such action. under the law, ALSO would
increase the 1-2 per cent. rate on the
recent issue Of Liberty bonds
AS to the sources of the new taxes.
sentiment in the committee apparently
is tending toward getting the bulk of
the increase from war excess profits
and incomes.
Several war department officials will
appear tomorrow before the finance
committee to explain their new esti-
mates.
Chairman Simmons said tonixht
that while the present years appro-
priations already total $9,226, ,00O, 900.
1t is estimated that at only about $5,-
oOo,OOO.000 of that will be spent dur
ing the present fiscal year.
The largest single item in the de-
partment's estimate is s2,46S,613.0OO
for armament Of Notifications. Others
include: Pay. s715.S2S,440; transpor-
tation. s450.490,305; clothing and
camp ,quipment. s557.506,O97: SUBJ
sistence. s329,672.21S; automatic ma
chine rifles. $170,277. 900; medical sup
plies and hospitals. s100.O26. 900:
horses, $51,751,466; signal service,
100000; quartermaster's depart
ment. sl63.917.S25; barracks and
quarters. sS2.11S,OOO; civilian training
camps. s2.119,OOO; engineer depart
ment, s1O4,SOO. 900: ordnance stores.
ammunition. $3S.520.0OO ordnance
stores supplies. s7O.OOO.OOO armored
motor cars. s2l,750.OOO; Submarine
mines. $4,000
The new war estimate will increase
materially the technical labor re-
quired Of congress and probably
greatly prolong the session Two and