New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-27
U1STJNG THE PUBLIC MONEY.

The Council of Reform presented an array OF
startling figures to The Board OF Estimate and
AppOrtionmpnt yesterday. They have COM
parcd the cost of government in this city with
that in eighteen of the largest cities in this
country and with the expenditures of London,
Paris ana Berlin They estimate the per capita
annual cost Mt $50 90 IN Ncw-York, at 81 40
in London. 81 80 in Berlin, and 50 10 in Paris.
OF all the American cities named Providence
makes the worst showing with its SIS II, but
Providence has been for many years notorious
in New England for the extravaganza OF its
city government. Washington comes next with
Sl7 30, and Chicago follows with $40 Is, hard
pressed by Philadelphia with SIG 90. No one
of the others reaches flj and most of them are
below So.
The compilers of these figures say that they
have been obtained from the Mayors and the
official documents of the cities named. The
comparison is certainly an appalling one for
New York taxpayers, but careful observers long
ago reached the conclusion that this Is IN many
respects the most prndigal and the worst served
of the great municipalities of the world. The
mathcmatcians of the Council OF Reform may
have made errors in their con putatlons. Ihcy
NAV have undercstjmatcd the present pop lla-
ton of this city, and the basis on which they
have made IN the ,ota of the annual cXpcndi-
turcs of New-Yorll may be open to question.
But there is an enormous space for error left
between the $50 60 of New-lork aud the
so 50 of Brooklyn, or even the $40 II of
Chicago before there is any danger OF displac-
ing this metropolis from its bal eminencc as
the most wastefully governed community in
this Republic.
Moreover, the comparative figures presented
TO the Board of Estimate and Appointment
contain some striking specifications in which
there should be no possibility VI error. IL Is
easy to get at the eXlc; salary list OF the city
governments of New York and Brooklyn. Well,
the total for New-York i, Sll, els, 3Oi, and for
Brooklyn, 81, SOL, 54G, disproporiion full OF
danger and disgrace. The Public Works De-
partmcnt in New York costs ) l6l3,j -; in
Brooklyn 81 ,221.577. There is no Justification
for 80 enormous an excess in this city. The
expenditure for police and excise Is four and a
half times as great on this side of the East
River rs in Brooklyn, the total here being
s., COS. 397 and in Brooklyn S79G,2lO. Our
public schools cost three and half tunes as
much as those of Brooklyn our Fire Depart
ment nearly four times, our Health Department
more than four times, our Law Department ten
times and our parks seven times as much. For
stationery. etc, Ncw-York appropriates
5000, $3.50 and Brooklyn $2l,79l. At least half
of the New York appropriation must be stolen
or wasted.
Aud yet in spite of the huge sums lavished on
every municipal department, New York. as the
Council OF Reform says truly, ia Infamous
throughout the world for the Shnbbincss of its
streets and docks. and the laxness of its govern
ment III most of its departments" If every
member of the Board of Estimate and Appor
tonment were influenced solely by considera-
tons of public interest we should see a far
different state of affairs.