Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-15
NEW YORK NAS|[Fl[
City's Expenses Out of Proper
tion to Multiplication of
It's Residents
PER CAPITA RATE GOING UP
Only in Mayor Lows Term Was
checl; Placed Upon Soaring Cost of
Running That Observation-Disclosures
to Which the Waste, Leaks and Ex-
travasance Are Due.

New York, March 15-New York
city's expenses are liting at a rate out
of all proportion to the multiplication
of the people dwelling in it. An ex-
animation of the accounts shows that
in the last six years the department of
education has caused the greatest in
crease, that the public debt Is next re-
sponsiole, the police next and then the
street cleaning, comptrollers city re-
cord and corporation counsers depart
ments in the order given.
Comptroller Metz said that while 1t
was difficult to find a basis for exact
and true comparison of cost of govern
ment between cities, a computation of
increases in the expense of one city
from enc period to another ought fair
ly to show whether the increases were
justified
Under this plan 1t was found that in
six years New York city has increased
it's burden $26,O26,51S, while the popu-
lation has increased about 577.102 in
the same period. In 1900 the cost per
capita for the then population was
$26.41. This year it has reached for the
present population 5000 and is still
climbing.
For the department of education the
cost In six years has advanced $685.
$40; for the public debt, $5,373,156. The
police department has required an ad-
vance Of $1.694, 1872 and street cleaning
s969,3.l7. The comptroller's office has
raised its expenses by $553,921, the
corporation counsel's office by $136.252,
the board of city record by $392,500 and
the renting of quarters from private
landlords has meant an extra $S3,744.
Only in Mayor Lows term was there
check placed upon the soaring cost
OF running the municipality.
Sources Of the Leaks.
Some of the waste, leaks and ex-
travagances of the local city govern
ment are set down to the following
causes:
tions possessing franchises has been
allowed to go uncollected.
Salaries are higher than elsewhere in
the country. The mayor receives $15,-
600, while the governor Of the state re-
ceives only $4,000. Heads of depart.
mentss, as rule, get $500, whereas
in the state government they get
$4,000.
Reckless increase of compensation to
city employees. In December alone the
Increase in pay amounted to $1S0,000.
Selling of water according to 'front.'
age of houses instead of by meter.
Enough is wasted to yield at metered
rates 100000 year in revenue.
Issuing of bonds in anticipation OF
the years receipts of taxes, paying
high for the loan. I.
Craft in purchases. favoritism in
dock rentals, bogus damage claims,
disregard of ordinary business eco
rlomics.
When Comptroller Metz read a pub
lishei table showing that with the ex-
ceptton of Boston this city was pay
ing snore for most Things in proper
ton to inha bitants than any great city
in tie world he remarked that there
were qualifying conditions to be con-
sidered.
"Boston," he said, ION the basis of
population maintains the most expen-
sive government in the world. One
qualifying condition must be kept in
mind Boston is the place of business
for q large environing population. That
is, numerous and populous suburbs
are in way part of Boston, yet in
computing the per capita cost these are
left out of the reckoning"