The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-15
United States to Spend Nearly
One-fourth as Much in First
Twelve Months
URGENT DEFICIENCY
BILL is REPORTED
Proposal for Expenditures Com
mittee Denounced by Demo-
cratic Chairman - Minority
Not to Force Issue

Washington, Sept. 14.-Producinx
figures showing that the first year of
the war will cost the United States
more money than three years have
cost any ally, Chairman Fitzgerald of
the house appropriation committee. to-
day opened the debate on new and
much enlarged urgent deficiency BILL
The revised measure carries appro-
priations and authorizations amount
ing to s7.755.526.o0o.
The estimates submitted for the
consideration OF the congress aggre-
gated s5,615.455, 900" said Fitzgerald.
The bill recommends appropriation
OF 5,s79.370, and authorized con-
tracts to be entered into by the gov
ernrnen to the sum of 1888, ATS 900.
After the bill had been compiet-
mates aggregating s1,450 .ooo.o 900, a
sum larger than has been expended In
any one year since the beginning OF
the republic. were transmitted to con-
gress for It's consideration. Based on
these estimates, amendments will BIO
proposed TO the bill increasing the
appropriations by s9s3,s04. 900 and
contract obligations by s219,202,n00.
Considering the original and supple
mental estimates, the total is s7,T55.-
32e. 900"
Fitzgerald then went on to review
the present financial situation OF the
United States. He first summed up
appro priatfons. showing that to date
congress has appropriated sa,124.433,-
027.11. with pending measures CALI
ing for s91s4, 210.4 3S22, bringing the
years total, estimated. up to sIs,2ss.-
ea3452s3.
This sum represents all money ex-
pended or contracted for. In addi-
ton authorizations of expenditures for
the fiscal year amount to s2,363.o5V,-
2o2 making a grand total of $40. Ssh.
100, 734.33.
Fitzgerald then pointed out the
years revenue sources, as follows;
From ordinary sources, si.sas,o0o.-
600: pending revenue bill. s24o,ono.-
900: postal revenues. 5s4,ooo.oooi
bond issues (net proceeds1. $1l.hSs.-
945,46e: total estimated revenues for
year, s15.eo5. a45,4
Further bond Issues or additional
II,
to produce about $4,000, 100000 to
meet the deficit.
Taking the eighteen billion odd al
ready expended or contracted for. ana
the two billion odd authorized, with
the total estimated at S2o.s5l, 700
7s4s3. the chairman then turned 70
expenditures of the allies. Adding 10
the French, British, Italian and Rus
sian total of ISL s47, 900, the Ger
garia and Turkey of $2l.3oo,oo 600.
and the Austro= Hungarian figures or
S12.s0e, 900, Fitzgerald showed the
war to date has cost the warning ma
tions $4,000. 100000.
The United States will expend In
its first year OF the war. therefore,
almost one-fourth as much as all the
other fighting nations combined nave
spent since the war started
The first years cost 10 the United
States. as now contracted for. Will be
only slightly less than Great Britain's
total cost for three years.
The first years cost as 1t 10 expect-
ed to be with authorizations ana
emergency expenses. will be almost
two billion dollars more than Great
Britain's total war expense to data
the chairmans figures indicated.
Fitzgerald then turned his atten.
ton to some of the opposition an
ticipated against the btll-the expect-
ed demand for war expenditures
committee He declared that no mon
ey could be spent until congress had
authorized the expense. and de-
nounced the war expenditures COM
nittee plan as unnecessary.
Several amendments will be OF.
fered 10 the original deficiencies httf
reported to the house. The shipping
board asked for 1913. 900 to build
and commander merchant vessels
The appropriation COMMITTEES viii rec
ommend an appropriation OF $635.-
600 900, Secretary of the Navy Daniels
asked 100000 to build torpedos
boat destroyers. and the COMMITTEES
will recommend its appropriations
Secretary of War Baker asked TOR
500, 100000 for machine rifles. and
the committee will submit an amend
ment calling for that amount.
Representative Gillett. of MasAa-
chusetts. for the minority followed
Fitzgerald. He declared the Repub-
icans would work harmoniously with
the Democrats to push the bill ana
give the administration what 1t needs
to prosecute the war He deplnrad-
the fact that the Democrats would
not accept the proposal for war ~.
penditures committee. but said the
minority would not force the question.
Interest In the gigantic appropriA-
ton measures was at a low ebb. there
being at one time only nine members.
on the floor during the discussion.
Both majority and minority leaders
hope to get the bill through by ad~
journment tomorrow night.
s37#e
Oyster longing Starts Today.
Oyster longing will start IN Viz
ginia waters today and Will continue
for several months. The sAAson prev