Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-25
MUNICIPAL EXPENSES
Further Analysis of Represen-
tative Morrel's Speech.
WHY STATISTICS MISLEAD
A Census Bulletin Throws Light on
Problem.
STATE, COUNTY AND CITY COSTS
District Government an Anomalous
Entity to Be Carefully Con-
sidered.
STATE, COUNTY AND CITY COSTS

sidered.
With reference to the recent speech of
Representative Morrell concerning District
affairs in general, and District finances in
particular, it has been pointed out that the
Pennsylvania member probably confused
the situation more strikngly in his at
tempt at comparison of the executive de-
partments of Washington and other cities
tSln he did even in handling the "statis-
ties of other branches of the local govern
ment Mr.. Morrell said that he collected
and collated his own statistics bv writing
to different municipalities, but he did not
give the data which he collected or the
principles or definitions of his classical
ions in dealing with any form of general
expenditures, and thereby, probably has
arisen the greatest of the series of difficult
ties IN the pathway OF several independent
attempts to make intelligent head or tall
of the Morrell tables
Inese attempts were finally abandoned
and in an effort to secure light on the
EeNed problems of comparison It was
found necessary to turn to the latest gov
eminent publication on the subject viz
census bulletin No. 20, a volume of 4Sl pages
issued by the Department of C'o1nn1erce
Cities and dated 1908. The volume COW
ers statistics from 1902 to 1904 or about
the same period as that embraced in Mr.
Morrells figures. Fifty pages of this CEN
sus bulletin are devoted to definitions of
the cIassihcations adopted in it, and ex-
plantations of the difficulties of coIlatinr
ana comparing municipal statistics In view
of the differences between the bookkeeping
methods of cities and the methods taken
by the census office to meet these problems
II Is much In the nature of a relief and
more particularly instructive and satisfy
ing, after a scrutiny of the incornplete and
unscientifc treatment and the hastv con-
cIuslonS of the Morrell speech to see the
careful and well-balanced statements of
the census report
Inc former is excellent example of the
Srab-bag system of compiIation wien
some things in one place one time and
elsewhere another. everything nowhere and
nolling ahyWhere'-while the latter Is a
moqel OF eXactness as far as such a thing
Is humanity possible. 1t is especially in
sfuctlVe IN any effort TO analyze the state
mehtS OF Mr.. Morrell to read the expIana-
tory introduction in census bulletin No 20
which, in part, IS as follows:
Varying Municipal Statistics.
"A glance at the tables presented in this
census report especially those giving per
capita payments and receipts. dfscIoses
great variations among the several cities.
These variations are of three general
classes: % Those which represent the
varying liberality or parsimony exercised in
municipal administration, or, in a general
way, the degree of effectiveness of govern
mental activity; 90 those which represent
differences in the distribution of specific
governmental functions between the CITY
county, state and other civil divisions: 60
those which reflect the degree to which the
several municipalities have assumed control
of functions originally performed bv the
citizens for themselves
Among the variations most generally
due to the first cause are those in receipts
from taxes and other sources of general
revenue and In payments for expenses and
OUTLAWS connected with streets and sewers
with the management Of the police, fire and
health departments, with schools and with
the general city administration
'Of the variations in tables due to the
second class or causes, special attention is
directed to those in the statistics of courts
ana of payments for the care of the defec-
tive, delinquent and criminal classes In
some cities all expenses for these purposes
are borne by the city government, while in
others they are supported or shared by the
county or state government. AS a result
the per capita payments by the two classes
of cities for the objects mentioned differ
greatly, but the variation makes no differ
ence in the efficiency of administration but
merely a difference In the agencies sup
porting the functions concerned In the
case of a few variations of this class an
effort has been made to present data to as
sst in determining the relative or COM
paratiVe cost of municipal services or ac-
tivities The most important of such va
riations are those arising from the differ
ence- In local laws governing the admins
tration OF schools. in most cities the schools
are under the control of the city govern
ment or of a school district practically
coterminous with the city.
State, City and County Control
in a few cities with over 5000 fnhs BIZ
tants, and in a large number of smaller
cities, the schools are under state or county
control. All the money expended in erect
ing school houses and in conducting schools
is raised by uniform state or county tax,
or is otherwise provided by the state or
county, the city having no direct voice IN
determining how much money 1t will con-
tribute for maintaining the local schools
Such payments for schools are not treated
by the bureau OF the census as municipal
payments. and no effort is made to in
clude them IN the general tables. But to
assist the student of municipal finance in
making specific comparisons of the pay
ments for school purposes within the Inn
Its of different cities The census has Sc
cured statements OF the county and state
payments FOR schools within the limits OF
cities such as those above described
''Of variations of the third class atten-
ton is called to the following: Some cities
show relatively large payments for the re-
moval of garbage, the sprinkling of streets
the construction and maintenance of side
ments. Other cities pay but small amounts
from their treasures for these purposes |
The difference arises from the fact that |
the cities first referred to have Assumed |
the entire responsibility of performing
these services, while In the others the re- |
sponsibility rests with the Individual cit |
liens independent of the municipal govern |
ment.
statistics of payments for police service |
sometimes reflect the influence of the same |
factor. few cities provide a police force |
20 large and efficient that there is but 1T |
tie necessity for individual firms and cor !
porations to maintain private watchmen |
and guards. In other cities the number OF /
policemen on the pay rolls is comparatively |
very small. while large numbers OF private |
watehman are maintained by business men |
and firms.
I'm like manner some cities provide their
citizens with water, light, markets and /
kindred facilities. the receipts therefrom
a large proportion of the mu- I
nicipai income. while in Others all such |
utilities are supplied by private agencies
"a Qain- a relatively small erner,f5it,,r.a