Evening star., 1918-12-03
DROP |NEXPENSES:
COMING GRADUALLY
Estimates of Appropriations
for Year 1920 Still Ab-
normally Large. :.
NEEDS OF WAR AND NAVY


continue abnormalIy large during the
next fiscal year. gradually diminish
ing as the Army is demobilized and
the larger offensive activities are re-
placed by defensive Organization, is
shown in the estimate of appropria-
tions for the fiscal year ending
July 1. 1920, which went to Congress
yesterday.
AS was announced in The Star
yesterday. the total asked for the
War Department for the next nscal
year is $7.443.415.s5s. Of which s5.212,-
100000 will go to the War and Navy
departments. $ssa.ooo.ooo to pay In
terest on war debt and 3579,00 600
for continuing the building Of q ner-
chant marine.
Inese expenses compare with the
S24,599, 100000 appropriations for the
currenL year ending next June 80.
with the $4,000. .000.000 which proba-
oly Will be actually spent this year.
and with the ordinary annual ex-
penses of about a billion dollars be-
fore the war.
Further Reductions Forecast. -.
The advance estimates are neces-
sarily in the rough. and many de-
partments expect to cut them down
during the next few months as com,
mlttees of Congress work over the
ngures in drafting appropriation
bll.s. Heretofore annual estimates
nave exceeded the appropriation au-
thor1zations, and the actual expendi-
lures have usually been considerably
iess than the appropriations. Secre-
tary McAdoo transmitted, without
comment, the estimates of various
departments as submitted to him and
compiled at the Treasury.
The War department wants So
5o6,oo0,OO0 for next year for bring
ing the Army home from Europe,
maintaining part of the force, con-
tInulng fortifications and other pur-
poses, s.a. and a.. the Navy Department esti-
more than this year.
Fund for Authorized Ships.
The shipping board asks $500, 900. 900
for building ships already authorised
by Congress, $50 600 900 for operation
of vessels, $17451 900 for recruiting
and training officers and crews and
$!.4S5,0OO for incidental administra-
tion expense.
The item of $685., 900. 900, as interes.
on public debt, includes provision for
meeting the payments on liberty
bonds already outstanding and those
70 be issued in the near FUTURE, and
alteration
There is small provision for post Of
| f1ces and other public buildings ard
for river and harbor improvements.
only $4,000 is included In the es-
Inmates for buildings. and practically
all Of this is for continuing construc-
tton already under way. Similarly,
about half Of the s19.S70,000 for rivers
and harbors is for maintenance or
continuation Of existing projects:
for use by the Secretary OF War, and
$4.00O,000 for flood control on thes Mis-
sissippi river. " = -
Sinking Fund Provided. ~.
There;is provision in the estimates
for s2S7 100000 for the establishment
of sinking fund. reported perfume
torify In previous years. In the face
Of tremendous public debt, however,
gress now will provide for real re-
dempticn fund with which to pay
bonds when they fall due in future
years. The estimated total of S7,44S,-
100000 does not include this item, nor
s35s, ,207. 900 for postal service. tho
needs of which are covered automati-
cally by appropriations. but are met
directlysfrom postal revenues.
That officials count on the continued
functioning Of the war risk Insurance.
bureau to administer soldiers. and
sailors insurance and compensation
payment is indicated by the request
for $12.367,0 900 for administrator ex-
pense.
The cost of collecting federal taxes
is put :at s27,346.00o. and this Mould
be spent largely in the administra-
ton Of the taxes during the calendar
year 1919.
Census Cost Estimated.
An unusual item in the estimates
is S20O0O.000 asked for conducting
the decennial census throughout the
United States.
A little more than $50. .Ooo, 900 would
be spent by the Department Of Agyi-
culture in fighting plant and animal
diseases and educational work.
For the tariff commission. 100000
Is asked, or twice as much as the
appropriation for this year.
Despite the uncertainty OF life Tor
number of government war
agencies. estimates are made for the
war Trade Board, $2.465.000; War In
dustries Board, 81 900. 900: Food Ad-'
ministration. 100000; Fuel Admin.
istration, $1.500.000; Capital Issues
Committee, $450.000, and Council OF
National Defense. $675,000.
Payments to soldiers and sailors, or
their dependents. on account OF com
pensation, or government allowances.
are expected to run to nearly $780,
000, 900. Ten million is the estimated
cost of collecting customs and ad-
ministering customs regulations.