The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-08-04
Appropriations Of One Billion
Once Considered Fabulous.
NOW ONLY A MINOR SUM
Big Bond Issues Must Follow the Elk
penditure of $4,000, 100000 For the
First Year of War With Germany.
Few People Can Conceive What 81
000,o00,0oO Really Means.
BY RITZ w. DUNN.

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Aug. 4~-tSpecial. = War
means staggering figures to those VINO
understand the amount involved when
we speak of billions. More than one
quarter of a century ago the Fffty-tirst
congress was heralded far and wide by
the Democratic party-which did not
control that congress-as the billion
dollar congress" because 1t had appro-
priated 81, 000yO00,000 for the support
of the government In two years.
1t was of no use for big Tom Reed.
the speaker Of the Fifty-frst congress.
to reply to the criticism by saying this
is "a billion dollar country" The Re
publicans were swept out of office and
remained for four years.
Bap War Figures.
II has been figured out that the ap-
preparations already made and those
asked for by the war department for
the purpose Of carrying on the war In
Europe amount to more han $1,000,
100000 When we consider that 1t
takes a thousand millinns to make a
billion we can get a little idea of what
this war Is going to cost. With $17,
0~00,OO0,0O0 thrown into II already and
war having been declared only last
April. II begins TO look as If the people
of the United States must pay and pay
heavily for their share I'm the great
world conflict. More than that. the al
lies want S5,O00,0OO,0O0 more.
Must Be Large Bond Issues.
The question is frequently asked,
Where is the money to come FROM
And no n can answer except by say
ing there must be large bond issues not
only this year, but for all years to come
as long as the war lasts.
There Is also the assertion that there
must be a lot of money made 10y the
people of this country In order to en-
able them TO pay the necessary taxes
to carry on a war. 1t with Don become
the duty of the government to see that
business keeps up and is not hampered
in any way In order that money may
be invested, people employed and prof
It's made, so that taxes can be met.
rouse Prero9atiNe.
Every little while there Is a flareup
In the house OF representatives over
the question of Its prerogative In the
matter Of raising event Sometimes
on a minor point the house is able TO
win, and the senate s%urrenders its con
tention In regard to the %origination of
the revenue bill. But I'm case of a reve
nue. bin such as has been passed by the
house and is now pending I'm the senate
the latter body has always claimed the
right to make any kind Of amendments
it chooses. The probabilities are that
the senate I'm making an entirely new
bin has exceeded its rights. but In
times like this there will not be much
sympathy for those who stand upon
their rights and prerogatives.
| Farming In the Senate.
I Senator Harding OF Ohio had told the
senate that many years & they raised
wheat i'm Ohio and sold it for 10 cents
n bushel and that now they could raise
wheat proitably at 81 a bushel In times
OF peace.
= Il know enough about farming tC
know that II Is a physical impossibili
i ty." asserted Senator McCumber OF
: North Dakota.
= When the senator from North Ia
kota and | were on the farm | learned
more about farming than he did" re
sponded Harding.
Maybe the senator did retortet
" McCumber. "but the senator who will
: tell me that he can raise grain for s
a bushel I'm the state of Ohio on lane
that costs 500 or $3.50 an acre demon
strates to me that he does not know
= anything about farming and never die
know anything about it,
Now We Must Pay.
As the revenue bill drags its slow
: length through the senate the peopl,
win realize that the time has arrived
when we must pay for the war. BE
fore the bill passes 1t is quite likel,
that some other important facts will
:. he brought home to the American peo
pie. There Is a great deal of irritation
among the senators caused by previ
Gus disagreements with the admins
tration and also among themselves
We may expect to hear some rattle
plain statements on various phases o
the revenue bin before 1t reaches
= final vote.
!. "SooiaIizad Democracy"
There was a great deal of discussion
about the suspension of the constitu
~ tion" during the debate on the foo'
~ bill. I'VE began that suspension las
~ year" said Senator Harding Of Ohio
when we passed the Adamson Law
~ regulating wages. When we establish
~ ed hat principle and the United State
~ supreme court gave its assent we lai'
~ the first stone i'm the structure of tn
:. SDrialiZpd state and II ia tmDortant 4