The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1921-12-17

WARS EAT UP THE TAXES

When / set out to discover for you
where the money you pay as Federal
taxes goes / did not have far to look.
1t goes for wars, past, present and
prospective. Last year little over ~
per cent of the national income went
that way. In the report of the Secre-
tary of the treasury submitted to con-
gress in December, 1920, he remarks:
An analysis of government expenditures
for the fiscal year 1920, on the basis OF
daily treasury statements, develops the
striking fact that of the net ordinary dis
bursements of s., 403 10000 about SO per
cent consisted of expenditures under the
following heads:
Purchase of obligations of for
eign governments .............S 42l,WU,Vo
War department ............. 1611. 900. 600
Navy department ................ 136,Uo,VW
Shipping board NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 5Sl,VUVV
Federal control of transporta-
ton systems and payments
to the railroads under the
transportation act, 1920 1880. 1,o3i,oU,oW
Interest on the public debt. 80. 02O, 900 900
Pensions 213000000
War-risk insurance ............. uI,OO,UV
Purchase Of federal farm-loan
bonds 100000
Total OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. S, 716, 900
Substantially all the expenditures
entering into this total, and large
share of the expenditures on various
minor accounts, represent burdens dl-
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 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
inefficiency 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 adj
ministration and the elimination of du- i
plication and unnecessary work 1t might
well be possible to save much as \
$50 0O0, 900 or $685. 900 by careful and sci
ontlHC reorganization Oh IIie government
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 1890 900. about 51a billions rep
resented expenditures directly traceable
to the war, to past wars, or to prepared
ness for future wars. OF this, about
1850, 900 900 went for the army and navy,
over 500 10000 for the shipping board.
over 81 ,000, 100000 for the railroads, another
81 900, 900 900 for interest on the public debt,
almost $500, 100000 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 IL to say, the various government |
departments, boards and commissions and
the legislative establishment, have not
much exceeded $3.50, 200 900 even in the alb |,
norma1 war wears