The Alaska daily empire., 1921-08-17

today.
 In the year 1920 five great nations Great Britain, the United States, France, Italy and Japan-spent for military and naval purposes $16,442,- 251, ,101. This sum is little over $2, ,000. 100000 more than all those nations together expended for mili- tary purposes in the IA years extend ing from 1900 to 1911. It has been estimated that in order to pay for the tremendous ornaments now in contemplation a tax equivalent to $10 for every man, woman and child in the world would have to be levied
 War the Greatest Drain
 Of the billions of dollars raised each year by every conceivable sort of taxation more than 90 per cent goes either to prepare for future wars or to pay the expenses of wars that have already been fought. To be more specific, statistics show that out of every dollar raised by taxation 92 cents is spent for things resulting from or appertaining to war.
 The cost of the World War alone both in lives and in money, is al most beyond realization. Thirty mil, lions of people perished by weapon, by gas, disease or hunger, to say nothing of other millions who were blinded or maimed; and it has been estimated that if an earthquake should swallow up the whole United States it could destroy no more world conflagration.
 Although the United States en tered the war somewhat later than the other nations, it's expenses were greater during the comparatively short period of it's participation than in all the preceding 125 years in history. In December, 1918, the month following the signing of the armistice, our expenditures were greater than for all that period of 72 years before the Civil War. During the single month of December we expended each day more money than in the first II years of our nation hood.
 The following figures cast inter esting light upon the manner in which expenditures for armament have increased in the United States: In 1850 the per capita expenditure was SIT; in 1860, $2.01; in 1870, $7.s1; in 1880, $52S; in 1890, $4.75; in 1900. $6.39; in 1910, $7.30, and in 1919. SHAFT.
 Education Figures Least
 In the fiscal year ending June 30 1920, the appropriations for the na tional government aggregated $5,686,- 575,000. Of this sum there was ex- pended, for the war and navy depart ments, $1,424,13S,6 ,667, or 25 per cent of the entire amount; $3,855. 100000, or 67 per cent. went for previous wars in the way of pensions, etc. For primary functions of government s1S1. 100000 was expended, or about 32 per cent of the whole. For pub lie works of every description the government paid out s168,O0O,000. For research and educational develop ment this nation lavished the sum of $57 ,093, ,660, or 1.0Ol per cent of the whole sum expended. 51
 In other words, for the various de- partments of research. for the incul- cation of the principles of good citi- zenship, for the Standardization of foreign clements and for such other educational work as the government supports wholly or in part the United States appropriated 1 per cent of five and a half billions of dollars. while for wars, past and expected. nearly 93 per cent.
 Must Pay for Past Wars
 Many American statesmen assert that if the coming conference shall prove as successful as it is reasona ble to expect the proportions of our future expenditures will be reversed: that for ordinary governmental func- tions, for good roads, public build ings. capacious harbors, irrigation projects. reclamation of swamp lands. pensioning the aged. educational work. scientific research, and the like, we shall expend 93 per cent of the whole, and for the armament of such a police force as may be dg-