New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-11
ADDING TO THE CITpS BURDENS.

Assemblyman Jimmy oliver Is q 1alr speci-
men of the "home-rule Democrats who mis-
represent this city in the Legislature. On We'd
nesday he was clamoring for the passage Oh the
proposed constitutional amendment to prevent
any interference at Albany with the local affairs
of this city, On Friday he secured the passage
of another bill in the Assembly to interfere
with the powers of the Board of Estimate by a'l-
thorizng without the consent of that body, the
appointment of 800 additional policemen. This
increase of the force will add 100000 annually
to the city's tax burdens. 1t is possible, not
withstanding the large number of patrolmen
detailed for special work. that the police force
should be increased, but the Board OF Estimate
is much better qualified than the Legislature
to Judge of the city's needs in that respect.
Do the Republicans who aid the passage of such
measures calculate their effect upOn the clty's
tax bills These bills have already been in
creased by an addition of ST. 100000 to the out
lay for salaries and an appropriation for PEN
sions from the excise funds. The purchase of
Rker's Island under an act of the present
Legislature added $4,000 more. The new
park bills make mandatory the expenditure of
at least $S,000,000, and probably much
greater sum. The bill for new school-houses
calls for 50, 600 900 more; and there are paving
and other bills favorably considered which will
bring the total to over $12,O00,OO0. This in
crease in year when we are expanding millions
for an additional supply of water should cause
the Legislature to reflect when listening to the
arguments Of such VIGOROUSLY unfit representa-
tives as jimmy" Oliver, Mike" Murphy and
aim Campbell, who advocate still further
expenditures.
The passage of bills TO save the city con-
siderable sum two or three years hence, at the
expiration of the terms of the present county
officers, will not offset the enormous increase in
expenditures this year. The Wall Street
failures will cause the city loss of perhaps
million dollars. The Board of Estimate added
several millions in December to this years ex-
penditures, forwhich it was severely criticised.
The Republicans in the Legislature cannot
afford to share that criticism, or mar their
good record in other respects, by passing bills,
advocated by Democrats, making mandatory
such large expenditures for city improvements,
even though bonds are issued to cover part OF
the expense. There should be a limit in each
case fixed to the expenditure. which should then
be left optional with the city authorities. 1t IA
not yet too late to make that change in the
School bill. So far as the bill providing for an
annual outlay of 5000, 900 more for policemen
is concerned, it is to be hoped that the Governor
will veto it.
One thing should be distinctly borne in mind
by every taxpayer. Last years tax on property
in this city was 229 per cent. This year 1t Is
sure to be not less than 2.40. VIII property
owners reflect for one instant on what that
means7 Two and half per cent tax on the
entire valuation of property, real and personal
at time when money loans in Wall Street at
an average of two and half per cent In
other words, the tax on assessed values il
about equal to the return attainable on capital
What is the length of the step between that
and cOnfscatiOn