Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-13

Washington, May 1O.-Although the
United States, with the principal ma
| lions of the world, has agreed to Gu,
down its naval and military expense,
very considerably in the interests OF
world peace and international economy,
yet of all Of the tremendous amount
of money spent by the American gov
eminent, nearly three-Quarters is for
purposes Of a This does not mean
ernment is for martial preparations,
payment for past wars making up the
larger part of the item.
The whole expenditure bv the GOV
ernment for 1922 amounts to $780,
113.65S. OF this great total, no less
than $2,so7,e 78 is to provide for the
army and navy, and pay debts incurred
BY wars Of the past. The sum of
S72S .S74,0 10 is for national defense.
The rest is the payment of interest.
pensions and the like, incurred in wars
of the past. This sum includes money
for the United States shipping board,
however.
For the postoffice department about
$575, 100000 is provided, but this sum
is made up from postal revenues, and
Therefore the postoffice department is
self-supporting. However, the sum
must be included among government
expenses regardless Of how that ex-
peDse is met.
These figures may be slightly chang
ed BY subsequent acts of congress, but
as q general comparison will hold good.
Adoption Of the bonus plan by congress
and Its approval by President Hard
ing would add an enormous item to the
costs of wars. and make that item in
1 fhn aAtsosenl A> - $3.50 o-A.
powering figure than it is now
amounts to about IL per cent of the
whole outlay Of money. Public works
expenditures amount to only about 3.5
per cent Of the total.
Against considerably o than 81
lO0O.OOO 600 to be spent on account Of
w~ars-past and possible future clashes
only q little more than 500, 000, 900
will be spent by the federal govern
ment on good roads. The constructive
department Of agriculture will have to
spend on it's work of scientific re-
search and public education only about
$5O,OOO.O0O. The department of the
interior, another constructive arm of
the government, will have for its work
only about $35,O0O,OOO.
Some Economy Shown
Since the great expenditures of war
times, the government actually has
|economized Tremendously. It's expend-
lures Of those days make the annual
budget of today appear small by com
parison. But those days will leave
their impression for many years to
come in the payment of interest
charges on bonds, and a sinking fund
for the retirement of government obi
cations at their maturity.
The interest on the public debt, most
of which was caused by the world war,
amounts to nearly a billion dollars a
year. The sinking fund requires near
ly $290.O00,0OO annually.
For taking care Of veterans of the
world war it is estimated that nearly
$500, 100000 will be spent during the
fiscal year 1922. This figure does not
take into account the bonus legislation
now before congress. If that becomes
a law. the expenditures for this pur-
pose will be enormously greater-it is
impossible at this time to predict ac-
curately just how much greater.
The treasury department was dis
appointed in the income taxes paid at
the first quarterly date-ATarch IS
last-and at present it appears that
estimates of the amount of revenue
TO De derived from LnlS source vas roo
high. Allowance was made for q fall
ing off from the amount received last
year. but the amount of unemployment
and the lower scales of wages cut the
return to the government materially
below the figure expected. This will
mean. without any additional outlay Of
money by the treasury department, a
deficit of possibly $1,000 900 or
$3.50. 0OO. 900. This deficit will be met
by the issuance of short term obliga-
tons Of the United States government,
and will be taken up in the course of
next year.
However, expenditures for the gov
eminent are now fixed. 10 all intents
and purposes. They will be reduced
gradually, but not by such leaps and
bounds that the income necessary for
the government can be reduced. With
the possibility of the bonus bill becom-
ing law. not only can there be no re-
duction in government income, but q
very large increase.
This years expenses are lower, too,
because the government is completely