Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
Uncle Sans Business Has
Grown 5000 Since 1909
BY HARDEN CoLFAx.

Whatever may be the opinion as TO
the ACCESSIBILITY Of the Government 20
ing into business, figures compiled from
omlcial sources show unmistakably that
the Government Is in business. It Is
In the business Of maintaining and op-
Grating tremendous departmental actiY-
tiles and AS such Is perhaps the best
individual customer which the distribu-
tors Of the United States possess.
Not only Is the United States In busi-
ness, but, according to these figures, its
business has grown over 500 per cent
since 1909. The cost Of maintaining
Federal governmental operations, &C.
cording. to the budget figures from Of.
nctal sources, was approximately $780,.
000,000 in 1909. This has risen to q
budget Of $4,000, 100000 for the fiscal
year 1881, or gain Of approximately
500 per cent.
80 ~
The estimates, however, for the year
ending June 30, 1881, provide for ACTIVE
ties which were not known or guessed
ct In 1909. Consequently, the gross
figures are not accurately comparable
when broken down into divisions for
each unit. The comparison Of 1903 for
the establishments then existing with
the estimate Of 1881 for the same estab-
hShments shows an increase Of about
800 per cent, or an advance from $780,
100000 to $2,532, o00, 900.
Lengthy arguments now are being
conducted In Congress and elsewhere
as to what the Government has done
for the farmer, but it is an indisput-
able TACT that the largest increase in
governmental expenditures In the last
20 years has been for the Department
Of Agriculture.
In 1909 this department was given
an appropriation OF $1l, 7S3 ,1S5, where
as the estimate for 1891 Is $l67, 06S. 600.
or an increase Of 1924 per cent. This
includes the funds available for Fed.
erA aid to rural highways.
The next greatest increase was In
the department OF buildings and the
Identification Of grounds in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, with gain Of o24
per cent. The activities Of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission have null
tiplied so greatly in view Of its duties
in the regulation Of railroads, railroad
finance, mergers and acquisitions that
an increase in appropriation of 636 per
cent has been necessary.
The Coast Guard was awarded an
increase Of 586 per cent. This unoues-
tionably Is due largely to the activities
OF the Coast Guard in the enforcement
Of the prohibition amendment. AL
though new vessels, light houses and
other equipment and personnel have
accounted for some Of the gain.
There was only one decrease noted In
the compilation Of these figures COM
pairing 1909 with 1881. This was in
the account of the Panama Canal. for
which an appropriation of SAL ,365. 900
was made in 1909. This compares with
an estimate Of $11, 845 900 for main
tenance in 1881, or q decrease Of lS6
per cent. In addition the Panama
Canal is expected in the next year to
show . profit over maintenance in
operating costs.
The smallest increase noted was that
for the Navy, which advanced 1914 per
cent Sso 4oi from n, an p Eas o Of $50
War Department showed q gain from
14S,37s,65e to $4Se.215,90 in 1881, or
206 per cent. The Department Of Jus
tice has had its activities materially
by the growth and progress Of
the country rs well as by the necessity
OF trying prohibition cases and anti
trust suits. This department, which
used only $40, 200. $3.50 20 years ago, now
requires t31, 752, 900.
In 1908 the Departments of Com
merce and Labor were consolidated with
q department appropriation Of $10,7O6,-
los. For the coming year the Department.
Of Commerce alone will be allotted $zS.-
36o, 900. while the Department Of Labor
win require 81. 1897, 900. The Post Once
Department requires sass. 970,577 for
1881. This was o gain Of 272 per cent,
but In 1909 air mail had not been
heard Of.
Copyright. ls3o.)