The Washington herald., 1920-04-13
BY ELISHA HANSON.
Copyright 1eoo.)
ARTICLE NO. S.

1t is a peculiar fact that govern
ments, after their enormous expen-
ditures during war times, usually
enter upon a postwar period of
financial extravaganza. Somehow or
other they do not seem able to re-
adjust themselves to an economical
basis after the strain of . great war.
but continue to expend money al
most as madly as during the stress
OF conflict. Our own government Is
no exception to this rule.
Following the civil war, the aver
age annual expenditures of the
United States jumped several hun
dred per cent over the average for
the years Immediately prior to the
war. Not all of this increase was
due to the enormous debt piled up
during the war. Expenditures
jumped again after the war with
Spain. but not SO much as they did
following tho War Of the Rebellion.
II the figures Of Mr.. Mondell. the
majority leader in the House, are
accurate, our present administra-
tion is seeking nearly eight times
as much money to conduct our
government during the ensuing
year as was appropriated for IT to
spend during the year 1916. imme-
diately prior to our entrance into
the world war.
Huge Expenditures Planned.
II the administrations own esti-
mates are to be considered correct
and. as Mr.. Mondell points out
they neglect to include such items
as the Railroad Administration def
cit and the huge deficiencies of the
other departments-Mr. Wilson and
his Cabinet administrators are seek
ing more than four times as much
money for governmental opera
tions next year as was given them
for the year Immediately prior to
the war.
Mr.. Mondell's estimate of expen-
ditures totals $s,0S6,35S,574. The
Administrations estimate aggre-
gates $4,S65, 5,410,031.62. but this does
eral fund, continuing appropriations
authorized but not actually made.
the railroad deficiency, or the con-
templated increase in compensation
for various government employees,
civil as well as military.
As against these two estimates
there stands the total expense OF
the government in 1916 of $1.o72.-
S94,093.23
Eliminating the interest on the
war debt, approximately $1,017.000,-
900, and eliminating the normal In
crease in the cost of government
say of 100000. 900. there remains to
be accounted for the sum OF
$2.2ss.se4,0ss8.
Il all Of this necessary
The Republican leaders In the
House. apparently thinking the con-
trary. decided that without. await
ing explanations from the depart
ments, they would make a 25 per
cent cut in all estimates of appro-
priations sought by the departments
and declared by the administration
to be necessary.
Looking into the larger appropri-
ations sought this year, II will be
seen that the State Department
wants more than twice what 1t got
in 1916. In the latter year It got
from Congress $6,444,5s4.11. 1t Is
asking Of the present Congress
s12,s20, ,soo.s1.
Mig Increases Sought.
The Department of Agriculture is
not SO modest as the State Depart
ment 1t got s2S,031.540.33. in 1918.
and Is seeking this year $72.56s. .102.
The Department of Commerce is
asking . 800 per cent increase, the
Department of Labor almost a 300
per cent advance, and Department
of Justice a IS per cent increase,
and the Department Of Interior a
modest one of 50 per cent.
As pointed. out in an earlier article,
only two of the departments Of the
government are seeking smaller ap-
preparations from this Congress than
those they. got from the last. These