The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-02
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1868.
Reduction of Municipal Expenditures.

As the Democratic party claims to have
elected their candidate for Mayor of Philadel-
phia, and as the Democratic representation in
the new Councils will be greatly increased,
Taxpayers will anxiously await the reduction
in municipal expenditures which have been
promised as the inevitable result of the local
defeat of the Republicans. 1t is true that If
we look to New York we find little to encour-
age hopes of economy in the example fur
nished by the favortes of the citadel Of De.
mocracy, Tammany Hall. But giving the
Philadelphia Democrats credit for sincerity,
We are curious to see where they will begin
their work of reform. If they are really in
earnest, we will throw out few ideas which
are not altogether unworthy of their consde-
ration.
This city ia now paying for police pur-
poses about one million dollars annually. For
this sum it secures the services of body Of
men scarcely more numerous than regiment
of soldiers.
The cost OF an infantry regiment to the
United States Government exclusive of
transportation) is scarcely more than one
third of the amount paid by Philadelphia for
improbable that the police could be organized
on emi-military basis, the city furnishing
rations and clothing as well as monthly pay,
in such a manner as would secure the SER
vices of sufficient number Of competent men
for 100000 per annum. That sum, appro-
priated in the manner indicated, would GER
tainly afford a much better compensation to
IA Of ha than 10
awarded to an equal number Of the protectors
Of the national safety and honor. AS there
are thousands of persons at all times anxious
to "get on the police we feel confident that
q sufficient number of aspirants to keep
the ranks full would be found, even
If ther pay were reduced in the man.
ner indicated. Suitable and sufficient
rooms for cooking, sleeping, and eating pur-
poses could be supplied at comparatively
little expense, and unmarried men, at least,
would derive as much net revenue from this
system as they obtain from their present sala-
ries. Married men of character and special
usefulness might be appointed as officers, with
increased pay, and with the privilege possessed
by officers of the army of committing their
rations for money. There might be some
objections raised to this plan at the outset,
and there may be some serious obstacles to
its adoption, which could only be gradually
overcome, but we are disposed to believe that
after the people are earnestly impressed with
3 desire to tighten the heavy and growing
burdens of municipal government, they will
insist upon the trial of some such experiment
as we have suggested. The police department
now requires annual appropriations which
are only less than those granted to the de-
partment of educationi and to interest on city
loans, and if the Democratic sages will devise
plan to reduce by one-half the expenditures
of this important department, without dimin-
ishing its efficiency they will establish strong
claim to the gratitude of taxpayers.
There are also other departments whose
expenses might be materially reduced if Coun-
cilmen were resolutely determined to relieve
taxpayers. OF the sum appropriated to the
Highway Department for lighting the city and
for cleaning the streets-amounting in the
aggregate to more than million of dollars
much might be saved if proper efforts were
made to protect the municipal treasury from
exorbitant charges, and from the payment of
bills which should be liquidated by property
owners or corporations, whose private interests
are now promoted at the public expense.
The city is spending more than half a mil
lion of dollars annually to support paupers
and prisoners in idleness. No serious efforts
are made to secure from them in return, any
apprecable amount of useful labor although
their ranks embrace large proportion of able
bodied persons. Few other communities
would tolerate the continued taxation Of the
provident and industrious for the support of
the indolent and vicious to the extent to
which it has been sanctioned by the citizens of
Philadelphia. Wise and effective municipal
legislation, followed up by vigorous efforts to
reform old abuses, would speedily have the
effect of either reducing the population of the
Almshouse and County Prison, or OF making
their able-bodied inhabitants contribute
largely to the support OF their incapable asso.
oiates. Both these results, indeed, might be
not unreasonably anticipated.
The Democratic policy Of antagonism by
parliamentary tricks, to loans which are essen
tial Gas, for instance, the water loan) is dis
graceful. 1t saves no money, but often causes
increased expenditures in the end by the
delay it occasions in the completion Of neces-
sary improvements. II the Democrats really
wish to reduce taxation, they must devise
rational measures for reducing the current
expenditures, and favor rigid but not ridicu-