New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-18

| THE ISSUES ~ THE CITY CANPdSS
Evidently, if Mr.. Hewitt is elected Mayor OF
the city there will be no marked change In the
| character of its government. He does not seem
to think that there is need of it, His letter OF
acceptance states the issue TO be one as to
whether or not an attempt to organize lone
class OF citizens against all other classes shall
succeed. AS to all other matters he is silent.
That issue can be as we'll decided by the cleo
ton of Mr.. Roosevelt as by the election OF Mr..
| Hewitt.
But it ia absurd to make that the only issue in
the canvass. Even if it were, the proper way
| to meet it would be by removing the causes OF
discomfort which give rise to it. That can only
be done by relieving the city from the enormous
burdens imposed on it through Democratic
nisrule 1t is now the most heavily Durdened
municipality in the civilized world. Inc per
capita cost of its government is more than 4OO
per cent greater than the average cost ~ forty
eight of the largest cities of the country 1t IL
FIVE times as great as that of Berlin and twice
as great as that of the extravaganza city OF
Paris. The expenditures OF the National Gov-
eminent amount only to "a 10 per capita,
while those of this city will this year reach over
$50 per capita. Four years ago the tax rate
was So 25, although millions of dollars are
raised by license fees, dock rents, etc. This
year the rate Is So %, withdrawing an IN
crease of S16S,OO0,O00 n the valuations
of real estate, and large addition to the city
debt. The official rascality and Incompetence
in the city government is scandal to the
Nation. TO ignore these facts, and to make
the issue one as to WHITTIER or not the present
state of affairs is tC be continued, is to offer
stone to those who cry for bread.
Every man who has to find food and home
and rairnent for his family in this city knows,
or ought to know, that his rent is higher and
the cost of his food and clothing more because
of the excessively high rate of taxation. Thus
every workingman is lodged less comfortable
and less BEAUTIFULLY, his children are worse fed
and lie is robbed of e material part of the pros
perity and happiness he fairly earns by the
vast army of spOilsnen who have their head
quarters in he City Hall. The natural dlscon-
tent that gives rise to this movement can only
be met by q change oe methods in the city gov
eminent. That cannot be effected by the cleo
ton of Mr.. Hewitt.
There is probably no man in the city better
fitted to grapple with this evil, and to stop
waste and extravaganza and lop off sinccures,
than Mr.. Theodore Roosevelt He has the
necessary familiarity with the city government
which Mr.. Hewitt lacks. He has the vigor and
energy that come from health and devotion to
the work before him. and he would not be
hampered by fear of injurlng party friends. MIR.
Hewitt confessed that he has not given much
attention to the aft ,irs of sle city and his
tastes lie in different direction. He has
always been a strong partisan and lie could not
make move in the direction of reform without
bringing down npon him the angry opposition
of the men W no put him in office. AT his time OF
life and in his condition of health it Is not to be
expected that he would accomplish any more
than did Mr.. Cooper Mr.. Edison. Mr.. Grace
and it il well Unknown that they have ac-
complished nothing.
Evidently the only hope of reform is to be
found in the election of Mr.. Roosevelt, and that
is also the only way to meet the issue raised by
the supporters OF Henry George.