The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-05
TREMENDOUS TAX.


~ - Nv WIN
of the Goverumc nt budget to
triuG IL Taxed. ana n Costs TO Die.
PARIS, Nov. a4.-For an unreasonable num-
Der OF years New York has enjoyed, In the minds
OF people who hear things and repeat them
without troubling themselves to find out
whether they are truo or not, the reputation OF
being the bcst.tnxcd city in tho world. Wher-
ever you go you meet people who speak or ask
about Its costlincss in tones of awe. II is an in
terostinE subject, and IL will doubtless become
more interesting after the first day OF the new
year; but before tho present New York loses her
identity a word should be said in her favor.
II Ia not just that she should go into history
with n memory OF unhcard-ot expenditure. be-
cause that usually means extravaganza, II not
Something worse.
The city most comparable to New York Is
Paris. What is known to the world as London
Is such n conglomcration OF separate ontitics
that no figures would apply equally to any two
parts of 1t. Berlin and Vienna are essentially
governmental cities: the purely municipal ex-
penditurcs arc so mixed with those Of a ma
tionnl or semi-national character that it would
DO difficult to distinguish them intelligibly.
This is likewise SO to a certain extent with tho
French capital; but two very weighty items In
the expenditures, police and fire service. while
governmental institutions, are chargeable d.
rectly TO tho municipality. Other cities of tho
world being too insignificant, it is only Paris,
then, that can be placed alongside New York.
The comparison requires but a few lines:
The population OF New York in 1897. accord
Ing TO the figures of the Board OF Health. is
1890, 600. The population OF Paris. by police
census, 2,592. 600.
The total amount appropriated for tho ex-
pc sos of the city Government in New York.
1897. was $i5, $3.50 900. Tho amount for Paris
was $6s, $4,000.
Tho cost of the city Government in New York,
per capita, was $2o.95. Tho cost in Paris. per
capita, was $26.55.
The net funded debt of the city of New York,
1897, is 1929, O94 900; per capita, $64.S7. The
debt of Paris is 1851 AGO. 900; per capita,
S2o5.O5. Tho interest charge on this debt is
R5, 654. 900 annually in New York. and $685.
846.O00 in Paris.
OF the total tax levy in New York, 81, 1886. 1000
was assessed for State taxes, and was not spent
by the city Government. In Paris, however.
the departmental tax (which may be assumed
to stand in the relation of a State taxi was an
additional imposition, and amounted to $5. 600,-
boo. This. added to the municipal sum of $685.
$50, 1000. would make $74,43O. 600. in comparison
with New York's $40, $50, 900.
Besides having to pay this great tax, which
amounts to over S27 for every man, woman.
and child, the proportion of the Govern
ment budget which the city of Paris pays is
nearly one-quarter of the whole sum-. The fig
ures for tho fiscal year 1897. partly estimated.
are $169, $50, 900. Add this to the municipal
and departmental tax, and the result shows that
the per capita tax on the inhabitants Of Paris is
not far from 500. This, taking the average size
of families in all civilized countries but France.
would mean that the head of the house must
deduct from his yearly wages or salary about
800 for the support OF his Government. AS it
is, the sum is not half that; the French family
grows smaller and smaller. to the naive wonder
Of the Government and in spite of its almost
fearful protestations.
1t might be said that per capita figures are
mis~leading-that the rich sustain proportion
ately more than their burden Of taxation and
Is not SOL IN Franco 1t is the poor man that pays
'n Tho sai s.rs nssS sr su l ttime eiua,ors,Ih Institution o,
t,o octroi fnrnishss saI GOO ooo aImos. boir Of q
ths total municipal budget. The octroi. it may
not be necessary to explain. ia a custom.bouse
especially for tho city of Paris. At every city
gate, at every river landing. at every
railway a station an its It's ON oaaGeFs stand ready to
pou n upon s.N.,M, sn.uue
Imports o ST. from 'Hon FOREIGN sns countries our TT. Isl pay two o, duties lutte
~ ~ nraat hull ~ tho rovonnss 10 aor,noa
Dut Inc great puik Oh inc revenues 4 oeriveo
The moor with exactiv the same weight that II
-
STRIKES the ricn. Ainost every articie known 70
MAJ; Win tne Two hot ab exGep'ions OF MIX
anu irhiei pay ocS S ne uutiGs are noG Dat
ticularny heaFS' puI Luey COUNT poor man 3
expenaitures. Meats: ior instance, are taxed
IRON 70 2 GEMS u pounui eess' 0on1a uoZeh;
1utter, d cents pounu' cheese Z cehtss Pounu'
nsn, from : 70 4 cents a pouha; SAT- 1 cent a
P1Tunh u ,opa, nra lom l.. ~ D. 10 VI .J n
In real pToperty IN farls, as eisewnerS IN
france, tne laws are az In iaVor Oh Tue iahaioro
= rng eePe nho, VI b ~ ,r dan'I r, thn ar = Eo-
parnliyelS chohp, ouC Why IN the nrst place,
alandiord pays no tax on MS property unless 1t
1 Sb aGn.ea: N nn9 cl beco OH sp Ssc 7 IN no " 80
Mneh al apartment becomes yachnt tne iano-
ord ceases to pay taxes exactly In the pro
p4rCion une vacant apartment pears 70 me
apartments are unlet- he pays lust half
the YAK assessed on the mouse. In the sec
ohn place. ohtsolnE tenants are 1ongea 70 pay
damage charges 70 the laholoru, Wnether
Lhey nave mado any damage or not; u Is really
. cnaIge i3r wear ama tear. IN Ine
IniEu p!ace, tne tehHht DAYS u TAX on every
s,Sh III iurhiture ho omns' on e'SIS LODI
nnu WINDOW IN ING apartnient ne occu-
pics, Oh eNcTy RdllOH Vi "httT LuuL NO