National Expenditures

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 3, 1909

National Expenditures

National Expenditures.—The French people are stirred by what is denominated reckless expenditure of the French Government. "The vast sum of eight hundred million dollars was the expenditure of 1908," and it is said that the figures for 1909 will considerably exceed this vast sum. Of the budget for 1909, M. Poincaire, the ex-minister of finance, calls the budget for 1909 a Himalaya. "Its summit is hidden in the clouds, and we can not measure its height. Every year we have to report a deficit. The army and navy get the lion share of this enormous sum." And this is the case with all of the great governments of earth. Two of the British ministry are strongly protesting against the expenditure of $60,000,000 the present year on the navy; but Premier Asquith and the Secretary of State for War, Mr. Haldane, deeply feel that a great navy and a large army are absolutely necessary. The king seems to stand with Premier Asquith and Mr. Haldane, the secretary of war.—The same strife has arisen in the United States. Four great first-class battle-ships of the improved "Dreadnaught" type are asked for. Congress is disposed to grant them, too, with many other vessels of smaller type. Men are talking peace, even as the prophecy declared they would, but they are preparing for war.