The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-12-02
Secretary Glass Presents An
nual Estimate of Gov
eminent Expense
COSTS BILLIONS MORE
TO CONDUCT AFFAIRS
Sixty-sixth Congress Opens Its
First Regular Session.
Wilson Notified

Washington, Dec. 1.-The record
billion-dollar congresses Of ordinary
peace times faded into the past when
Secretary Glass, presenting the an
nual estimates, proposed appropria-
lions of virtually $5,0O0,0O0,OOO at
the time opening session of congress
at noon yesterday, for conducting the
peace-time activities of the govern
ment 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 gov
eminent as it did in the year i'm
mediately preceding the world war.
Goth Congress Opens.
The sixty-sixth congress met in it's
first regular session, which was ex-
pected to continue until just before
the presidential election mex fall.
There was a large attendance both
in the senate and house when the
gavels of Vice President Marshall and
Speaker Gilbert fell promptly at
noon.
In accord with an agreement
reached between republican and DEM
ocratic leaders before the session
opened, the usual formality of ap-
pointing a committee to notify the
president that congress was in ses-
sion was dispensed with because OF
the presidents illness. A formal
communication of notification was
drafted and dispatched instead.
The greatest individual estimates
for expenditures, of course, go to the
army and the navy. The yearly in
terest on the war debt, however, is
SLOT, 100000, which sum alone is
greater than all the appropriations
for all purposes whatsoever of any
peace-time congress.
Predictions Are Justified.
All in all, the estimates justify the
predictions made on the floor of con-
gress during the consideration of the
war tax bills that the present gen.
Grafton would not see the govern
ment conducted at an expense of less
than $4,000, 100000 year.
The estimated appropriations for,
the principal government depart
ments were presented as follows:
Legislative (congress), $685.
1925; executive CWhite House and
government departments), $149,111,-
462.77; judicial, $1,634,19O; army,
$989,578,657.2U; navy, $542,O31,-
S04.S0; pensions. $215,O3O,OOO; pub
lie works, $2S3,921,81O17; rtiiscel-
laneous, s833,717,637.96 and foreign
intercourse, $11,243,250.91.
Greatest Sum Ever Asked.
The total of all estimates, includ-
ing some comparatively minor items
not included in the foregoing, is $4,-
S65, 41O,031.62, the greatest sum
ever asked of any congress when the
country was not actually at war.
The $1,0OO,OOO,000 estimate for
the army includes some $4,000, 900
for the national guard. The normal
peace time estimate for the army be-
fore the war was between ten and
fifteen millions. The $542,0OO,O 900
estimate for the navy includes pro-
vision for the program of increase
and lis comparable to an annual esti-|
nate of some fifteen millions before
the war. The $2S3,OOO,OOO public
works estimate includes the Panama
canal, reclamation projects, rivers
and harbor improvement, public
buildings and also military works,
arsenals and Notifications.
An item of more than ,OOO,-
600 for postal services is reimburs-
able from postal revenues
Provides for Prohibition.
The estimates for miscellaneous ex-
penditures contain some tremendous
sums. For the treasury department
more than $247,00O,O00 is asked,
which goes largely to the enforce
ment of prohibition and the collec-
ton Of income. corporation and ex-
cess profit taxes
For the shipping board nearly
Continued on Page Eight