The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-20

The New York Times in a recent article
said the owners of real estate in that city
have been content with an annual income
on their property of 313 per cent. This was
obtaind the old valuation and when the
levy was 2.10 per cent. Tammany has in
creased the valuation of the property for
the purpose Of taxation about 10 per cent.
and the levy to go per cent Unless rents
are advanced this will reduce the net in
come of renting property to something l SIS
than per cent. This loss to the owners
of real estate is due to the heavy expendi-
lures of Tammany and to the increasing
burden which the debt Of the city has come
to be- This is because the State Constitu-
ton does not contain debt limit as does
the Constitution of Indiana.
Conditions in New York recall the fact
that it is proposed to ask the Indiana Legis-
lature to so amend the Constitution as to
permit cities to increase their bonded debt
beyond per cent. of their taxable prop
erty, to the end that they may purchase
and operate what are called public utili-
ties" The utilities begin with water and
proceed to electric lights, gas, street rail-
ways, and a Boston reformer includes the
sale of coal al cost. The term may include
about all the necessaries and some of the
luxuries of life. 1t has been demonstrated
that some cities can economically manage
the water supply, and few small cities
have been able to obtain street lighting at
less cost than was paid to private compa-
MES. Philadelphia. one of the largest and
consequently one of the badly managed cit
les, has disposed of its gas plant because
the city could not operate it as advanta-
geously for the people as could a corporation
operated upon business principles. AS for
street railways, 40 city in this country has
undertaken to own and manage such prop
erty And it may be added that those who
understand the influences which control en-
ployment in cities do not believe that a city
government could manage street railway
with efficiency or economy. With every
change of administration there would be a
change in managers and employees. Efficien-
cy would not enable an employee to keep his
place but pull" through some outside
party would. Even in the supply of water
it is very doubtful if the consumers would
get it cheaper than now. If it should be
supplied free to ALL then the burden would
fall upon property owners and those who
rent such property. Taxes are now so much
of a burden that when wage Garner asks
for a lower rent he is pointed to the high
and increasing taxes, which. for city pur-
poses, are Is per cent. higher this year than
last. without any natural utilities except a
few parks and out of the way territory
which can be made park.
The Journal is aware that the proposition
is TO confine the authority to increase the
bonded debt to the natural utilities and that
a natural utility cannot be assumed or
purchased unless the people so vote, never
theless it is wiser not to open the door to
the loan limit of cities or counties, for the
reason that our cities would soon be carry
ing a burden that compels New York real
estate owners to demand excessive rentals