Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-07-23
Costs of War
Are ~Stupendous

Copyright, 1920, by The. Washing
ton Starr

WASHINGTON, July 2s-Ap-
proximately n~inety-three per cent
of the largest income since this gov
eminent was established was ex-
pended last year in meeting the
costs of war-past and present
and in providing for future wars.
Only 712 per cent OF the revenues
was left for purely governmental
purposes.
Besides twenty-five per cent for
the support of the army and navy
the gar costs included the railroad
deficit. interest on public debt. costs
of the shipping board, pensions. in
surance and care Of soldiers. Euro
pean food relief, bonus. etc. Fol-
past wars S3.S55,4s2.5S5.60 was paid
out. The cost of the war and navy
department for the year was S1,424.-
1~3S,676.57.
OF the IL per cent-primary gov
eminent functions absorbed 3.2 PEI
cent; public works 3 per cent and
| research, education and develop
ment, including agriculture. only n
per cent-s57, o. 3,660.93. Only six
tenths Of one per cent of Uncle Sans
entire income was devoted to the
development and protection of what
has been called his chief sustaining
industry agriculture.
One of the highest officials IN the
navy was overheard the other day
to exclaim Damn the politicians IN
Congress-" Men in the executive
branch Of the government are damn
ing Congress because they cannot
get all the money they want to
spend.
In reviewing the work of the first
and second sessions of the seth con-
gress, House Leader Mondell said:
MANY of the officials Of the admin
istration were neither accurate, in
formed, nor properly mindful of the
truth in their arguments before
committees in support OF the esti-
mates. The very best that can be
said of the attitude Of officials who
urged extravagant expenditure Is
that they may have spoken through
ignorance rather than out of a de-
liberate purpose to mislead."
|. Certain appropriations-and yet. by
official figures, % per cent. of all
the money Uncle Sam could raise
by taxing the people to the limit
went for wars and the results OF
wars-pensions for past wars, COM
pensation for the present war, hos
pitfalls, vocational rehabilitation, be-
sides the expenses of the army n
navy; and only seven per ent Tor
the ordinary government functions
and upbuilding.
And yet we are going along. with
more than 5000 on the govern
ment payroll-an army of half a
million people, DESTROYS of hanging
on. They can't get down to pre-
war conditions. They are damning
the politicians in congress.
Now what is a politician? One
who studies the conditions through
out the country. His duty as a
politician, as a member of congress.
and his own personal interest If he
would continue to serve is-to con-
slider the needs OF the people. He
has to consider the needs of the
public health service, of the forest
service, animal industry, plant in
dustry, the various great scientihc
bureaus = standards, chemistry,
mines+the government agencies
that are concerned with the devel-
opment of the interior. conservation
and utilization of natural resources
: public work, etc.
It's the seven per cent. that
builds for the future of the people.
The SO per cent. they submit 10.
You don't hear anything more
about the bonus for former service
men-that demand was worked up,
! congress failed to act, n the deci-
sion was accepted-the American
Legion is now emphatically silent.
But YOU do hear officials in the ex-
ecutive branch of the government
damning the politicians in congress.
They are busy thinking up plans
for spending money that Uncie
Sam can't raise. They. are SELF
conferred, looking after their W
little world and damning me poll
ticians who will not give them all
the money they want to spend.
"TJncle Joe" Cannon from forty-five
years experience with officials OF
this stripe while a member OF, the
: appropriations committee was
{ moved to say in a notable speech
on the national budget:
at admit that the governemnt has
many valuable experts VINO give
their time to special Investigations;
but some years ago it was a stand
ing Joke that one of the most mod
est clubs in Washington was the
most expensive club in h world,
because all the government experts
n and many not in the government
g service were members of that clut
and il became an exchange foi
ideas for new plans of government
expenditure and enlargement or INT
government budget
So Z per cent. of what the gov
j, eminent collects IN revenue Il SOlhs
for the 100, 100000 people in ad
,e vancement for peace; and 93 pc
cent. is going for wars n to NEE
the fears for future wars.
There is no howl of complain
against efforts at economy from tn
!" boys who served in the great wa
in the tremendous army of 100000
oe now disbanded, but you do hea
complaints from the ~bureaucrat
manufacturing schemes for spend
ing more money.
Now looking to the future-an
re relief for the people. One thing i
" certain. The next president of tn
United States is going to be one c
those damn politicians"-becaus
e. both Harding and Cox have bee
to criticized as "just politicians" an
Nv both have served in congress. Their
will probably be one relief afte
- March a., 1921, which ever one
elected, because he'll be consider
ing the Z per cent. the people war
as well as the 80 per cent. the e1
perts on war want to continue.
The next president also wi
j probably do something like Roost
& Welt did when he issued his ordt
against Observation-Disclosures us
of the "big stick" to take off IL
official head of anyone in the az
ADMINISTRATION asking congress fl