South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-31
MAY 81. 1919.
INVESTIGATING THE WAR COSTS.

Congressional determination TO investigate the eN-
uenditure thirty billion dollars Cs3Oooo 600, ooo)
in the conduct the war is well calculated TO pro
vide the onists in congress and oue
with interesting pastime. Il only twenty
four billion tS14 600 900 OOO) up the time that
congress decided to investigate it, but if it is
essary 10 make 1t thirty billion $4,000 OOO,OOO),
for a political setting why, OF course. let it be
thirty billion CS3O.000 .O0O). We give it you.
both in hsures and words 20 you viii be to
have it,
II is the amount that they say spent in two
years. Happily. they haven't FAR they did
with the aircraft Investigation. and say right out
that we had spent an. and have nothing show
Tor it, nut evidently that is about what they will
hope you infer viii probably be told in
the end that all fooled away; that did
nothing help win the anyway, only
bindrance rather than an aid to the allies how
could it be otherwise. with democratic comman-
der-in-chief?
II may be remembered in the connection. how
ever that when Charles Evans Hughes filed
report on aircraft investigation he that
S47O.OO0OOO OF the $500 900 600 the anti-ad-
uinistratonists said had been fooled away. still
in the treasury and that only S44 coo had been
spent the much mooted experimentation, which
he admitted could not all be termed, wasted The
remaining $50 100000 spent had been more or less
efficiently $4,000 600 600 the $50 OOO. OOO-
400 that congress proposes to look up. should prove
have been only appropriated but spent. the
public need be surprised
What difference does a few billion. six,
make in congressional investigation anyhow?
Congress will no doubt ask the question next; why
wasn't that SIS, 600 600 900 spent2 Look
Der OF campaign contributors waiting to take
in some form OF excess profits the anti-ad-
n,inistrationists stand likely to lament, But then
take little pencil and paper and calculate q
little the remaining $4,000. 900 600. Take as a
starter 20OO.O 600 men sent TO France-the dough-
boys not the ofcers.-pay them their salaries even
$50 per month estimate 81 a day for food. SO
each FOR transportation overseas and $50 each for
uniform and equipment-aH CT them low estimates,
and il YOU haven't got pretty good start
the billions without anything farther. Then add
To it the higher salaries of half million officers.
Remember these had to be modified and got
first to training camp. along with about 3OOO.-
Geo others each at mobilization and transporta-
tion expense OF about the average That extra
100000 were trained for various periods here at
home. They also had eat. wear clothes. carry a
and draw pay. safe estimate that we have
had 100000 M the army at home and abroad
on the average for two years: 20 be paid fed.
clothed. and otherwise eqIpped-and those who
fought at Argonne. Ballou wood Chateau Thierry
and other points needed ammunition and gas
masks thinss that also cost money In addition we
undertook TO build "a merchant marine: construct
q transportation system mobilize build and
equip an aerial heet-and incidentally. there was a
great modified. taking considerable part i'm
the conflict Some Of that $4,000 OOC 600 was spent
the navy.
You are supposed. Mr.. Reader. to overlook the
magnitude of our undertaking. entering the war;
the fact that were preparing for from fve to
seven years OF 10, that 10 something more than
going around the after ginger ale or a
glass of coco cola. What the demaeogues back of
the proposed INVESTIGATION expect OF YOU is to have
brain storm that 100000. 600 O0o after which
they propose 10 send trailer YOU 20 give no con
sideration 90 the possibility legitimate expendi-
ture. You are not supposed TO monkey with "a paper
or pencil, or 10 your head Uncle sam expected
10 have 100000 men in France today had the war
continued. and chat end that he was pre-
pairing: not for the armistce last November Criti-
oism O: such expenditure. rendered useless bv the
blood thar the armistice saved. is worse than
6emogoguer. It is Hlood-thirsty madness because
TIE war didn't on.-and kin another 10000 or
perhaps half million. or "a million
However. let them investigate. Ii will serve a
eoodly purpose in the long ran. II will be worth the
while II it no than proves that there is no
occasion for the like OF the Spanish American war
embalmed beef scandal