Evening star., 1917-10-23
CLOSE WATCH UPON
WAR COSTS LIKELY
Both Parties in Congress
Want Wider Supervision
of Expenses.
DECISION REACHED LATELY


from Monday, it is the determination
of leaders in both parties to exercise
closer supervision over expenditures on
account of the war and to demand of
the executive and administrative branch
es of the government wider participation
of the legislative arm in the conduct of
the war. This decision crystallized In
informal conferences just before ad
journment of. the last session.
By that time the burden of the new
taxation will begin to be felt by the peo-
pie. The strain upon the finances OF the
country occasioned by the second loan
will be estimated. Some idea will have
been gained of the demands upon the peo-
pie to be occasioned by prolonged hostil-
tiles The general policies of the gov
ernment in the conduct of the war will
be weighed and it goes without saying
that a strict accounting for the expendi-
ture of the moneys already authorized will
be demanded.
To Determine Broad Policy.
While it rests with the President and
his cabinet to determine the broad policy.
such, for instance. as the question OF
loans to the allies, Congress will demand
that 1t be consulted more freely than in
the past upon even such questions as this,
since Congress has to supply the authority
for raising the money. No spirit Of cap
tiousness. it is said. will govern in this
regard. but what is considered wise
concern for closer team wark" between
tho lepis1affye and the other branch of
the government.
When the extraordinary session assem-
bled in April 1t was estimated that ap-
preparations of three billions of dollars
the session ended the total. including loans
to the allies. reached eighteen billions Of
dollars. Never in history did a legis-
Iatve nnG with
a demand for appropriation OF public
moneys.
Confer With Administration.
There will be conferences between the
Congress leaders and the administration
over the question of whether the allies
are to be supplied with loans upon the
Same scale of lavishness. That is a ques-
ton which has two sides. the weight
OF opinion likely to be, it is said, that so
long as the United States Is not sending
men in sufficient numbers to the war
front, has not created transport marine
adequate to do so, and has not perfected
the aviation branch OF the military Of
fensive. 1t will be necessary to give money.
Another question which will come up
for serious consideration will be
whether this country shall centraiize
cific objects. one at a time. and cur
tail the rather elaborate program
which the absolute unpreparedness of
this country necessitated at the outset.
Uncle Sam not only had to arm him
self from head to foot. but was COM
pelled to make a hundred and one other
preparations, down to building a sea
wall. extending a pier and laying out
graveled walks.
It Is thought that the work of most
urgent Importance. after training the
men, Of course, will be to bend utmost
energies and efforts to providing ships
to transport the men and supplies
abroad. Next in Importance. in the
opinion of the foreign military advis-
ers. shared by many in this country,
will be the creation of the aviation
service Not a day passes without the
receipt of urgent cables for air craft
and men.
Men Are Mostly Needed
Men. indeed. are at the moment more
build an airplane than to get the men
suitable to operate them. One is a
question of manufacture. machinery
and Standardization, the other Of abil-
ity and adaptability. the visible source
of supply in one case being larger
than in the other.
Another program said to be on the
cards is freer discussion in Congress
of the conduct of the war criticism IL
warranted. In the initial stages the
policy was to act and not talk. 1t was
held to be unwise to find fault while
the government was supposed to be
doing its best. under adverse conditions
If fragrant mistakes have been made.
military biunders attended with loss of
life that might have been avoided, they
will be handled in Congress.