The Washington herald., 1921-10-09
Duncan U. Fletcher, Florida.
HAVE always opposed the

i couragement of the militaristic
spirit and tendency in govern
ment- I have always favored steps
looking towards a limitation of arma-
ments. both on land and on sea. The
provision in the naval bill of 1915
calling for an international confer
ence to deal with the subject of re-
duction of armaments l cordially sup
ported.
NJ Ow. after the experience Of 1914
~ to 1919. at the close of a world
war, the direct and indirect cost of
which is placed at the bewildering
figure Of s337.0o0. .000. .000-a sum
nearly equal to the prewar wealth
Of England. France. Germany and
Russia-it would seem imperative
that the civilized nations get to-
gether and agree upon and live up
to a plan that would save their peo-
pies from all unnecessary burdens.
The United States can bear such
taxes better than any other nation.
because we produce a surplus Of the
prime necessities OF life. which other
nations must have. or go hungry and
unclothed; we have become a great
creditor nation with enormous gold
reserves: our resources are unlimited
and tnexhaustible. but even this
country is fairly groaning under ex-
isting tax burdens. and shuddering
to think o: more. Other less fortu-
nate countries. worse stricken ana
deeper in debt. must confront a fu-
ture as black as night. IL they spend
material part of their substance
on military and naval establishments.
which produce nothing and consume
without limit.
IN 1916 the total amount of our
L interest bearing public debt was,
1911 ,562.590. In 1919 1t went to over
s25. 900. 900, 900. The average expen-
ditures of the Federal government,
for all purposes. for the years 1910
to 1916. ran about $1,000. 900. 900 per
year. We had national income
of about $4,000. 900. .000-it cost us
about 3Se to be governed. The amount
of annual interest charge alone now
Is S1,016.b92.21S. In other words, We
must pay as interest on our debt this
year az much as the entire expense
of the government was In 1915. The
expenditures of the national govern
ment for the army and navy, and
pensions (for past wars) in 1916 were
$50. and for civil purposes. 35To Of
the whole, In 1921 they were $3.50
and 1875. respectively. and It is esti-
mated that for 1929. they will be $40
and 16%. respectively. for the same.
OUR per capita share of annual
~ expenditures has gone from
s2.25 in 1850 to S10.L2 in 1910, and
s47.65, approximately, IN 1921. At
least SS per cent of all appropria-
tions are now going for war pur-
poses, past and future. There Is no
chance to reduce taxes except in
connection with military and naval,
establishments and affairs, because
only a. small. comparatively. portion
of appropriations Is going toward
the civil establishment to maintain
the legislative. judicial and execu.
tive branches of the governmept.
The cartoon showing Congress rum
ming away with the distressed tax
payers shoes. Clothing. umbrella.
etc. marked appropriations" while
a little boy. labelled Dawes" ap-
proaches him with battered hat,
saying, Mister. here's your hat" IL
a very apt Illustration of. the situa-.
tion.
Morris Sheppard, Texas.
IN 1916 we were paying for our
i army about sf64, 636,000: in 1921,
$1,027,750, 900. In 1916 we paid for
our navy $155.o2s. 600: in 1921, sSs7.-
100000, This year 20 per cent OF
our appropriations are for military
and naval purposes. IS per cent for
past wars. The figures speak for,