New-York tribune., 1902-10-30

increased service demanded by new
parks recently opened or TO be
To the i1e-' departments OF Public Chari-
ties. Hospitals. Corrections and
Health, in large part because OF in
creased cost of food and fuel sup -
To pitfs the public libraries 10000
To the boroughs OF Queens and Rich
mond. chiefly intended TO furnish
better facilities for the OF the
roads and street cleaning depart
mentS .......-..-.--..-- ......-..... -tJtVO'
Total ................................. s281o.7oO
The only other large items in the increase col
urnn are more apparent than real The increase
in the Department OF Water supply. Gas and
Electricity consists largely of transfers TO that
department Of suTls which heretofore had been
allotted to other departments for the lighting
of various public buildings, the duty now fall
ing upon this department OF the apparent in
crease in the Department of Finance only Sll,-
OoO is really such, being an allowance Tor add
tiOnal work which the increased activities or the
city departments generally, and the necessity of
developing the real estate bureau put upon
the department.
The other items of increase are all OF small
sums, and in every case we believe. for neces-
sites clearly made out The increased expenses
in the Board of Elections and in the Fire De
partment are absolutely unavoidable So also
is that in the Department of Taxes and Assess
mentS, because Of the increased work which
will fall upon that department. In the coming
year. In the National Guard and ArmOry Board
the increases are largely due TO loss by IRE suS-
tanned during the last year. In the Normal Col
lege the increase is due to the necessity or
bringing that institution UP TO modern require
ments. that it's certificates will be accepted
by the State Board of Regents The increase
in the Court of Special Sessions is due to the
Children's Court in the Office Of the Dis
trict Attorney of New-York County effort
has been made to make the appropriation meet
the actual expense of the office instead of leaV-
ing. as heretofore, a substantial deficiency to be
inevitably met at the end OF the year by trans
fers OF unexpended balances The increase IN
the Law Department of the city is due to the
necessity OF providing more fully for the prose-
cutop OF business in which the city is interested
as plaintiff and has something TO gain affirm
Private libraries receive no increase. and viii
be entirely excluded from the next budget. in
view of the opening next year OF many Car
negte branches. which must be maintained by
the city. Private charitable institutions receive
no increase in rates. nor ara any new institu-
With the revision of assessments now under
progress in force. and the reform in the sink
ing Fund contemplated, two measures intended
To go hand in hand, there will be a situation
ultimately very much TO the advantages or the
taxpayers. and one which rave not seen sus-
gested before in print: Hereafter every change
in expenditure on the part OF the Guy Whlcn eN-
ceeds the increase in the city's revenues ana ths
tax returns from the property Whlch eacH
year adds to the roll will be a change which
must show in the tax rate, and which cannot be
administration is sensitive about increasing tax
rate, and the taxpayers of the city VIII thus
have something of guarantee against all such
increases which are not absolutely necessary.
While the economies of the administration are
doubtless less than many persons expected. I
believe il cannot be doubted that the city gov
ernment a whole, considering its expenditure
Of moneys derived from bonds well as from
taxation. and the elements of efficiency, industry
and honesty of expenditure, and making due al
lowance for the mandatory legislation fixing
salaries as we'll as for the tedious and often eX-
pensive methods Of letting contracts and OF con-
Quoting public business which the law requires.
Is neither uneconOmiCaI nor extravaSant; but.
on the contrary. is almost uniformly producing
a dollars worth for every dollar expended
What taxpayers want beyond elementary hon
esty is progress. economy, full value for their
money and taxation which lessons rather than
increases. Some slight measure of these require
ments has. I hope, been achieved.