Inflation since that time has devalued the currency about 25-fold, which would bring us up to about 17.5 billion
Well write up your bill to eliminate everything but Congress Critter's underwear and a 4 Aircraft Carrier Navy. Eliminate the army, airforce, marines, anyone to man the carriers, no aircraft allowed, nor ammunition or support fleet.
Then figure how you intend to retain the viability of the Republic in a world bent on the destruction of all liberty, property and allowing only the grant of as much life necessary to the needs of your master.
The $17 billion figure only represented what adjusted spending was in 1910, or as I said, less than one percent of current revenues. If we could shoot for 3 percent we could afford considerably more. And the fact that all those things you listed in Post 609 draw as much spending as they do doesn't mean they have to draw that much spending. We certainly were able to "administer justice" for a lot less than that before. But of course, when "justice" is defined as slavish compliance with every single whim that some regulator decides to impose on us on any particular day of the week, I can see how that job could get a bit more complicated. (speaking of anarchy)
Then figure how you intend to retain the viability of the Republic in a world bent on the destruction of all liberty
If you're referring to the current War on Terror, I believe I've stated a few times that we would of course need additional sources of revenue in time of war. So we should do whatever it takes to fight the war and win, and then go back to responsible peacetime policies (troops home from Germany, Korea, Bosnia, whereever else, etc).