Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-27
CONGRESS LAVISH
IN APPROPRIATIONS
More Than $e,o00,00O,0oO AL
ready Authorized During Cur
rent Fiscal Year.
GREAT SUMS YET TO FOLLOW
Needed for Support of Govern
ment, for Prosecution of War
and for Benefit of Allies.
GREAT SUMS YET TO FOLLOW
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l


gering in size. but the fact remains
that Congress already has authorized
the expenditure of slightly more than
$4,000. 100000 during the curreht fiscal
year for the support OF the govern
mcnt. for the prosecution of the war
and for the benefit Of -oreign gov
ernments.
That for our allies Is included for
the simple reason that 1t is American
money which is being expended, and
American markets in which 1t Is being
spent. All that this government has
to show for 1t are the pledges of
Great Britain, France. Russia, Belgium
and Italy.
And this is not all Congress. be-
fore the snow flies" will be called
upon for few billion more-it ma,
be three or 1t may be five. The Ship
ping Board requires Sl.000000,000 in
addition to the amount already appro-
priated to carry it's new program into
elect. The aviation corps could use
twice as much money as has been ap-
propriated. and it is indicated in some
quarters that as much as $4,000. 900, 900
VIII be asked for with which to equip
the army with heavy and light artil-
lery.
GREATEST ANNUAL BUDGET LIVER
LAID OUT By GOVERNMENT
But this is of the future. 1t may
be the immediate future. 1t Is true,
but is still to come. The appropria-
tions already made are enormous in
their extent. They comprise the e. eat
est annual budget ever laid out by a
government, not excepting Great Brit
ian, the financier of tho European
allies.
The expenditures authorized by the
extra session of Congress, not includ-
ing departmental appropriations which
iailed on March 4. amount 80 $7,137,-
222,so1. This total. 1t might be stated
again, includes the $4,000. 100000 for
the allied governments. While that
sum Is not actually a matter of an
proprlation. IT Is bond Issue which IL
equivalent to an appropriation, inas-
much as 1t is an authorization for the
expenditures of much American
money. The big difference is that the
aiiled loans do not constitute perma-
neht liability upon the United States.
as foreign bonds carrying the same
rate OF interest Will be deposited here
as security for the same amount of
American bonds
Ihe appropriations made at the ses
sions Of the Sixty-fourth Congress for
expenditure during the present fiscal
year amount to s1.606,s32.o49 On ton
OF this were certain deficiency appro
Prlations. and certain general appro
priations which failed on March 4 but
which have since been made. which
oring the grand total up to s1.s6a.-
210.oOo
s'I4I.222.305 EMERGENCY
APPROPRIATION TO De aDD..D
To be added to this is the s7I47 900
9o7 emergency or straight war an
preparations. They include $4,000 ooo
GOO for the use of foreign governments:
s4o.l5o,o0o for war risk insurance.
s3.2S1.o4o.541 for the army and navy:
s6+o.o0O.00o for aviation; s1s2. ooo. 600 to
stimulate agriculture and to facilitate
the distribution of agricultural prod
ucts: s11.346.000 for the food control
administration. and certain minor sums
for tie use OF Congress. The total of
this. added to the first total. nggre-
gates s9,147.222sO7.
This. in brief. Is the vast amoun, NJ
money about, to be expended or al
rcaGy expended in the United States
10 finance the first year of the war.
AS previously indicated, half as much
more may be found necessary before
the nrst OF the year. Tho Appropria-
tions Committee of the House has be-
fore 1t now the deficiency estimates OF
the various government departments.
1t has been repeatedly stated that a
Dill VIII be brought out before this
session ends carrying such sums as the
committee has determined to rccom-
mend. Only general intimation has
come from the committee as to tho
total. This indicates that 1t will be
between s3,000.000.000 and $4,000, 600. /.
900.
Just where this grand total of s12.-
o00.00o.00o to $4,000 0OO, 900 is to come
from has not been made known, ex-
cept in general way. Already a
$4,000, 100000 Liberty loan has been
successfully foated. That was a good
beginning. Another loan, the exact
size of which has not been confided to
the country. is promised this fall. It
may be a $4,000, 100000 or IT may be a,
s5.ooo.Ooo.OoO issue.
NORMAL AND EMERGENCY
TAXATION NETS $4,000, 900 900
Normal and emergency taxation viii
net tho government approximately
s3,ooo.oo0.oo0 during the current year.
If the war tax measure now before the
Senate had been passed before July /,
this total would be larger. But every
days delay In the enactment of that
bill reduces the sum which may be
expected from the schedules to be put
into effect. The $4,000, 100000 from
taxation. added to the $4,000. .000, 900
from the first Liberty loan. gives the
administration a fair running ST to-
ward the total sum of money which
Congress has or soon will authorize.
II is easily apparent. however. thar
two. and perhaps three. moro bond
issues will be necessary during the
current year in order to finance the
war expenditures. The administration
has absolute faith in the ability and
tho wi illingness OF the country to ab-
sorb these loans, M Is 4 i 4