The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-06-04
TAXES on UPGn|
IN ALL CITlEs
Of WORLD
People, Beginning to Realize -
bilities in Way Of Safety, Con1
and Health Guards Dsmn1
Increased Expenditures.
Boost Just Beginning, Declares 8
lie Grand Powers, Chief Statis(
clan of U. S. Census Bureau.

Detroit property owners who a
called upon TO pay an SIS tax Il
this year for the first time VIII
interested to know that increasing n
rates are one OF the symptoms CO
mon to all American cities at the On
ent time-in fact, vommon To
cities OF the world. Inquiry amo
the comptrollers and accounting q
ficers OF the country, In session hexC
develops the fact that Detroit, for n
this years increase, has one OF tG
lowest tax rates among the lnrn
cities.
DR.. lie Grand Powers, CHIEF stats
tician OF the United States conou
bureau. and founder Of the Conn
trollers' association, has had opp0G<
tunity to study the developments III
city life on account OF the mass a.
statistics from all the cities OF the
country which come to his once o.
be tabulated every year. He finds that
municipal expenditures are every~
where on the upgrade with the mar.
imum still far ahead.
1T Is the natural development of.
city life," says DIR. Powers, who is at
tending the comptrollers' conventions.
I'm all cities expenditures are grow
ing faster than the assessment values.
and, consequently, tax rates are larger.
| THE reason Is easily discernible.
People are just realizing the possi-
bilitles Of city life-the advantages o.
be had by united action along various,
lines, all requiring expenditure. One
of these lines OF action is I'm regard
to health. There was time not 90
long ago when the birth rate of cities
was lower than the death rate. Left
TO themselves, without ingress from
the outer districts. the cities would
have vanished. .,.,..ss-
Blu measures OF various kinds to
protect the health and life Of the In
habitants have been adopted; sewers
have been built, disease checked. wa
ter supply installed, life safeguarded
by many precautions. hospitals butt
and maintained. All this has cost a
great deal OF money. but II has length
ened the period of human life and
made the birth rate in cities greater
than the death rate. Each life length
ened Is an Industrial gain for the COM
munity.
I'm the same way people have come
benefit OF parks, OF paving and public
buildings, OF public Fairgrounds. Of
adequate police and fire protection.
and have demanded these things morg
and more Each demand has meant
an increase In the advantages OF city
| life and an increase in expenditures.
There was a time, In 1910. when Hor-
ace Mann began his crusade for pop
| ttla M
maintained by the parents of the
pupils: now they are maintained by
the community. Libraries are a SINH
lar development, the public coming
to understand the value OF education.
"All these things which increase the
budgets are on the upgrade. IN this
condition, there Is a great incentive
toward more honest, economical and
efficient government. In my opinion
this state OF things will be a tremend-
Gus factor toward better government"
Inquiry among the comptroliers
gathered here shows that Detroit Is
unique In its budgetary system-that
OF having estimates prepared by de-
partment heads, passed upon by the
council and finally reviewed and cut
by the board OF estimates. In most or
the cities the estimates go from the
departments to a board OF estimates
consisting of the mayor, controller
and some other city officials, who
prune them for final action by the
common council. The visitors are In
clined To think that the Detroit plan.
which involves cutting down OF the
budget by a body of men not intimate
lly familiar with the workings of the
city government, is not the wisesr
plan.
Mayor Breitmeyer now favors
change in the character, as soon as
the home rule bill becomes operative.
which would abolish the present board
of estimates and substitute in its place
a smaller board appointed by the may
or, with the mayor having also veto
power over items. Such a scheme
would place the responsibility for the
tax rate directly upon the shoulders
of the mayor.
Aside from the budgetary plan OF
the city. the visitors have expressed
themselves az impressed with the err
cellent system shown In the accounts
OF the city departments, much OF the
credit for which Is due TO Howard c.
Beck. formerly deputy city controller.
and WHO installed the present book
keeping systems in a number OF de-
partments The prompt collection OF
taxes in this city is a surprise to many
visitors.
I'VE have no delinquent taxes BACK
of 1861" remarked Comptroller CRU
\ Ang. Of New Rochelle. n. u. the rec
ords are lost back Of that date.
New Rochelle Is TO celebrate us
birthday. Saturday. having been found
ed In 1858.
DetroIt's primary nomination plan
Is of considerable interest to the Wis
itors. The comptrollers OF most cities
are elected. instead OF appointed. 40