New-York tribune., 1874-11-23
MUNICIPAL PROBLEMS.
NEEDED REFORMS IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
by A MERCHANT.

NEEDED REFORMS IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BY A MERCHANT.
[FRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUSE.l
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 10.-In no city does the
rapid increase OF municipal debt and taxation create
much anxiety among thoughtful citizens as In Phila-
delphia Manufacturing communities cannot bear
heavy taxation and prosper. They have to struggle
foot foot In the competition OF trade with rivals
of all nations They cannot add cent to the price OF
yard OF cloth OF pound Of iron when taxes and rents
go up. II they do the E0glishman or the German
steps and takes their customers. and they are ruined
The secret OF Philadelphia prosperity heretofore mas
been low prices Of real estate and the cOnsequent
cheap rents and moderate cost OF living
Within tho past few years prices have
been steadily going up, and there
for apprehension TO the effect upon
the chief Of the citys wealth. Manufacturers
have already begun to migrate TO towns like winning
ton and Chester, where taxes low, ground cheap
and living less expensive. leading element In the
production OF this result is wastefu and corrupt munich
pal government. The city debt is over s5s0oocCo, In
GLIDING about 5000 900 Of bonds lent to the Gas Trust
Every year adds million or two to the debt. Taxes
on real estate are very burdens0me but wheneVera
public work OF any magnitude IS undertaken tnere Is
not dollar of surplus In the treas Try to pay for IT, ana
new loan has to be contracted The root OF the whole
evil Is to be found in the thoroughly bad governmehS
under which the city is groaning In the minds OK the
the expenditure of tho public money, there
is no thought of making this money 60 as
far possible and bring the best returns Their plan s
to out of the people all they can pear ih tue
way taxation, and spend the money In paying salar
les TO crowd OF worthless fellows TO act as strikers re-
peaters, and "persOnat0rs" OIL election day. ana I'D
enormous and fictitious prices for miserable work on
city improvements the margin between the actual and
the nominal cost Of such improvements being divided
among the members Of the Ring so long as this gov
ernment remains in power there can be no hope OF
economy. Nevertheless the following suggestions from
prominent business Of the city OF some methods
by which expenditures might be reduced possess inter-
and may found OF value in other places where the
municipal authorities honestly graphing with the
problem of aOrding efficient municipal government at
a cost less onerous to taxpayers.
A SUPERVISORY BoARD.-Our City Councils have 700
many duties perform without compensation Consti-
tracts examine and pass all bills before the money s
ordered to be paid ny Councils, aud have general
salaries The Mayor and the President of Select and
Common Councils should be members of this board so
that they be well informed of the doiugs OF the
board. These commissioners should organize each
department of the city government with view TO make
appropriations to cover deficiencies
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTAL large portion OF the ex-
pense OF this department Is charged against the prop
erty. City railroads should be taxed sufficient sum to
improve the streets and keep them in repair tax OF
mill carried by the passenger railroads
FIRE DEpARTMENr.-The underwriters should have
charge in the cement OF this de-
partncnt, and be taxed for its support beside tins.
every policy issued and every policy renewed
should pay small tax to aid this fund.
HEALTH DEPARrHEST-Tne garbage OF this city care
fully gathered and taken proper distance By rail,
placed In vats, aud well cooked by steam will make
healthy food tens OF thousands OF hOgs. The hogs
could be fatteued before killing with corn raised on the
city farms.
| WATER DEPARTMENT.-New pipes are charged against
should be seliSupporting and yield revenue for
the sinking fund
GAs.-Tnis department claims 10 be self-supporting
1t should yield large fund to aid in paying our debts
II any private interest Is in the OF the city having
fu control let 1t be appraised by jury, as other pri
ya,e properly Is taken Tor public use.
PARKs-Set of border OF 800 or 400 feet around Fair
Park let II out In building lots ground rent
s,Ipuate tnat cottages OF good appearance shall be
the lots rent OF the ground to be forever
applied embcsh and keep In order the parks OF the
city. Tnis plan would make this department. self
supporting and furnish beautiful border for the park
ins tead of the ragged suburbs now surrounding it,
Poor DEPARrhLNT.-Sen or let cut ground rent
the present AshOdse property buy eight or ten farn5.
and IN connection with the House Of Correction use the
labor OF tnls CITY 10 False food and talment FOR
the poor. Set apart farms for each depart
Of agriculture raise the sheppard WOOL on the coal
lands received from the Girard estate.
Finally, our object should be TO manage our city
affairs 50 as to gam confidence Of citizens. We
will tnen receive such egacies as we have received
from stephen GrIrd Tn0mas d. Grover, and others, to
be invested To US. while under present rule
receive such trusts.