The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-02-09
II Takes Many Millions to Main
tain Our Foreign Possessions.
PHILIPPINES A BIG STRAIN
Our Expenditures For Fortifications
and Maintenance Of Army and Navy
For the Islands Have Almost Reach
ed Billion Mark-Panama Is Also an
Expensive Ward.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Expensive Ward.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Feb 7.-LSpeciall-It
costs money to be a world power No
one has ever been able TO figure how
many hundred millions the Philippine
Islands have cost the United States
but 1t Is said to run over the billion
mark. and there are still large yearly
expenditures for Notifications and the
maintenance of the army and navy.
But other world power auxiIiaries
are also very expensive Hawaii, call
ed the outpost In the Pacific" has
already cost great deal for the naval
station at Pearl IIarbor. fortilications
and In keeping a division OF the army
and naval Squadron as protection
for the islands. This year there will
be an appropriation Of $3000000 or
$4,O00.O00 for barracks aud quarters
for troops. besides additional millions
for fortitications
millions at Panama.
Technically under the IIaypaunce
fote treaty the United states has no
right TO fortify the Panama canal but
we have gone ahead and built great
Notifications az each end Of that wa
terway and are Increasing the armed
forces there year by year
Several years ago Congressman Mon
dell of Wyoming pointed ont that the
Notifications OF the canal would cost
$J00O0.00O aud that ii would cost $780,
100000 a year TO maintain an army on
the canal zone
II used 10 think you were something
OF a nuisance remarked Congressman
Sherley Of Kentucky, when you talk
ed SO much about the cost of the forti-
fications and the maintenance of an
army at Panama But we have arriv-
ed We are in sight of the $J0000,000
and also the $30,000OO0 a year"
1t really means money to maintain a
position In the world
Vardaman's Vain Hope.
Senator Vardaman was criticising
what he called throwing away $4,000
for expenses Of the coming inaugura-
tion" and then added, II will be pardon
ed for expressing the hope that | may
live to see one great Democrat who
will bring TO the Office of president that
sublime democratic simplicity which
characterized the conduct of Thomas
Jefferson, the greatest president of this
unparalleled republic"
Ii il still popular fancy that JEFF
ferson rode In from Monticello, hitched
his horse TO a post and went into the
capitol and took the oath of Office as
president yardaman will never see
anything like that happen, no matter
how pure a Democrat may be elected
president.
Prospective Saving.
Il am going TO introduce an amend
ment which, if adopted, will save the
country $30.000.000 year, SO l am in
formed"
Such vas the statement Of Senator
Overman. in charge OF the legislative
appropriation bill.
THAT is a very rash act" was the
comment Of Senator Hughes of New
Jersey, who has heard something about
proposed economies before.
The proposition was, Of course, en-
bodied in the bill. and il provides for
some scientific method of eliminating
duplication Of work and aboIishment
OF many offices and discharge Of
clerks With all of the best intentions
In the world. Senator Oyerman will not
accomplish very much, for there never
will come time when they will abol-
ish offices and clerks in any such man
ner to save $30,000000. Instead Of
being $30,O0O,0OO," remarked Senator
Gallinger of New Hampshire, "the saw
ing will come a good deal nearer to
being 30 cents
Austin's Plain Position.
Congressman Austin of Tennessee.
the ranking Republican member OF
the house committee on public build
ings, thus stated his position during
the criticism of the public building
bill In the house:
II am not an economist and never
have been. | want to tell the gentle
man from Wisconsin. Mr. Frear. that
never voted against an appropriation
and never voted for a tax" Laughter
and applause greeted this declaration
on the part Of the Tennessee man.
whose people appreciate what he does
for them in the way of obtaining ap-
preparations
Almost Subsidy.
Senator Bankhead OF Alabama has
proposed an amendment to the post
Office appropriation bill which squints
toward ship subsidy. He proposes to
have contracts made for carrying the
mall between the United States and