Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-30
MUNICIPAL EXPENDITURES.

MUNICIPAL EXPENDITURES.
Those people who, from political or
personal motives, or from sheer
thoughtlessness, object to our time
honored and sound policy of paying off
our city debt, and who are unwilling
to commit themselves to or approve
of policy of economy in the interests
of the public, should devote little
time to the study of conditions in cities
where the contrary policy is persisted
in. Many instances of the pronounced
tendency of officials in power in Amer
lean cities to plunge the people into
debt almost beyond hope might be
cited, but our neighboring city of Pitts
burg will suffice to illustrate the point.
Ten years ago the debt of that city
was $9,500,000 1t is now Sic, 500, 900,
an increase of rs per cent. Ten years
ago the annual expenditures were 49,
100000 They are now $1,000 000 an in
crease of IS per cent. In the same ten
years the valuation OF property has
only increased 10 per cent, or from
$240, 100000 to S265, 900, 000 and the
population has probably only increased
20 per cent. 1t can readily be seen
that this sort of thing can only lead
to an enormously increased taxation,
either in the form of initiating the val
uation or an enlarged levy; it means
an enormous expenditure for interest,
extended over many years, and the
constant tendency is to increased ex-
travagance in every department of the
public service. More bonds" is al
ways the cry of those in power, and
by one subterfuge or another the peo-
pie will be urged and induced to vote
them unless there is sound and in
telligent public sentiment capable of
approaching ultimate results, and of
resisting the incessant clamor for mon
ey. The average American city official
is not disposed to run the public af-
fairs committed to his charge upon
anything like the principles indispen-
Sible to private success. They are al
ways ready with the specious argyll
ment that Improvements" are needed
or desirable, and adds the contention
that future generations should Shout
der the burden of present extrava-
ganCs. The result is that most Amer
lean municipalities have saddled upon
the people, present and future, debts
which cannot possibly be paid, and
which must ultimately take the form
OF permanent charge upon property,
as are the national debts of England
and France. These national debts can
never be paid, and no one expects they
ever will be. The public debt of the
city Of New York will never be paid,
and is now up to the lawful limit. Chi
cago has for years been embarrassed
financially by her Councils ignoring
ordinary business sense, and thus it
goes all along the lire.
So far Wheeling has resisted all at
tempts to increase or extend her debt.
The people by their votes have insisted
upon an annual reduction instead of
sanctioning an increase. In this we
have done we'll, and to-day there is
probably not a city of 10000 people in
the United States which has as small
debt as ours, or which is reducing
its obligations. The people of Wheel.
ing have done well. The contrast with
Pittsburg, for instance, is one very
much to our credit, In a few years
more we will be in splendid financial
shape, for our payments of principal
year by year lightens the load of in
terest and leaves constantly increas-
ed sum Of money for the public needs.
1t is remarkable record for the times.
and one to be proud Of The policy
should be continued.