That we may better appreciate the present problem in its
relation to the United States, attention is called to the
appropriations made by the United States Government. For the
year ending June 30, 1910, the appropriations for the army,
fortifications and military academy amount to $111,897,515.67;
for the navy, $136,935,199.05; and for pensions, $160,908,000.
The total amount to be expended during the current fiscal
year on account of wars and preparations for war aggregates
$409,740,714.72. Compare these figures with the relatively
insignificant sum of $32,007,049, which is the total amount
appropriated for the use of the executive, legislative and
judicial departments of the Government during the same period.
The total expenditures of the Government of the United States
from its beginning in 1789 to 1909 has been as follows: For
war, $6,699,583,209; for navy, $2,441,572,934; for pensions,
$4,155,267,356. This aggregates the vast sum of $13,296,423,549
expended for war purposes, as against $4,466,068,760 expended
for civil and miscellaneous purposes.
The average annual cost of the army and navy of the United
States for the eight years preceding the Spanish War was
$51,500,000. The average annual cost of the army and navy for
the eight years since the Spanish War has been $185,400,000. The
average yearly increase in the latter period as compared with
the former has been $134,000,000, making a total increase in
eight years of $1,072,000,000, or 360 per cent. This increase
for eight years exceeds the national debt by $158,000,000.
The amount of all gifts to charities, libraries, educational
institutions and other public causes in 1909 in this country was
$185,000,000, or $400,000 less than the average annual cost for
the army and navy for the past eight years. What benefit has the
nation derived from all this expenditure?
(3424)
See ARMIES OF THE WORLD; NAVIES OF THE WORLD; MILITARISM.