Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-01-08
WAR COST TOU. S.
"a BILLIONS
December Expenditures Reach New
High Total of More Than Two
Billions
ONE-THIRD WARS
EXPENSES PAID
Daily Outlay is Still Mounting as
Huge War Contracts Are Liqui-
dated

American people about $18,160, ,000,-
eco to run its expensive war govern
ment and make loans to Allies in the
year ending today, according to COM
Iputations from treasury reports.
December expenditures, above $2,-
000, 100000, the record of the ma
tion's history, sent aggregate war
|costs to date to approximately $24,-
500, 900, 900.
OF the $1S,16O, 100000 paid out
of the treasury's Golfers in 1913,
probably s10.O00,oO went for
the army and the general military
establishment, about $4,000, 10000
for the navy, 100000, 900 for the
ship. building program. $1,000,0
600 for other civil government needs
and $4,150. 100000 as loans TO AM
erica's brother-in-arms.
Although hostilities ceased nearly
two months ago, the governments
outlay each day is mounting on ac-
count of liquidation of tremendous
war contracts and treasury officials
said indications are that the de-
mands on the government in the first
month Of the new year may be even
more than for this month.
With estimates of expenses in the
last few days, not yet actually COM
piled, officials believe December ex-
Ipsnses will run to $2,10G,000, oo0, or
nearly 200,O00,OO0 more than last
months high record. This includes
nearly $430,O0O,OOO estimated for
Allied loans and 81 1.670,O00,00o esti-
mated for the governments actual
expenditures.
That the public has paid only
about one-third of the wars expen-
ses, excluding foreign loans, in taxes
in cash and two-thirds as loans to be
repaid in another generation, is in
dicated by treasury figures of col
lections from various sources. With
the last four days of the year not
tabulated it is shown that receipts
from taxes, customs and miscellan-
eous revenue amounted to $4,6ST,-
/. 063,0 900, of which s2,949,632,00O
came from income and excess profits
taxes alone. S1,124,510,000 from
other federal taxes, only s171,0oo.-
1000 from customs duties on imports
and the balance, or about SAL, ,000,-
900, from miscellaneous revenue
sources.
During the year S6,03S, 100000
has come into the treasury from th7
Fourth Liberty Loan and $4,171,'
000.000 from the Third Liberty
Loan. In addition $13,S02,000,00C
worth of certificates of Indebtedness
have been sold and subsequently
largely redeemed from Liberty Loan
receipts.
War Savings Stamps and certifi-
Gates have brought $953,000,09 in
to the treasury, which, with the ex'
ception of $10.0O0,000 worth o.
these small securities sold in Decem
ber, 1917, represents the entire har.
vest from War Savings and Thrift:
stamps in the year they have been or
the market.
War Savings receipts this month
jamount to about 100000, 900.
The way in which war expenses
have mounted from month. to month
: is shown by the following table oil
expenditures:
January, 1918, s1,09O,000,000.
February, 1000, 600.
March, S1,155, 200, 600.
April. s1,215, 100000.
May, S1,5OS, 100000.
June, $1,512, 900, 900.
July, $1,60S, 100000
! August, $1,S03, 200, 900.
September, $1,557. 100000.
October, 81 100000
November, $1,935, 200, 600.
December, partially estimated, ST.
100, 100000.
These figures include the loans to
Allies. which have run at an average
OF about $40, 100000 a month,
Washington, Iowa, Democrat: You
do not believe that anybody has any
notion OF sinking the German navy
do you? There Is lot OF rag chew
ing going on about il. but nobody
has the least idea tlot such . foo
thing Is contemplated. Nobody with
:, iI,i,,, hlnl f,,ll nf. hrr inc wnnId heliav1