The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-02-17

PENSIONS .........-.............. -i"'""'oVV
War-risk insurance ............. lI,W"Vn
Purchase of federal farm-loan
bonds OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. V'"""W
Total ~, si"."v''vV"
substantially all the expenditures
entering into this total, and large
share of the expenditures on various
minor accounts, represent burdens di-
rectly traceable to the war, 10 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 10 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 esta blishments. 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. II might
well be possible to save as much as
so. co., 900 OF SlOO,OC0,0S by careful and sci
entific reorganization of the governments
business.
The figures show that over " per
cent of the total annual expenditures
OF the government are related to war
Out OF total expenditures during 1920 OF
about II, 400 co., p0 a.out So billions rep
resented expenditure directly traceable
to the war, to past wars. or to prepared
ness for future wars. or this, about
81 800, 10000 went for the army and navy.
over $5O00O.00o for the shipping board.
over 81 .600, 00e.rtS for the railroads. another
81 Co., .00O for interest on the public debt.
almost $500. 10000 for purchase of Obliea-
tons of foreign governments on account
Of their war expenditures. and the remain
der for pensions. war risk aliotments and
miscellaneous items related TO war. An
analy sis 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 asta Enlistment proper,
that is TO say the various government
departments, boards md commissions and
the legislative esta nlishment, have not
much exceeded $26O...O. 90 even in the alb
normal war years.
l sought details. Ii more than ~
per cent of the ei.:ire 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 proven,
war is to be prepared for war; !
thought l might find out whether tina,
was true | went back into the rec
ords and found that year by year
from 1884 to 1919 inclusive the treas
Of the actual disbursements-not ap
preparations. mind you. but actual
money expended-Of the War depart
ment, the Navy department and for
pensions. When l got all the figures
before me l couldn't add them up
In the bureau OF internal revenue
they loaned me a machine and an
operator. and SO l know and eau tell
you that from 1884 to and through
1919 the War Department actually dis
bursed 23,O02, 800 ,OOS.65. In the same
period the Navy Department spent
$6.9O7 1883, O32S4; and pensioners of
past wars got $5.8S4,O79,69423.
That is laundering total of 500.
800, 759,O41.49 for the army and navy
alone, leaving out Of account the
s5,634, 079,694. % for pensions.
l 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
us prepared when we went to war.
The three items / have enumerated
are only ribs of the skeleton of the
cost of war preparation and activity.
| have not been able to excavate any
other detail figures. But it is known
that the war of 1872 cost about Sl33,-
7O3.SSO.
The cost of the Mexican war is est.
mated to have been $63,6O5. 62l.
The total cost Of the Civil war. TAX
ing the period from June 30. 1861. to
June 80. 1896, may he figured CLOSELY
at S3,5OO,OO0.OOO.
The treasury in the winter of 1900
q estimated in q report sent to con.
gress through the secretary that the
cost Of the World war to us TO tha,
date had been S24. 900. 600 excl.
sive of our loans to the allies and
other foreign nations.
So you see the cost OF wars is 90
ing up. no matter how much money
we spend by way OF preparation.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL SCHOOL EUec.
TON.
Notice is hereby given that the annual
election OF School District No. II of Okla
hogan county, Washington, will be held
AZ High School Building in said school
district on saturday, 18th day of March.
i's-' Tor the purpose Of electine one
school district director for term of
three years and for the transaction of
'uch other business as may lawfully come
before the meeting.
me polls will be open from O'Clock n |
III. 10 O'Clock p. M. BY order of the
BOARD of directors
MARY C. BROWN,
.-17-3t Schooi D;..
'ated this 10Th day OF February, 1922