New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-23
BURDENS FOR THE TAXPAYERS.

Two announcements of dismal import for
owners of real estate in New-York We're pub
lshed in the morning newspapers yesterday.
One was the report Of a decision of the Court of
Appeals under which heavy damages must be
paid 10 all farmers and holders of property on
Long Island who can show that the driven
wells which contribute a large percentage of
the water supply of Brooklyn have in any way
diminished the value of their holdings have
interfered in any manner with their control or
handling Of brooks or springs or underground
currents and pools. or by any possibility have
obstructed the plans of the possessors of the
surface area. The drift and tendency of this
decision are in effect that our taxpayers will be
mulcted in formidable sums for damages and
that bulky and CALLING load will be added to
the burdens under which New-York taxpayers
are already staggering The other announce
ment was that laborers in the Street Cleaning
department were likely 10 get more than
100000 out of the city treasury for working
overtime, as ex-Judge Bookstaver, who was
appointed referee TO pass those claims, had
decided that they were legal and must be met
It is a gloomy prospect for the real estate
owners who pay most of The local taxes.
Under the wasteful and prodigal municipal
government which is looting New-York with as
little scruple or conscience as was shown in
the loOting of Tien-Tsin and Picking the local
budget has reached the appalling total of
S9oOo0000! And this does not include many
millions of dollars which will be spent in 1901
from the proceeds Of bond issues which have
been authorized. The interest on those bonds
Will run for long series of years. and must be
looked after and provided for, not only through
out this generation but it must later press upon
our successors. The annual expenditure of this
metropolis has now reached an aggregate which
whole nations and countries. with the exception
OF peoples Of the foremost rank and most spa
clous resources, would find it an impossible task
TO furnish. Real estate owners are becoming
more disturbed and alarmed daily. Upon them
mountain upon mountain of oppression is piled
by Tammany. The valuations Of real estate
are now exceedingly high. and the rate of taxa
tioh is by no means moderate Since our pres
ent Mayor took office the salaries of long lists
OF Tammany pets in almost all of the depart
ments have been raised, and the ranks of the
political bandits who prey upon the substance
of honest citizens have been greatly enlarged
Sinecures have been multiplied until the array
of worthless idlers who batten and fatten upon
salaries paid them for Tammany partsanship.
and for nothing else makes up big army of
lazy fellows who worse than useless in the
departments.
Inls IS rich town, but rich as 1t is the
leglons which are looting it must be cast out, or
IT'S prosperity and its future will be wofully
impaired The appropriations already made are
so enormous that the taxpayers may soon be
panic stricken unless some relief is afforded.
ne oond issues already authorized run I'D into
lAe tens OF millions. In addition to these huge
lmposts NEWCOMERS must now reckon with
the certainty of vast expenditure on the Iono
Isiano water supply and on the claims for over.
hon
OF wages legislation These are DAYS in which
the average owner of real estate in Nex.york
reels inclined TO smite his breast and teor hia
halr and cry out, What can save me misc
able taxpayer. from the pestilence Of This Tor,
many government" Extravagance waste
spehdthrft outlay of the most obtect,ono tIo
kind characterize this Tammany dominion