The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-20
A Question for the Tribune.

On Friday last our esteemed neighbor.
the Tribune. printed in the course OF an ed
itorial article on the citys expenses and
taxes the subjoined definite. distinct. and
unqualified assertion:
I'VE have reached the point in our expenditures
where N. annual Of $3.50 drann from Me pockets oj
erny nn. nomnn and ohid in the ntys population for tho
ordinary purposes Of administration. Where 1t goes
how goes mystery but tho fact that tho outlay is
wickedly extravagant does not need to be argued"
Argument "a to whether the alleged out
lay Is wickedly extravagant or not. and
speculation as to where the money goes.
can very well be deferred until after the
Tribune has established as a fact that which
1t SO positively asserts.
Is every man. woman. and child In the
c!ty's population taxed $23.s9 on tho aver
age for the ordinary purposes OF municipal
administration
1t struck us as u somewhat curious COIN
cidence that the 1ribures alleged per capita
OF taxation for municipal expenses. S23 80.
consisted OF precisely tho samo diglts. in
precisely the same sequence. as those which
Mr.. ROBERT p. PORTER put forth in his
lying census bulletin No. 80 as the per
capita administrative expenditure OF New
molished They have been proved. beyond
the possibility OF a doubt in any candid
mind. to be fraudulent. grossly exaggerated.
and grotesquely excessive. No competent
accountant or statistlclan orpublicist would
dream OF accepting them as true. or OF
using them for any purpose what
ever, unless for the purposes OF CAM
paign falsehood. But oven II Mr.. PoR-
TIERS per capita Of S23.s0 were honest
and accurate. 1t would not serve tho pur-
pose to which the Tribune puts IL. The
figures would not express tho average tax
per capita upon the men. women. and chill
dren OF this town. As PoRrER's tables are
made up. including extraordinary expendl-
lures as well as ordinary, and outlay in the
why OF Investment and for construction as
we'll as outlay for carrying on the business
OF municipal government. his total Is as far
from showing the actual burden Of taxation
In the given year as the figures OF banks
or trust company's aggregate transac-
tions are from indicating the expense OF
managing that institution.
Fortunately for US and for tho Tribune.
there 10 an easy way OF arriving at the
exact tax per capita drawn from tho
pOckelb OI Lno lnnuDluHutS OF new YORK IN
the year in question. The tax levy shows
1t. On Saturday. therefore. we pointed out
to our esteemed neighbor that the total OF
actual taxation In that year for all county and
municipal purposes was s27.O44.547.34. That
would make the per capita tax $3.50 instead
OF $3.50. But OF the twenty-seven millions
drawn from the pockets of the inhabitants
OF this town not less than S6.7i5 2O8G5 went
for interest on the city debt. and for re-
demption Of the city debt. There Is no
mystery. even for the Tribune. in the desti-
nation Of that part Of tho taxes. We do not
suppose that our neighbor will affirm for
an instant that the $G.745.90G65 was Tam
many plumber. or that a dollar OF 1t was ex-
or corruptly expended. The
balance OF $9O,29o. $4,000 affords the only
material for possibly wickod extrava-
gance. That represents an average tax. not
OF $23. 80. but OF $l1 .0i. on every man. woman.
and child OF population OF 100000.
Having pointed out very clearly to our
friend and neighbor the colossal error into