The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-06
Tammany's Tax Rate Campaign.

In q speech at one of the Tammany Hall
district headquarters last week, Mr.. r. CT.
GRAIN indicated the plan of campaign of
that Organized and Sheehanized organiza-
tion, or at least as nue. of that plan as Is
now within his knowledge. He referred
to the =" fact" alleging 1t as a fact, that the
average yearly total Of local expenses dur.
ing the six years, 1ss9-1s95, was 1884,
900, 900. whereas it Is now $45, 900, 900.
The truth is that these totals represent not
merely the budget of city expenses but also
the city's contribution toward State ex.
penses. which was in excess of $4,000, 900
last year, being then the largest item of
expenditure raised from taxation.
The city Of New York is larger now than
It was six years ago in population and re-
sources, and likewise in area. and with this
increase the running expenses of the town
have necessarily grown, though by no
means to such an extent rs Is implied by
the figures quoted by Mr.. GRAIN in his
misleading comparison. Tho expenses of
the city have been increased to some ex-
tent and the tax rate on city property is
larger than 1t was during some preceding
administrations; larger perhaps than 1t
ought to be and might be under an enlight-
ened, progressive, responsible, and matter-of-
fact management ofcity affairs. But though
these expenses have been increased, the in.
terests Of the city have not been thereby
impaired. A tax rate of ZIG is not so
agreeable to the taxpayer as a tax rate of
PA. but II the money raised by the tax of
2.1e Is honestly and faithfully devoted to
necessary municipal expenditures in the
nuhlfn infaroaf and 10 Tho J;Eo.,,o -
tween the two rates Is represented by
buildings constructed for public uses, such
as new schoolhouses, new courts, and new
markets, by additional and improved road
ways and payements. by police and fire
houses, wharves n armorics, the addition
to the public burdens thus incurred is not
likely to be deplored very violently except
perhaps by some of the auditors of Mr..
GRAIN and other Tammany orators.
Yet how Insignificant, how thoroughly
unimportant are these increases when COM
pared with the widespread and wholesale
reduction attempted by the Bryanized
Tammany a year ago! Mr.. GRAIN re.
Trained from referring to Tammany's part
In the Bryan campaign. A year ago that
political organization did not ad vocate, as
1t does now, a small reduction of current
taxation to the amount, perhaps, of two.
thirds OF one per cent. in n year, but the
broad and sweeping reduction OF about
nifty per cent. in all the earnings OF thrift,
In all the accumulations of industry, and
In the value of all material possessions
based upon what was then a ffty-three
cent dollar, and what is to-day thirty.
nine cent dollar.
I spokesman of Organized Tammany
at that time were for u reduction far more
AweepinR than the alleged increase of
the tax rate TO which they refer.
They are for such a reduction to-day.
The ancient and historic organization
for which they now presume to speak lent
itself and Its splendid discipline gladly and
glibly to an assault, happily futile, not only
upon the possessions of all the people of the