New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-18
S~6S.676.75S $I,33l.S7O,5i7

This local indebtedness amounts 10 over 800 per
capita for all the people OF this country lie H.
terest thereon certainly exceeds per cent, OF
$40 900, OO0 and probably averages per cent or
S93 900 600. Our national debt costs usSlO3,OOo,-
600 yearly Pacific Railroad bonds Included) 80
that the interest paid by Government In all ts
brancI,ea il from 1882 900, 600 10 l9G,00O,OOO.
But while the British Government pays about
Sl25OO0 900 on its national debt, the interest Oh
$3.50 900 900 of local de5t hardly add more
than xl5 900 600 to that sum- Thus on MUNICIPAL
debt hns become 40 great that the interest on all
Government debt in this country exceeds the m
tcrest on ii. Government debt OF Great Britain by
$4,000, 900 to $50 100000 yearly.
Bnt municipal msgoyernrent in this country has
not only piled up debt two-thirds as large, mehs-
ured by the yearly interest 1t requires as the ehoT
nous national debt OF Great Britain. Inc worst OF
il il that apart from the interest OH Indebtedness
the cost of municipal government rapidly increases
The rivalry of cities the struggle to divert commerce
into new channels, AID The ambition TO enjoy ut
once in the smaller towns, all the comforts and con-
veniences the elegancies and Extravaganza OF TIE
larger all tend to swell expenditures. Nearly all
our cities are making ready for surprising growth
in population city of $4,000 begins to prepare at
once for 100 900; a city of 100000 for 100000;
city Of q quarter of million for hall million peo-
pie. Real estate speculation forces these improve
ments forward the larger cities are already grading
and paving streets, constructing water-works and
public buildings and opening parks to suthce for tic
time when each shall have population rs large
as that of New-Yolk. Finding that It's debt ID
increasing q city increases lis revenue cither by
higher valuation Of property or higher rate OF TAXA
ton or both Thon a ncy set Of officials comes IN,
for we are governing ourselves, and delight III Ioia-
ton in Office Too often mon who are both corrupt
q faEa tho n NJ
rupt but had grown fat. The late regime has borne
the odum of Increasing the taxes; TO the new rulers
falls the more pleasant task OF c0ntiiying how %
spend or steal the larger revenue. Improvements
enough 20 exhaust the money designed for sinking
fund or a reduction Of debt easily shown to be
necessary The number OF officials required to per
form a given work continually increases. In 10
other branch Of industry do we see the beauties of
"subdivision of labor" 80 readily rs In the public
service As if by an immutabe law OF human
nature every change Of administration seems to edu-
cate set Of men TO live on the pubic and ENJOY
it forever Thus actual reduction of the cost of mu-
nicipal government is not the rule but the rare ex-
oeption, even when the people, complaining OF ex-
travacance have changed their rulers.
DEBTS EVERYWHERE INCREASING.
That this is not fancy sketch any one may
learn who will study municipal statistics Occasion
ally ma city WHICH u'pt, VI b"''4''
a growing sinking fund. Occasionally we find
city which reduces taxation. Bat the sum raised by
taxation, in all the cities and towns Of Massachu-
sets, has increased from $21 1922 $50 in 1870 to
sos. 700 COS in 1874, and in Ohio from S23 600, 900
70 $27 GOO, 900. The increase of interest required
by new indebtedness was less than $3OOo,OO0 in
Massachusetts, and less than 1900 900 in Ohio 50
that in both States the general cost of government
apart from interest, largely increased. Table ID"
shows the assessed valuation of property and the
rate of taxation in certain cities for S69-7o and
1919 Although the statement dOes not include
all the taxes levied it shows that within five years
the increase Of revenue by taxation in these 10
cities only has been from about $64,OOO.O0O to
about $97, 800 900 yearly, or more than % per cent
II the aggregate Of State county, and municipal deD'
In the whole country has increased by $l6O' OOOOOo
in the five years. the by taxation III only 10
cities having less than onc-fourth Of the taxable
wealth of the country. has increased IN i've years
more than enough to pay the interest that added
debt at Der cent Yet the fact appears that in not
ouo Of these cities has the debt been reduced The
assessed valuation has been increased from $3,252,
900. 900 in 1sG9-7O to $4,192,000,000 i'll 1915,
nearly 80 per cent in spite OF the enormous shrink
age of values sinoe the PANE and this 10 therefore,
IN effect al increase in the rate OF taxation AT Tie