New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-19
STATE EXTRAVAGANCE.

Controller Roberts Is fully justified In laying
| special stress In his annual report on the ok
| travagance OF the government OF New-lork as
compared with other States. He backs up with
| figures what has been urged upon the lawmakers
many times in the last few years. Governor Nor
ton when he went into office took stand against
the multiplication Of commissions with huge ex-
pense accounts for the performance Of all sorts
of public and sempubc works. and his views
met with hearty commentator in every quarter
OF the State Nothing appears 10 have been
| accomplished. however, in enforcing economy,
| and now when the taxpayers are face 10 face
with the question of spending 100000 more
| 10 make Of some use S900O000 already voted
for canal improvements, It is high time for
the people 10 take a reckoning of the rate at
which their money is being spent.
This Is an imperial Commonwealth but that
Is no reason why It's affairs should be admins
tered with an imperial disregard Of the tax
payer New-York, Of course with It's great
population must spend more money IN the ag-
grcgate than even the largest of its nelghbors.
but the expense Of government IS now almost
twice as much for every citizen as that of Penn
sylvania, and much in excess OF that OF Massa-
chusetts The Bay State is reputed to be far adj
care for health collection OF statistics and all the
other enterprises which add to the expense Of
modern government Surely. it ought not to
cost New York much more than Massachusetts,
for public purposes, conceding that the situation
Of this city as the chief port Of entry OF the
country burdens the State with some charges
to which others are not subject in a like degree
Yet the Controller reports that the per capita
tn, NJ, % In,
Pennsylvania 80 ~: in Massachusetts, So 4S;
while in New-York 1t is 81 40. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that the statement does not make abso-
lutely clear the basis of comparison. In some
States the care Of the insane is entirely local
matter, while here 1t Is managed by State
Board and paid for out Of the State Treasury
If the budgets Of the different commonwealth
are compared on common basis OF functions
performed, the figures are extremely significant:
but II they consider the outlay Of various State
TREASURES regardless that some pay the mere
cost Of law making and enforcing, while others
handle the money raised for local and charitable
purposes. then the comparison is less valuable
. But when the Controller points out that in
seventeen years the number Of State commits
sions and departments has been increased by
thirty-slx, and that the State expenditures
which in 1881 were $937s214, amounted In 1891
TO $269G2,7O5, he inevitably raises the ques
ton whether there has been Il corresponding re-
turn 10 the people In security and happiness
Few, We are convinced, will say that there has
been. The average citizen IL little If any. bet
ter Off. so far as the State government Is con-
cerncd, than he was in 1881, and there has
been no such increase in population as TO war
rant a trebling Of expenses. We do not entire
ly sympathizc with Mr.. Roberts in his criticism
OF Juvenile reformatorlcs nor In his objection 10
a liberal Christmas dinner FOR the paupers and
the insane. The latter Is small matter which
makes life happier for people who know little
happiness As to the former the theory that
It Is not good public policy TO give Juvenile Of
tenders tastes that they can scarcely ever hope
Ito satisfy when free and relying on their own
'resOures Is well enough. but talk about civ.
ing them "a better education than children OF
their class on the outside can hope to obtain. or