Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-08-31


The city of Greater New York VIII
be brought into political existence on
the first day of the year 1928, Just four
months hence. 1t will be from the
outset one of the greatest experiments
in local government ever brought TO
test on this continent il not in the
world. 1t will contain not far from
3.5OO.oO0 people, a greater number than
the thirteen colonies had when they
divorced themselves from Great Brit
ain, and exclusive OF four certainly
and FIVE possibly, larger than that oil
any state in the Union. 1t has some
other interesting features. For IN
stance, the colossal metropolis Will be-
gin its career with an annual expense
account of about S75,oOO,OOo, which of
course Will steadily grow as time ad-
ynnces. The first city officers Will
serve for term Of four years ana
during this time 1t Is estimated that
the whole of the municipalities eN-
pendltures will reach the enormous
sum of $3.50. 100000, or 500 for every
man, woman and child! The amount
is almost inconceivable TO the ordin-
nry mind, and must all be raised by tax
alton in one form or another.
The New York World shows that
the number of employees OF the new
city win average. one week with an
other, over 10000 the whole year
round. this being an army equal TO
half the population Of Salt Lake city
and two-thirds as large as that OF the
state of Nevada, and the weekly pay
rolls will include more men and call
for more money than the payrolls OF
the United States army and navy. rs
public school system will foot up
$4,000. 900 of expense, or more than one
fourth of the interest on the national
debt. 1t win also start out with
colossus in the shape of debt of
$4,000. OO0 this being greater than the
combined state debts of New York,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, all OF New
England and the eight Southern At
lanric states. the interest ON the debt
being S75O0.O00 per annum. This ar
ray of figures can scarcely be other
wise than bewildering to the average
reader. and yet they do not tell 1t all
by any means. Here are some items
which seem to have n more familiar
sound:
"The annual expenditures of Greater
New York for its public works, its
police, fire and health services VIII ag-
gregate not less than S20,OO0,OOO a
wear, based on the items in the city
budgets of New York and Brooklyn Tor
last year. This means total dis
bursement through these main cham
la fltaa NJ
the greater citys first mayor of $780,
600, 900. That is $20,0O0,0OO more than
the total annual cost of maintaining
the United States army aud navy.
1t Is Si0,000,000 more than the annual
bin of Great Britain for the support of
her army OF over 100000 officers and
men, and only so 100000 less than the
annual cost of maintaining the great
navy with which she patrols every
ocean and guards every coast line of
an empire ION which the sun never
Bets.' "
All OF which represents a state of
affairs which is causing the business
men and newspapers to consider. Even
ms staunch Democratic sheet as the
World forpgoes craftsmanship in such an
emergency and calls in no uncertain
terms for a strong and capable man at
the head of the city government, sup
ported throughout with men Of the
came caliber. In other words, politics
should be eliminated and the best men
that can be obtained for the various
places, regardless of political afiilia-
lions, should be obtained.
The debt of salt Lake city is proper
tionately about MS large as that of the
s,raut aostnrp rpptropolis win he when