Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-03-18
WARNS AGAINST
DRASTIC CUT IN
STANDING ARMY
Chairman Kahn of House
Military Committee Says
"FaIse Economy Is the
Poorest Kind Economy"

ing members of congress thai
false economy is the poorest kind
of economy Chairman Kahn Of
the house military committee de-
clared today during consideration
of the army appropriation bill that
a reduction I'm the size of the reg
ular army to 115,000 enlisted men
and 1000 officers. as provided in
the measure would be altogether
too drastic a cut at this time"
The California representative
held that pay provision should be
made for 10000 men and 10000
officers during the coming fiscal
year, as required by the war de-
partment, or if congress were de-
termined to direct q reduction in
the interest OF economy that the
enlisted strength should not be de-
creased below 10000 men.
False Economy Is roor Economy.
Lately It has seemed to become
popular on the part % n good
many of the men in congress TO in
sist on cutting down the allow
ances for our army and navy" Mr..
Kahn said Economy is the
watchword of a good many legisla-
tors But let me call the attention
of the house TO the fact that false
economy Is the poorest kind of
economy"
Reviewing the military situation
prior to the entrance Of the United
States into the world war, the
chairman asserted that "by reason
Of our lack of preparedness, we
were compelled to eXpend during
the 10 months we were in the war
the startling sum of $24,000,000,-
600"
When compared with the expendi-
lures of the American people for
pleasure or essential commod-
ties, the outlay for military pur-
poses sinks into comparative in
significance" he contended, as he
quoted a variety of statistics,
During the fiscal year 1921, the
house was told, when appropria-
tons for the regular army, nation
al guard and the organized re-
serves aggregated s41S.O00, 900, the
public spent 100000 for ad-
mission to theaters, concerts, cab
arets, baseball games and other en-
tertainments; s1,151,000,000 for
tobacco and related materials,
$3.50, 0000 for candy and chew
ing gum: sS34.000.000 for sodas
and confections, and s959,000,0 900
for personal adornment.
Expenditures Per Capita.
Comparing the expenditures o!
the United States during 1920
1921 on its army with the sums
expended by other nations. Mr..
Kahn said the United States eX-
penditures totaled $343,155.303 or
$3,22 per capita while those of the
British empire, exclusive of de-
Tendencies amounted to $562 123,-
COO or St2,35 per capita; Franco,
S933,92T00O or $2252 per capita
Italy, s24G.081,200 or sG70 per
capita and Japan $tS9,0S2,900 or
$3.3S per capita.
These figures show that we are
exceedingly mindful of the well
fare of our people in keeping down
military costs and expenditures,
declared the speaker
Contrasting with other leadins
powers the size OF the army in
comparison with the population,
Mr.. Kahn said that for the year
1921 the number in the American
army was 1.42 per 1000 popula-
ton, while the number of Great
Britain was 1884; France, 14,47;
Italy, SIT; Japan, 5.4; and China,
403.
Our National Wealth.
"a comparison of our national
wealth with the number of sol
diers now maintained in the reg
ular army" the house was in
formed, SHOWS that each soldier
is charged with affording protec-
tion and national security to
$1,755,597 of the $350.000. 0.000,0
total of our national wealth.
Each of these soldiers is at the
present time protecting some 25
square miles of territory of our
mainland dependencies, and with
giving S4S of our people a guaran-
tee against foreign interference
with their constitutional rights in
their pursuit of health, happiness
and lawful gain. All this at cost
of s3.22 per capita of population