New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-23
WHAT THE CITY rs SPENDING.

WHAT THE CITY rs SPENDING.
Comparatively few taxpayers realize fully the
imposing scale OF municipal expenditure. Inc
truth is, the city OF NewYork is now spending
public money at the rate Of S50,OOO,OOO year.
| The city treasury derives revenues from ferry
franchises from privileges and from various
sources which make up what is called the Cen
era Fund TO a total Of S4000000 per annum.
The amount raised by taxation ranges between
$3OOOOOOO and $35.O0O,000 Many millions OF
dollars are expended yearly from the proceeds or
| bonds The growth Of the metropolis Is swift and
sure Its increase in population, In resources In
all the elements which go to make up municipal
prosperity and power, Is marvellous. This city
enioys peculiar advantages If the franchises and
privileges which are controlled by the municipal
ity had been honestly administered with single
view TO the public benefit ever since the founda-
ton Of New-York it would now be possible to
carry on the city government without taxation.
Consider the ferry franchises the dock leases, the
railway privileges. the wonderful variety Of
rich franchises from which the city ought TO de-
rive prodigous revenue But New-Ycrk has
been plundered to an appalling extent whenever
| Tammany Hall has been in power. Millions upon
millions of the city revenues have been misused
while franchises Of great value have been
| handed over 70 rapacious corporations Will
ont ADEQUATE return to the treasury. Many hun
dreds of millions of dollars have been stolen and
wasted under the msrule Of Tammany thieves.
In every department that has been under ram
many control the public funds have been per-
verified and misapped, while Tammany con-
tractors and Tammany officials have amassed
fortunes.
The people Of New-York have every reason lot
confidence that the money which Is now palu III
by the taxpayers and raised by the issue OF pohus
| will be applied honestly for the beneht ana al
vantage of the community while the city mas
Republican Mayor and while a majority or the
Board of Estimate and Apportionment Is MADE
IN Of men who will resist depredations on the
treasury But no matter how faithful, energetic
and efficient our officials may be. 1t Is neyerthe-
less evident that the outlay Of New-fork FOR pub
| lie purposps must be enormous. As the legitimate
needs and wants and desires Of the people be-
come more comprehensive, complex and varied
the expenditures in running municipal depart
ments must inevitably increase. The chief city
Of the New World must have excellent Schools
efficient police and fire departments, wellman-
aged public institutions and courts which snail
be characterized by dignity and distinction III
| fact every branch Of our public service must De
maintained in manner BETTING the position or
! New-York among the great cities OF the world.
There should be no extravaganza, no prodigallty,
no waste Every dollar of public money should
be applied with discretion, sagacity and prudence.
But the taxpayers Of the city are not eager TO see
unreasonable parsimony or miserness practised
in any of the departments. They want the
schools the police force the Fire Department,
the Departments Of Charities, OF Docks, OF
Finance, and, in fact, all the departments man.
aged In such way as to bring credit TO the
municipality. They wish and expect that FAR
salaries shall be paid throughout the depart
ments; but they expect that full return In useful
public services shall be made for every dollar ex-
pended.
The operations Of this metropolis are far grand
n, or and more important than those OF many petty
nations in various parts Of the world. New-lork
has now entered upon series OF public improve
ments in the water supply In the parks, in the
docks, In the speedway, In the widening OF
streets in the additions to the schools, In street
| payements and in many other lines Of activity,
which are giving employment to an army OF men
| and are requiring the expenditure Of vast sums.
| Ability Of the highest sort Is necessary for the
proper administration Of the affairs Of this colos-
| sal municipality. The burdens and responsible
| ties Of our city officials grow more serious and
onerous every year if they do their full duty The
cares and anxleties and labors OF their offices will
exact from them the full measure of their capac-
| ity to do work for the public good. The Tribune
has shown In recent articles that genuine progress
| Of the most valuable and admirable kind has
been made in the city government this year
Much remains 10 be done to carry out the ire
mendous task Of freeing the city from the fright
full evils and abuses which have been brought
upon 1t by Tammany misrule; but all public
spirited citizens have many reasons for expecting
that the present municipal government will 60
on sweeping away the wrongs and nfamies for
which Tammany Hall has been so largely re-
sponsible, and promoting the greatest good Of the
greatest number Of ewYorkers