Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-30
Contributions may be left at the business
ofaos Of Every Evening
The cost Of our government.

BY a very interesting local article
printed elsewhere in this issue, it is
shown that the total cost Of the mu-
nicipal government of Wilmington is
about 81 900 900 year OF this amount,
about 100000 is paid in the form of direct
taxation on real estate, and the balance
in water rates and other charges 10y the
municipality
A very significant feature is revealed
IN the proportion OF the annual expcndi-
lures which 80 to pay official salaries.
Last year the total expenditures amounted
70 SlO76.o .o20.l7 and the expenditures
for official salaries amounted TO S3lS,-
O46.s0. Thus, about ono-third of the
entire municipal revenue was applied to
the pay of oihochuldoN.
In the average manufacturing business
this proportion might not be regarded as
excessive, bat in this particular instance
it applies only TO those holding official
positions. and not 90 the labocrs Ia the
employ of the Street and Sewer Depart
mont and the Water Department. Tho
pay-rols of these two departments would
probably add $4,000 or 100000 to the
salary total
Ii viii thus be seen that the city Of VIII
mington pays very literally TO tho item
of salaries, although il is not TO be urged
that the salary of any officer is oNtrava-
CANT. Indeed some OF the salaries arc
rather too low than too high, when the
Importance and duties of tho officers are
taken into consideration. There is not
an official position in the city govern
ment that pays uore than $1,000 per
annum, and only one TO which these
figures are attached Not more than
half a dozen exceed $1,000, and the large
majority of places command less than
$1,000 per year each. In all, there are
sol city employees, inclusive of nearly 800
teachers in the public schools and
exclusive of tho mechanics and laborers
whose names are placed ON the regular
pay-rolls of the departments.
There is a probability that, outside Of
school teachers, the city has more officers
in its employ than there is any real need
Of No narrowing stories Of suffering by
reason Of overwork are ever recorded.
il is also probable that the manner in
which the municipal system has been cut
up into arbitrary and independently act-
ing departments has resulted in a larger
number Of salaried employees than would
be needed under a more concrete form
Of government.
But the great fact that should impress
itself upon the minds Of an taxpayers
when they read this interesting state
ment about the detail Of expenditures in
our city government is this. Their mu-
nioipal business now amounts 60 more
than 81 100000 a year Ii is not a busi-
ness from which any financial profit can
be realized, but it is business from
which much material benefit may be
derived; also. q business in which
expenditures may be so safeguarded as
to tighten the burdens of taxation, and
thus save money to the people Certain
il is that an Ineffective, eNtravagant adj
ministration viii prove a burden to the
community, while am effective, honest
administration will afford the people the
largest returns for their contributions Of
tax money.
Surely business involving the ex-
penditure Of more than a million dollars
year. and one in which the interests OF
the people are so intimately associated
should attract the most serious attention
Of its stockholders the citizens Of vii
mngton. They are called to pass iudg.
ment upon IFS administrators at biennial
elections, and how do they do it BY
careful scrutiny of the character anc
capacity Of those who are proposed "a,
administrators Not for an instant
They simply choose between two sets o
administrators as proposed By two politi
cal parties, and vote according to thei
political sentiments.
Perhaps a careful consideration Of IN,
facts and figures we now lay before then
may incite some Taxpayers, at least, to
firm resolve to vote hereafter as thoi
material interests. not their political pre-
objections, mag dictate.