Evening journal., 1918-01-02
DEBT OF U. S. IS UP
TO S5,6l5.O[O.O(O
Already Five Times Greater
Than When Country En-
tered the War
PER CAPITA DEBT
Is Ssh AT THIS TIME

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-The United
States enters the new year with a ma
tional net debt Of S5.6i5OOO.OOO, more
than five times greater than when it
entered the war nine months ago, but
only one-third OF the debt which prom
ises to develop by the first Of next
year. The debt per capita is about Sol,
and the percentage Of debt is estimated
national Wealth is 2ih per cent.
The treasury financial summary state
ment. issued yesterday for the FIRST
time since last June 30, shows that ac-
tual disbursements during the FIRST half
Of the fiscal year have fallen far be-
low the estimates, particularly for the
military establishment An ENORMOUS
prospective increase In War Depart
ment expenses, for munitions and ma
terials contracts TO be filled m. the
spring. will raise the government out
lays at that time, but officials feel some
doubt that ordinary disbursements Will
reach the si2,3i6000,O0O estimated for
the fiscal year ending next June 30.
The actual outlay for the military es-
Enlistment up TO December 1, was
si,3ii 900 coo; the estimated outlay for
the whole fiscal year is $3.50 100000
The navy spent Si26, 100000 and the
estimate for the year is 81 3o0,O 0O,0O0,0O0.
shipping board expenditures were siis,-
100000, while the years estimate Is
1901 100000. Each Of these three princi-
pal departments has outstanding con
tracts for which big expenditures will
have TO be made within the remaining
half Of the fiscal year, however. and the
aggregate Of these is the uncertain ele-
ment which make II impossible 10 deter
mine at this time precisely how many
additional Liberty Bonds must be issued
between now and next June 30.
Great as the national debt seems to
this country whose debt before the war
was only a little past the billion dollar
mark. II Is only about one-fourth that
Of either Great Britain France, Russia
or Germany The debt Of all Amer
ica's co-belligeronts is about $4,000
100000 or "a per cent. Of the estimated
wealth of those nations. and the Teu-
tonic ALLIES debt is about Si0OOO,OOO-
600, OF % per cent. Of their estimated
wealth
An urgent deficiency appropriation Of
approximately 81 33SO0O0OO for the
army, navy, food administration and
other government war work VIII be
asked Of Congress soon after the holl-
day recess.
The largest item for the army will
include s7O0,OO0.000 for the quartermas-
ter corps for supplies s450OO00O for
ordnance. and si40OO0,OOO FOR en-
gineers.
The Department Of Agriculture viii
call for S6000,OOO for the purchase OF
seeds 10 be sold 20 farmers for re-
plenishng the nations crops, IN addl-
tlon 10 S2500,O0O provided for the same
purpose in the food survey law.
The food administration will ask for
s200O000 10 make a total Of s4,500000
available' 10 II for the current fiscal
year, N addition 10 amounts allotted
from the Presidents hundred million
dollar fund.
The Navy Department already has
asked for. s55,00O000 deficiency appro-
prlation.
Besides these deficiency approprla-
lions contemplated, the War Depart
ment already has asked Si,i23OOO,0OO
additional to the regular estimates al
ready submitted