The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-09
RISING COST OF GOVERNMENT.

ILfSlNG COSI Ot NOt EsfhN lnEs1N L.
Basing his figures on estimates re-
ceived from the various executive de-
partments for the next fiscal year,
Representative Good. Trainer of a
budget bill, says that the per capita
tax for the next fiscal year will be SAT,
which congress may reduce in part by
cutting estimates to the bone. This
amount is nearly five times as much
per man. woman and child in the
United States as it was in 1916 when
congress reached its high water mark
in appropriations.
Starting with the administration of
Thomas Jefferson. comparative fig
the annual expense of the war depart
ment averaged twenty cents per cap
tia; the annual expenses for the navy
department twenty-three cents per
capita: the average expenses of the
postoffice department average five
cents per capita, and the total annual
expenditures for the federal govern
ment during the four years of admin
istration averaged only $1.52 per cap
tia.
| Expenses jumped during the four
year period covered by the Civil war
| The annual expense of the war de-
partment averaged 1892 per capita
the annual expense of the navy depart
ment averaged s2.31 per capita; the
expense OF the postoffice department
averaged four cents per capita; while
the total annual expense of the gov
eminent was s25.o1 per capita
| Following the Civil war expendi-
lures decreased substantially for -four
years. During this period the annua
average expense of the war department
fell from $19.99 to $3.94 per capita; the
expense of - navy department de.
creased from s2.s1 to eighty-two cents
4 of the national government were re.
duced from s25.01 to $11O2 pei
capita.
| Annual expenditures never reached
the billion dollar mark until 1916
when the total appropriations for the
year aggregated $1,116,1 S,13S.55
Expenditures for the years of 1914 ant
1915 were so close to the billion dollar
mark however, that the average an
nual expenditure for the three veal
period 1914-16 inclusive, was $1,062,
9SO.S72,76 or $1o.63 per capita.
1t was during this period when ex
penditures were soaring, Mr.. Good anC
Joseph G. Cannon pointed out, tina
the present multi-headed spending
committee system became a part o
the house, appropriating power being
taken first from the committee oil
ways and means and given to the com
mittee on appropriations and thel
later distributed among the commit
tee on appropriations and seven othe
committees that report out the thir
teen regular annual appropriation bill
at present. Six other committees
however. have the power of recon
mending legislation that may call 70
appropriations
During the fiscal years 1918 an,
1919 the total expenses of the war de
partment while we were engaged i
the world war amounted to $14,S54,
\ 109, 211.22, the expenditure of this de
partment during these two year
amounting to an average annual pc
capita charge OF $70.26 on the PEG
pie of the nation. The expenditure
for the navy department for these tw
years totaled s3,s77,s15;1S2.37. or a
annual average naval expenditure G
1888 per capita For the fiscal yea
: 1919 the per capita cost of operatin
the postoffice department alone wa
$40 or more than twice the per cap
: ita cost of all the departments of tn
national government during Jeffer
sons administration.