Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-07-24
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
BEING SQUANDERED
INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT
WAR DEPARTMENT CONTIN-
UES USELESS WASTE

Hon. w. r. Green, member of con-
gress from the 9Th Iowa district and
former resident of this city has
written splendid article on the ex-
travagance of the administration Mr..
Green is a member of the appropria-
tons committee and is in position to
know what he is writing about. His
many friends here will be interested
to know that he is doing his duty as
servant of the people and will read
the following article with much in
terest:
THE Republican members of con-
gress are finding it as difficult to
curb the extravaganza of the various
departments in time of peace as it
was while the war was going on.
There may have been some excuse
for the waste of money in time of
war, but certainly there is not now
that the war is closed, nevertheless it
requires constant struggle on the
part of congress to hold the expen-
ditures down to a reasonable basis,
and even with every effort on the
part of Republicans and assistance on
the part of some of the Democratic
members, the administration still
continues to squander immense
sums.
An example of what has been done
/ in this line, since the war was over
is found in the purchase of the camp
known as Fort Benning, near Co
lumbus, Ca, since the armistice was
signed in utter defiance to the ex.
pressed will of congress.
The proposition involved was to
purchase about one hundred fifteen
to one hundred thirty thousand acres
of land, which was mostly in culti-
walton at Benning, Ca, requiring
about seven million dollars for the
land and several million dollars more
for improvements. When purchased
it was intended to use this camp as
firing center for artillery and also
as a range for small arms and to
abandon the camp at Fort Sill, OKLA,
which had been acquired for the
same purpose.
Entirely Discontinued"
After the armistice had been sign
ed and before the adjournment of
the last congress the secretary of
war presented this proposition, first
to the military committee of the
| house and then to the committee on
military affairs of the senate. The
house committee declined to approve
the project, understanding that if it
was not approved. that nothing
would be done with relation to it.
The senate committee took action,
and after hearing a large number of
witnesses, advised the war depart
ment that it disapproved the project.
Secretary Baker then appeared be-
fore the house committee on military
affairs and, referring to the action of
the senate, Informed the house COM
mittee that; 1--WE have entirely dis
continued any purchase at Columbus,
Georgia."
No sooner, however, had congress
adjourned, so that no further action
could be taken, the war department
proceeded to make contracts for the
land at Fort Benning, and to expend
! On land and buildings a total of
| about two million three hundred
I thousand, before congress could act.
| A provision was inserted in the mil
/ itary bill forhidding further expendi-
lures on this project, and in the dis
cussion of the matter, the action of
/ the war department was vigorously
! denounced in the house by Congress
| man Mckenzie, (Illinois) and 9TH
| ers; and in the senate by Senator
| Lenroot, Senator New and others. II
is not necessary. however, to quote
from these Republicans. in order
to show how high handed this pro-
ceodng was. and how recklessly mil
lions have been wasted The pro-
position was so outrageous and inde-
feasible that il was condemned by
some of the leading Democrats.
Mr.. Ferris (Democrat) of Oklahoma.
wrote two letters to the secretary Of
war, while the purchase of land at
| Fort Bennirg was going on. calling
attention TO the wrong which was be-
ing done, in abandoning Fort Sill and
creating new camp at Benning. In
the senate discussion, some claim
was made that Fort Sill was not
large enough, but Senator Gore.
(Democrat) replied that it contained
fifty-siX thousand acres, and was
| joined by government reserve,
which was not being used, contain
/ ing sixty-iive thousand acres: that
( shells could be thrown twenty-five or
thirty miles, without getting off the
/ government property. Senator
\ King (Democrat) spoke of the "il-
legal and defiant attitude" of the
war department in this matter, and