Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-04
APPROPRIATIONS Of
5 BILLIONS ASKED
Estimate of Sec. Glass for Run.
ing Govt. During 1921 Is
a Record

Washington, Dec. 1.-The record bill
lion dollar Congresses of ordinary peace
times faded into the past to-day. when
Secretary Glass, presenting the annual
estimate. proposed appropriations of
practically five billion dollars for con-
Quoting the peace time activities of the
government during the fiscal year 1921
According to these figures it will cost
more than five times as much to conduct
the peace time affairs of government as
it did in the year Immediately preceding
the world war.
The greatest individual estimates for
expenditures, of course, go to tho army
and the navy. The yearly interest on
the war debt. however, is SLOT, 500, 900
which sum alone is greater than all the
appropriations for all purposes whatso-
ever of any peace time Congress.
All In all the estimates justify the pre-
dictions made on the floor of Congress
during consideration of the war tax bills,
that the present generation would not
see the government conducted at an ex-
pense Of less than four billions a year.
The estimated appropriations for the
principal government departments were
presented as follows:
Legislative. tCongress). s9,o25. 1926.
Executive. white House and govern
mentaD. s149. Ill Asst.
judicial s1,634,19O
Army, s9S9,57s 657.2O
Navy. s542, O91. 804 80.
Pensions, s2l5, O30, 900
Public works, $685., 1921, S1017
Miscellaneous. $3.50, III, 1880
Foreign intercourse, s11, ,25O.91.
All estimates, including some COM
paratively minor items not listed in the
foregoing is. A,s65 40. O31 co, the greatest
sum even asked of any Congress when
the country was not actually at war
The billion dollar estimate for the army
includes some $S5.OO00OO for the national
guard. The normal peace time estimate
for the army before the war was be-
tween ten and fifteen millions The
s542. 100000 estimate for the navy includes
provision for the program of increase and
Is comparable to an annual estimate of
some fifteen millions before the war The
$273,cp0O,OOO public works estimate in
cludes the Panama Canal, reclamation
projects. rivers and harbor improve
ment, public buildings and also military
works. arsenals and Notifications.
Estimates for rivers and harbors ap-
preparations included: Portland. Me-,
$4,000; Boston $4,000: Pollock Rippshoals
100000; Nantucket Harbor of Refuge
$4,000; Pawcatuck River $500
An item of more than 1891, 900 900 for pos
tai services. is re-imbursable from postal
revenues.
The estimates for miscellaneous ex-
penditures contain some tremendous
sums. For the treasury department more
than $2i7000,00O is asked, which goes
largely to the enforcement of prohibition,
and the collection of income, corporation
and excess profits taxes. For the ship
ping board nearly $44s, 100000 is asked to
wind up Its program of restoring the
American flag to the seas. Nearly s4O.-
100000 Is asked for the federal board for
vocational education which will be used
In large measure for the reconstruction
of disabled soldiers OF the world war.
One item, which has appeared perennial
ly in estimates without ever becoming an
actually appears again this year with
promise of being taken seriously. 1t IS
an estimate Of 1921, 500. 900 toward a sink
ing fund, which ultimately Is to retire
the public debt which includes some thirty
billions spent on the war.