Evening star., 1924-03-21
CHAPTER XVI.
what II All shs,vs.

In our study we have not consid-
cred the growing expenses OF the dif-
ferent states nor Of their political
subdivisions. We have Just analysed
the national government and have
shown very briefly some of its big
problems. We. have taken apart this
complicated and Intricate machine
growing more complicated and 'intri-
cate each year--and have studied the
machinery to see what parts were
worn out, what pieces were too small
for present-day use and what ones
too large. We have not studied the
effect Of possible new expenses, such
as would occur in case q bonus was
passed. We have taken the govern
ment as we found 1t and have report
ed 1t In all its strength as well as in
its weaknesses.
AND now to sum UP our investiga-
tion. what have we found out? Many
have discovered:
That the government, under the
drivfng genius Of Washington and
Hamilton, started with a protective
tartn and . system OF indirect taxa
That the government used this
means to raise it's necessary revenue
because It was the easiest way.
That the accounting methods of
Keeping national books put in in 1870
were used by the government up. to
the Introduction of the budget in
1921. That the budget bureau is a
step forward In Intelligent account
ing; that IL has 30 far accomplished,
while somewhat less than is often
claimed, still a great deal. That such
q bureau marks the connecting link
IN making not Congress but the Pres
tdsnt the general manager of the
only the political but the responsible
financial head OF the nation.
That the White House was not built
ny the United States at all, but by
the states Of Virginia and Maryland
cluding the salary of the President,
cost just one cent out of every hun
dred dollars raised last year.
Tnat the legislative department, In
c!uoing the total expenses of all SEN
year less than was given the Vet
Grams Bureau every eleven days.
That the Department OF Labor, with
a cabinet member in charge and EN-.
pioying $500 people, is spending foi
each year less than the government
is paying for interest on the public
debt every twelve hours.
Arms Cssts Are In the Lead.
That the Department of State, with
a worldwide organisation, having
40 ofhces in 50 countries, spent for
last year just 46 cents out of every
$1,700 collected.
That the Department of Comme rec
employing over 1900 men. spent only
~ cents out Of every 500 of federal
revenue.
That the Department Of Justice,
employing about 3.4oo people. while
subject to some criticism for spend
ing too much, took for the year less
than the United States Navy received
That the Post ONCE Department
the greatest and cheapest public
utility in the world. employing
2S5,0oo people. cost the federal
Treasury less for the year than the
ceived for every month Of the year.
That the Department of .Agricul-
ture. with its 10000 employees, ex-
elusive of good roads. spent about "
cents out Of every federal dollar ap-
partment spent every sixty days.
That the Department of the Inte-
rior, IL we include pensions and In
dian affairs, is one OF the large spend
ing bureaus, ana TOOK ABOUT cents
out of every 81. But war pensions
took about cents out OF the 8 cents
That war pensions for 1923 were
greater than in any year in our his
tory in spite of the fact that the
civil war veterans are dying at the
rate of $500 a month. But the Span
tsh war veterans are being added Al
about the same rate. That tffe
5000, 900 Of veterans of the last war
are getting closer to the Treasury
through the pension Office.
That 55 per cent of the total So
called costs of the Treasury Depart
ment for 1923 were refunds. The
amount was $155, 100000 and should
be carefully checked.
That the Navy was costing twice
rs much now each year as It did
before we entered the war to abolish
war. That the Navy was one Of the
big spending bureaus. That It took
sol cents out Of every 81 spent by
the government
That the War Department has in
creased from $4,000 men ten years
ago to 1900 men in 1923, and ex-
penses have increased in the depart
ment by $15s, 200, 600 annually. That
1886 out of every $1,000 spent by the
government was absorbed by mill
tary functions and public debt charges