New-York tribune., 1881-12-12
WHAT THE CITY is TO SPEND.

The Board of Estimate and Apportonment
will give taxpayers an opportunity Tomorrow
10 criticise the estimates of the city depart
ments for next year. Judging from the past
the number who will avail themselves of this
priyilege will be very small. Our real estate
owners are apt to grumble when their tax bills
come in. but few OF them are willing to do
any work that will tend to tighten their bur-
dens. They are apt also to critcise our Office
holders and legislators sharply enough, but
they show little readiness for such effort in
the preliminary work of campaigns as will
serve to purify the parties and put bet
ter men in nomination. a lack of true
public spirit on the part of the intel
ligent and wealthy classes is the curse
of this city. They are earnest and jealous i'll
their own affairs, they give freely 10 charities,
they are ready in heart and hand to support
what is worthy in private life, but in munich
pal affairs, except under the stress of some
tremendous emergency, they are strangely
apathetic and Indifferent. They shattered the
great Tweed Ring, but OF the little rings in
the city departments which still exist they
take no heed. They may complain of their
tax bills for day OF two, but for the rest of
the year they are content to leave the city
government to the politicians.
In a few days the appropriations for 1882
will be settled. The estimates of the depart
ments have been passed on by the Board of APP
portionment, and have then gone to the Alder
men, who of course, have made some unwise
additions. They always do. Fortunately they
have no power in the matter. Their amend
ments are merely suggestions TO the Board Of
AppOrtionment, which determines the amounts
to be allowed, and generally pays little atten-
ton TO the prOdigal City Fathers. That Board
is now to revise the estimates and settle them
beyond amendment or appeal, and it is willing
to hear the taxpayers who may be able to give
reasons why allowances should be diminished
or increased. 1t will bc hard, however, to find
any good reason for increase. Reduction is
what is needed.
The total of appropriations for 1881 was
$31 1854, ,322 50. As the estimates for lSS2
now stand after the suggested amendments by
the Aldermen the total is $29.710,596. At
first sight this seems like a step in the direc-
ton of retrenchment. But in fact there has
been no retrenchment. The decrease is due
wholly to the diminished appropriations for
State taxes and ,ity debt. Last year the sum
wear it is only $2,S27,2S7 73. These fig
ures are very creditable to the Republican
State Government, but our Democratic City
Government can claim no praise for them.
For 1881 the appropriation for interest
ON the city debt was IS, S,24O,965; for 1882 it
is S,19l, ,9SS; for redemption of the city debt
$664,377 was allowed last year and only
$297, ,607 this year. 1t is clear that there has
been no progress toward economy iii our in
latcd, extravagant departments, crammed full
of men who are paid for political Influence
rather than for honest labor. The Park De-
partment last year was allowed $641 500;
for 1882 the estimate is S72S,000. Citizens
who know what the condition of our parks is
and who are familiar with the history of the
shameful qaarrels in the Park Board will GER
tainly not be in favor of giving our present
turbulent and inefficient Commissioners any
more money to waste. Until that department
il reorganized and we have reasonable
assurance that the money allowed it Will ba