Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-27
Defense Cost
To Hit Total
Of 36 Billion
Program TO Soar 30 Pct.
Over Budget Estimate
BY PAUL MALLON

Tense program already is obso-
lete. Offered by Mr. Roosevelt
less than two months ago. and
then considered the greatest
sum of money ever mentioned
as cost of specific effort, it
already is beginning to appear
as just the first splash in a deep
bucket.
Mr.. Roosevelt has been edg-
ing it up by degrees with the
submission of supplemental estl-
mates for the army and navy
until now il is swollen to about
S31 ,000,000,000 to $32, 100000
000-and the British lease-lend
program is yet TO be financed.
A NEW appropriation of
"A S4000,000,000 to S5,000,000.-
600 for what the British want is
in the process of inner prepara-
ton. 1t will be submitted to
Congress by the White House as
soon as the acknowledgements
away bill is adopted.
This will hike the now visible
cost to around $36,000,000,0 900.
which is roughly 80 per cent
more than Mr.. Roosevelt's
budget calculated early in JAM
uary.
THE federal debt. which every
Il one seems TO have been
worrying about until bigger wor-
ries recently developed. is only
$4,000, 100000 more than the
program as thus far developed.
The inconceivable sum involved
can be gagged somewhat vaguely
if you consider that just about
that much cost would have been
involved if any one had spent
S36 each minute since the birth
of Christ up TO the present date.
1t is more than the cost to us
of the World War. (Appropria-
tons 1917-S1. 900, 100000; 1918
SIP, 700, 100000; 1919 - $751;
100000, 000-Total. S33, 100000
O00) 1t is five times as much
money as there was in circula-
tion in the United States in
1889.
Only thing it proves is that
figures are almost worthless in
considering the stupendous ef-
fort of defense upon which the
nation is embarked.
NONE of the money Mr..
~ Roosevelt has requested so
far is exclusively for the British.
The supplemental $500. 100000
he asked Monday for the army
includes $500 bombers which
we consider we need for our
selves. Some of these may find
their way to the British. but
only if they are to be replaced
from subsequent British orders.
The coming $4,000, 100000 or
$1,000, 100000 appropriation ex-
clusively for British needs will
cover their first new orders for
planes, bonn bers, merchant
ships, small fighting craft like
torpedo BIO [ S, anti-aircraft
guns, tanks and ammunition.
A ADMINISTRATIONS powers in
"A the House have been edg-
ing around towards a sympa-
thetic congressional inquiry into
defense contracts probably TO
ward off. critical one.
Floor Leader Mccormack and
Chairman Vinson of the naval
affairs and May of the military
affairs committees got their
heads together quietly at lunch
one day This week.
A joint committee of House
and Senate would be the proper
agency TO make the inquiry.
TIIE increasing crescendo from
Il the opposition quarter the
past few days caused some
nervousness downtown about
the outcome of the lend-lease
bill debate. After reconnoiter-
ing the situation. the authorities
decided to tighten their lines.
thought no more drastic steps
would be necessary.
CanVasSes indicated the OPP
position had not gained many
sure Senate votes. Only CONVEX
sion attributed directly TO the
debate was that of Aiken of
Vermont. although some classed
Reynolds of North Carolina as
an opposition gain.
g Administration had no doubt
about the outcome, but wanted
to keep the debate as free from
animoSity as possible. and the
bill free from amendments so
that the Presidents actions
hereafter will not be limited
by the necessity of appeasing
the minority.
YOU cannot always tell when
L a senator is filibustering.
Some just naturally talk so
much they sound dilatory. But
the wisest counselors of the
opposition have sworn privately
they do not intend to use Sc
riously the weapon of delay.
They just haven't enough men
who want to filibuster to make
such a drastic step successful.
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