Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-07
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

toed the soldiers adjusted compensa-
ton and the measure was passed over
the veto by coalition of all parties.
there is not much chance to criticize
the Government for that, nor will any
serious attempt be made to claim that
it is not offset by the price paid by
the benefciaries IN broken bodies and
sacrificed lives.
X x X x
In 1926 the Federal Government
paid on the public debt 1881, 937 700
interest and on the principal S4S1.-
376 ,051. That expenditure" amount
ing to total of S1,319 ,313,751. has
nothing to do with our running ex-
penses of government.
The population in 1913 was 6,512,-
407, while in 1926, according to the
estimate of the Bureau of the Census.
it was 117,135. S17-an increase of
about % per cent. Why, then. should
not total costs increase in proportion,
even if service were no better? When
Speaker Thomas Reed was twitted
with the total of appropriations reach
ing a billion dollars by one Congress
he retorted that this is now a billion
dollar country.
4 X 81
One of the plainest indicators of the
terest paid on public indebtedness: In
1923, S1,056,169; in 1924. $940S4 in
1925, 1881 1894, and in 1926, 1891 .619.
The grand total expenses of the
Federal Government have been as fol-
lows:
II99SS33 ....'.' ............... S3'372 9922
1857 ''''--''''' 33'33d5S'0033a
1S3S2 535O.U9st
4S%O. ...'.... .............. 3.369,4oO
X X x
Now look at the rising cost of the
states! In Italy, Dictator Mussolini
gives as his reason why he has sent
'carpetbaggers" into the states, to
replace independent state govern
ments, that otherwise local states
rights" would be exercised beyond a
uniform federal schedule, and then
the local spenders would "holler" for
government aid. OF course, that
might be so in Italy. but no statesman
charges that it applies to the United
States. These figures, however. do so
apply: In 1915 the total cost of gov
eminent by the 4S States, covering
State and county expenses. was $379-
O6O ,O94; in 1925, it was 81 ,035, AIS ,035.
AS far back as 1903 the Census Blu
reau found that there We're in the
United States 146 cities with popula-
tons between 10000 and $4,000.
Those 146 cities spent for local gov
eminent in 1908. $431, 1876 and the
same cities spent in 1913, $500. 565 800.
and in 1925, 50 .197, 241, 971, an increase
OF more than 400 per cent since 1908.
1t must be borne in mind that dur.
ing the war. all State DEVELOPMENT of
roads and public buildings was sus.
pended; this had to be made good fol-
lowing the war. Hence not all in
crease of State costs can be charged
to local extravaganza. AS officially
stated by the Census Bureau. the pay
nents for operation and maintenance
IF the general departments of the
state governments of the As States
or the fiscal period closing December
81, 1926, or the first fiscal period clos
nS prior thereto, amounted to 1,040,-
az, or $S.9S per capita. This in
'ludes S265 ,544, appointments for
'ducatlon TO the minor civil divisions
u the states, and $4,974,014, payments
u soldiers bonus in II States. In
1915 the comparative per capita for
operation and maintenance of general
apartments was 1919, and in 1917,
'f'I9. The payments for operation
IND maintenance of public service en-
erprlses amounted to $9.O76,346: inter-
ISL on deot' $N6,S69,O95, ana out,ayS
or permanent improvements. Sass
5S,061. The total payments for 1926.
therefore,, were $1.614,537,954; for
925, ,614,562, 230, and for 1917. SSH
03,220. wa
The payments for soldiers bonus In
926 were $50.910,564 less than in 1925.
ut there was an increase in annor'
comments for education of $9,2OI .O16.
hese claims are now practically all
leaned up. Interest charges also in
reaSed $9,2O7,147 over those for 1925
VI the total payments in 1926. 644
er cent was for operation and main
enance or the general departments.
% per cent for operation and mainte.
ance of public service ENTERPRISES
q per cent for interest on debt. and
w per cent for OUTLAWS for perna-
ent improvements.
or the payments for operation and
maintenance of general departments.
1.9 per cent was for education: 172
er cent charities, hospitals and cor.
ectlons; l5.l per cent, highways; S.4
er cent, general government; SIS per
ent' protection to person and prop
rty; go per cent, DEVELOPMENT apd
observation OF natural resources; "a
er cent, health and sanitation; O.3 per
ent, recreation, and 40 per cent. mis-.
ellaneous, the latter including SOL
ers' bonuses.
The outlay payments for permanent
improvements We're principally for
Ighways, constituting S1.4 per cent
the total OUTLAWS. The next in i'm.
ortance were the outlay payments for
iucatlon, amounting to $50, ABS, 473.
I'D charities, hospitals and correc.
0nS, amounting to $30 150795