The Detroit times., 1909-06-04
TAXES ON UPGRADE
IN ALL BIG CITIES
People, Beginning to Realize Posi-
bilities in Way of Safety, Comfort
and Health, Spend More.


called upon TO pay an SIS tax rate
this year for the first time will be
interested To know that increasing tax
rates are one OF the symptoms com.
mon to all American cities at the pres.
ent time-in fact, common TO the
cities of the world. Inquiry among
The comptrollers and accounting of.
ficers of the country. In session here.
develops the fact that Detroit, for all
this years increase. mas one of the
loves. tax rates among the large
cities.
DR.. lie Grand Powers. chief stats.
tcian of the United States census
bureau. and founder of the Comp
trollers association, has had oppor-
tunity to study the Developments in
city life on account of the mass OF
statistics from all the cities OF the
country which come to his ONCE to
be tabulated every year. He finds that
municipal expenditures are every
where on the upgrade with the max
imum still far ahead.
1T is the natural development of
city life," says DR.. Powers. who Is at.
tending the comptrollers' convention.
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 posi-
bilities OF city life-the advantages to
be had by united action along various
lines. all requiring expenditure. One
OF these lines Of action Is In regard
TO health. There was time not so
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.
but 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 built
and maintained. All this has cost a
great deal OF money. but 1t 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.
"In the same way people have come
to appreciate the convenience and
benefit of parks, of paving and public
buildings. OF public Fairgrounds, Of
adequate police and fire protection
and have demanded these things more
and more. ). Each demand has meant
an increase in the advantages of city
life and an increase in expenditures.
There was a time. in 1870. when Hor'
ace Mann began his crusade for pop
ular education, when schools were
maintained by the parents Of the
pupils; now they are maintained by
the community. Libraries are 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 tremend-
GUS factor toward better government"
Inquiry among the comptrollers
gathered here shows that Detroit Is
unique in It's 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 OF
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 body Of men not intimate
ly familiar with the workings of the
city government. Is not the wisest
plan.
Mayor Breitmeyer now favors a
change in the charter. as soon as
the home rule bill becomes operative,
which would abolish the present board
of estimates and substitute In Its place
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 as impressed with the ex'
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 number OF de-
partments. The prompt collection OF
taxes in this city Is surprise-to many
visitors.
I'VE have no delinquent taxes back
Of 1861" remarked Comptroller Crit
nng, of New Rochelle, N. Y, "the rec
ords are lost back of that date"
New Rochelle Is to celebrate its
birthday, Saturday, having been found
| ed In 1858.
Detroits primary nomination plan
is Of considerable interest to the Wis
itors. The comptrollers of most cities
are elected, instead OF appointed, as
In this city.