The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-29
The GAME OF REFORM"
Father KniCkerbocker Loses at II
Ten Million Dollars In Cash
and Twenty Millions In
Expectations.

GAptCtdtIuHS.
What were the protences under which Q
reform" administration was elected to gov
ern the City OF New York in 1s94i
The platform of tho Committee Of Seventy
said: THE government of tho City of New
York, in the hands of its present administra-
tors, is marked by corruption, ineflciency ana
extravaganza"
The special committee of tho Chamber Of
Commerce reported that the figures Of the tax
levy ION their very face indicate mismanage.
ment, extravaganza and corruption on q scale
almost unparalleled in tho history of munici.
~pulities."
The Press" tho newspaper that set mp to b
the Republican organ during the municipal
campaign OF 1894, said that under q faithful
administration the burden of taxes on tho poo
pie Of New York might be reduced $40, 0oo.o 900
o year"
The total amount appropriated
for the expenses of the City
Government in 1894, the last
year OF Democratic admins
~tration. was 1876, 064, 257.6o
The total amount appropriated
for 1897. under Republican
"reformi' administration,
was A5,es6. 2s7.17
Increased cost under ere
form {. 622.0 89.k0
If the figures of 1894 indicate extravaganza
and corruption, what must be tho meaning AZ
the figures of 1871
What has become of the $40, ooo. 900 which
was to DO saved ON the appropriate Ms a
1891
What has become of the ten millions and 4
half that have been added to tho appropriations
of 1891
The "Reformers" have stopped talking about
what they termed the extravaganza of Demo-
cratic administrations They are busy trying
to explain away their own extravaganza.
In doing this they ignore altogether their
promise to make a ten-million saving on Demo-
cratic expenditures. and they start with the
assumption that these were in the line of the
strictest economy.
II they were not, tho "Reformers" would
have to explain not only the ten millions and Q
half they have added to tho tax levy, but would
have to account for the ten millions they under
took to save on tho cost Of tho previous admin
i~stration.
Combining their attention entirely to the &c..
622. O39. which this years budget shows in
excess of that of 1894, they are d~evoting all their
ingenuity to prove that it went somewherec else
than into the cost of governing the city.
Part of it went into State taxes, they say.
That is true-$1, 339, s44 went that way.
But how did tho State tax for 1897 come to b
SO hight
The Republicans controlled every branch Of
the State Government and Legislature, and they
made 1t SO.
II the "Reformers" say they could not help
that, how about the 5000. 900 that was appro.
priated In 1894 for the care of the insane by the
City Government The insane have since been
cared for by the State.
The Reform administration recouped 99ooe
600 OF the State tax excess Of 81. 800, s44. 1t guS
the use OF that 100000.
Let them and the Republicans at Albany settle
about the odd $4,000; but let it be understood
that this is all they can deduct from their
budget on the score of higher State taxes. In
truth, their apparent excess of expenditures in
1897 over the Tammany expenditure of 1894
should be stated as $l1, 522, O39 instead of 91O,-
622.O39.
But the Performers" plead again: Look 81
the amount paid for interest on tho city debit"
Let us look: 1t was IS, 1874, 1919 in 1894, and %
IS, G5i, 25S IN 1897.
Who incurred the debt that calls for this extra
expenditure of $520,00of
Tho "~Rcformers" themselves. They found
the debt at $lO5,O 900. 600. and they have brought
1t up to 1922 900. 900.
The third plea is that the "Roformers I" have
to pay more for the debt redemption this year
than the Democratic Administration did in
lS9i.
So they have, to tho amount of So. 2s5, 500.
But why did the Democratic Administration
draw less from the taxpayers for the redemp-
ton Of the debt
Because they took better care OF the city's
revenues, the excess of which. over and above
avail, bic for the redemption of the debt, other
wise payable out of taxation.
but where does all this leave the alleged ex-
travugancc and corruption OF Democratic AID.
ministratiOn
The boot seems to be on the other leg now.
There is 81 ,522, 030 to be &C ounted for, over
and above that $40, 900. 900 the "Reformers"
said they would save, but didn't.
Tho state took $i39, 900 more from the city In
1897 than IL did in 1894, but where has the
other Sll ,Os3. 039 Comet
Even allowing for the two millions odd spent
in debt redemption. there Is still some nine
millions missing, not to mention that ten mill
ions which was to have been saved by putting
an end To democratic "cNtravaganCc."
II II be argued that II yearly expenditure Of
thiriy-lVe millions showed corruption on its