The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-05-20

t,arv expenses very consiuefapAy ~
,hs interests Of world peace and in
,arnational economy, yet OF all OF the
,~rameudous amount of money spent
NV the American Government, nearly
,hree-ouarters is for purposes of war,
This does not mean that rs per cent
Of the outlay of Government Is for
martial preparations; payment for
mast wars making up the larger part
of the item.
Tbe whole expenditure by the Gov
m for 1872 amounts to $3,-
s~o1.113.s5s. OF this great total, no
lass than S2,771,ss7.s7s Is to provide
for the army and navy. and pay debts
incurred by wars Of the past. The
sum OF $72S,s74.s19 IL for National
defense. The rest is the payment OF
interest, pensions and the like in
Cured In wars Of the past. This sum
includes money for the United States
shipping board, however.
For the Postofice Department about
s575,0O0,00 is provided. but this
sum is made up from postal revenues.
and therefore the Postofice Depart
ment is self-supporting. However, the
sum must be included among Gov
eminent expenses regardless Of how
that expense IL met.
These figures may be slightly
changed by subsequent acts OF Con-
rress, but as a general comparison
will hold good. Adoption Of the bon
us plan by Congress and its approval
nv President Harding would add an
enormous item to the costs Of wars.
and make that item in the National
budget an even more overpowering
figure than 1t Is now.
The normal Government expense
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 more than $2,-
900, 600, 900 to be spent ON account
of wars-past and possible future
clashes-only a little more than
500, goo, 900 will be spent by the
Federal government ON good roads.
The constructive department Of agri-
culture will have to spend on its work
of scientific research and public edu-
cation only about $4,000 600. The
Department of the Interior, another
constructive arm Of the Government.
will have for It's work only about
t35,000,000.
SOME ECONOMY SHOWN
Since the great expenditures of
wal times. the Government actually
has economical tremendously. Its
expenditures of those days make the
annual budget of to-day appear small
by comparison. 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 OBJ
legations at their maturity.
The interest on the public debt.
NOR. Of which was caused by the
world war. amounts to nearly a bill
lion dollars a year. The sinking fund
requires nearly $2s0.000.0 00 annual
ly.
For taking care Of veterans OF the
world war. II Ii estimated that near
ly $500, 900, 900 will be spent during
the fiscal year 1922. This figure does
not take into account the bonus leg
islation now before Congress. II that
becomes Q law, the expenditures for
this purpose will be enormously great
er-it 10 impossible at this time to
predict accurately just how much
greater.
The Treasury Department was dis
appointed In the income taxes paid at
the first quarterly date-March Is
last-and at present 1t appears that
estimates Of the amount of
to be derived from this source were
too high. Allowance was made for a
falling of from the amount received
last year. but the amount of unem-
ployment and the lower scales of
wages cut the return to the Govern
ment materially below the figure ex-
pected. This will mean. without any
additional outlay OF money by the
Treasury Department. q deficit OF pos
sibly $200.000.000 or 50.000,0 900.
This deficit will be met by the issu-
ance Of short-term obligations of the
United States Government. and will
be taken up in the course OF the next
year.
However. expenditures for the Gov
eminent are now fixed, to all intents
n 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 be-
coming law, not only can there be no
reduction In Government income, but
a very large increase.
This years expenses are lower. too.
because the Government now is COM
pleteiy out of the railroad business
IN the country. except for its super
vision through the agency Of the In
Commerce Commission. The
losses due to Government operations
during and Immediately after the
world war were q tremendous item.
which had to be met by the taxpayers
Also, the loss in the Government ship
ping business was enormous. This
ioss still exists. but IL very much low
or than heretofore.