Show TH COST or OF A WAR if we americans have been sut suf fazi ig any illusions regarding the cost of an adequate national defense structure they should be shattered by now the billion dollars or so requested in the presidents special message several weeks beeks ago was but a small drop in a very big bucket congress has already raised that amount many times tor for defense purposes and that sum gigantic as it is marks only the beginning seme 0 the leading columnists have been criticizing high government officials for failing to frankly inform the people as to just what sacrifices are now necessary and that indictment seems justified florn a completely nonpartisan non partisan point of view defense appropriations have been requested on a piecemeal piece meal meat basis no reliable estimate of the total cost has been issued by any responsible government source and no definite plan has been presented to the people who must pay the bill in the opinion of senator byrd of virginia who has proven himself a cool head when it comes to fiscal matters reasonable rearmament to fo this country will cost as much as 20 billion dollars the question before us now is not whether we shall ae arm to the limit all are agreed that must be done the question is how to pay for it in a logical bus iness like manner free from waste to that question there are three related answers it will be necessary s to raise the debt limit it 11 will be necessary to cut the cost of government to the bone every nickel spent now for an unnecessary or avoidable purpose c should be regard td t d as criminal waste excessive relief relict A appropriations excessive faim td rd appropriations must be industrial news review |