The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-12-01


entering into thisu total; and a large
share Of the expenditures on various
minor accounts, represent burdens d.
rectly traceable to the war, to past
wars or to preparedness for future
wars. These figures serve to indicate
the direction which sincere efforts to
reduce the cost of the government
must take.
Then I found Mr.. Gilbert, the under.
secretary Of the treasury, saying:
There has been much idle talk to the
effect that the excessive cost Of govern
ment is due to inefficiency and extrava-
gance in the executive departments.
Without doubt there has been waste and
ineficiency In the various government de-
partments and establishments, and much
can be accomplished, and has already
been accomplished. by the introduction
of efficient and economic methods Of ad-
ministration and the elimination Of du-
plication and unnecessary work. 1t might
well be possible to save as much as
$4,000 900 or 100.000.0O0 by careful and SCI
entific reorganization of the governments
business.
The figures show that over 80 per
cent Of the total annual expenditures
Of the government are related to war.
Out of total expenditures during 1920 Of
about $e400.OO0,0OO. about 81 billions rep
resented expenditures directly traceable
to the war. to past wars, or to prepared
ness for future wars. OF this, about
1880. 100000 went for the army and navy,
over $500,0OO,0O0 for the shipping board,
over 81, 00O, 000, 900 for the railroads, another
$1,000, 00,000 for interest on the public debt
almost $500, 900 for purchase Of obliga-
lions OF foreign governments on account
Of their war expenditures, and the remain
der for pensions war risk allotments and
miscellaneous items related to war. An
analysis of the expenditures of the first
six months Of the fiscal year 1921 gives
similar results. The figures also show
that the total cost Of running what may
be termed the civil establishment proper,
that Is to say, the various government
departments, boards and commissions and
the legislative establishment, have not
much exceeded 250.00O,0 900 even in the alb
normal war years.
"a l sought details. If more than 80
per cent Of the entire disbursements
Of 1920 went for past and prospective
wars, how much had we been spend
ing to keep the world safe for democ-
racy? We are all familiar with the
argument that the best way to prevent
war is to be prepared for war. l
thought l might find out whether that
was true. went back into the rec
ords and found that year by year.
from 1884 to 1919 inclusive, the treas
ury department had kept an account
Of the actual disbursements-not ap-
mind you, but actual
money expended-of the War depart
ment, the Navy department and for
pensions. When got all the figures
before me couldn't add them up.
In the bureau Of internal revenue
they loaned me a machine and an
operator, and so l know and can tell
you that from 1884 to and through
1919 the War Department actually dis
bursed 23,OO2, 800, OOS.65. In the same
period the Navy Department spent
$780,, 1853, 032.84; and pensioners of |
past wars got $5634, O79 694.23.
That is laundering total of $780,
DOC, 759, O41.49 for the army and navy
alone, leaving out of account the
b5. 1884, O79, 694.23 for pensions.
I will let you decide whether any
part Of the twenty-nine billion dollars
spent for preparedness and for war
prevented our going to war or found
Is prepared when we went to war.
The three items I have enumerated
ire only ribs Of the skeleton of the
lost Of war preparation and activity.
have not been able to excavate any
'ther detail figures. But it is known
hat the war of 1872 cost about $780,
7O3,88O
The cost Of the Mexican war is esti-
mated to have been $63, 1905, 621.
The total cost Of the Civil war, talk
ng the period from June 80, 1861, to
Iune 80, 1856. may be figured closely
It $3,5OO,0O0,OOO.
The treasury n the winter Of 1920
i estimated in report sent to con-
,ress through the secretary that the
lost of the World war. to US to that
late had been S24,10O, 900, 900, exclu-
i've of oer loans to the allies and
,tler foreign nations.
So you see the esst Of wars II 70
ng up, ne matter how much neney
We spend by way ef preparatiea. Il