The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-23
BILLIONS FOR DEFENSE
Secretary Baker Lays
Plans Before House
for Greater Force.
NEEDS ENORMOUS
I otal Budget Looks to
an Outlay of Almost
$4,000, 900, 900
on Program.

Washington. Mny %. --Serre-
fary Baker today unfoidcd his trc-
mentious ordnance program I'm
submitting to congress an esti-
mate Of ST.tfs.5s., i66 Int cash
and contracts.
In addition to the SIT, 100 600
600 army appropriation bill al
most ready tn be reported favor
ably by tho house military COM
mittce, the figures of today In
dictate an almost $4,000, ooo,ooo
land forces program.
OF the great sum asked today.
however Baker informed con-
ere~s that he expects to diShurs"
only $1,000. 900. 600 by March 4,
next. when the present congress
expires The rest ID In contracts
which he asks to- bc allowed to-
close. and cn which he Will mnIn
payments ms the work pfogres~ei.
He asked lump sum of one
billion dollars tn be spent with
out itemixation I'm A4s- discretion
If this is approved by congress II
will he the largest sum ever thus
voted an official. dwarfing the
500 600 900 discretionary fund To
the president which NJ the time
of It's proposal met with oppoSi-
ton.
Baker EXPLAINED that he was asking
only $500, 600, 600 in cash because
he intended as fast as the contracts
which he asks to he allowed TO close
are carried on, to apply 70 congress
for additional cash appropriations
rhus the said tax and bond money
would not be taken from the public
until absolutely necessary,
This immense budget goes to the
house appropriations comn1ittee Tor
action. Many of its items have been
gone over one by one with the com -
ntttee already. Chairman SherleN mas
announced that although the COM
n3tttee IL friendly, IT will reserve the
right 10 trim estimates. This r. taken
To mean that Secretary Baker may be
asked to give fun account OF ms
discretionary billion.
The largest sums which F74+7r~T7r-'+@7@>d
are:
small arms, ammunition, $Tot.'S6'-
991. -. CO.. ,,o
Small arms. target practice, >HA,-
y Manufacture of arms. S2o7.324,-
o. Machine rifles. s337,726.ooo
Armed cars, s272 .422,Seo. ..
Field and siege cannon. si,o62,l 8i,~
Ammunition for cannon. t27ol'-
S9+.457.
Ammunition tests. S72 4, ana
Unspeciaed purposes. 81 ooo'-
00o
Bakers plan OF not asking for cash
,,,,;} artn.lfy readnd met the APP
proval of appropriations committee
members They said it indicated a
carefulness OF expenditure often iE-
nored by officials with immense bud
gets.
1t liz expected eighteen months wiiI
eIapse before the entire SUM WA ne
spent aud the materials turned over
to the government
REPRESENTATIVE Caldwell nj New
York an administration member OF
the military committee, spoke in the
house today letting II he understood
that the facts contained In his speech
relating to plishments to GATE
had been submitted 10 the war de-
partment for approval.
Let me frankly say We have MADE
mistakes" said Caldwell "Eut Amer
lea has done more in less time than
any of our allies in preparation. she
has raised A greater army in less time
and now holds a greater section OF
the lines. transporting her forces g.
GOO miles across infested seas, than
England was capable of doing in
twelve months across a thirty lille
channel
u submit the following figures as
to our enlisting forces today:
Regular army go. to,2e5 5o4 81 Z