Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-03
BUDGET OF THE HOLY CITY
Biggest Item Of Revenue In Jers-
salem is Foot Bridge Over
the Jordan.

Husseln EffendI, president Of the munic-
ipality Of Jerusalem, syria, Is man OF
modern thought. he has made up
statement Of the income Of the Holy City
for the fiscal year ended March II 1911,
and sent IL to William A. Prenderssst,
controller Of q town which differs some
what from Jerusalem In return he asks
for a copy Of the annual statement Of the
city OF New York. Hussein Effendi Is
familiar with English. and takes a deep
interest in American affairs. II Is doubt
full. however. II the figures from the con-
troller's office prove as picturesque read
\ ing 10 him as do those Of the Holy Land
to the citizens Of the western world.
Among items Of taxes on roads over
which the gentle Jesus walked. and bridge
tolls across the River Jordan, II Is star
Ting to read Of a petroleum storage tax
amounting to 15eoeo piasters year. II
brings shudder to think Of motor cars
running over the highway from jerusalem
to Jaffa. with muffer off and siren
shrieking. Yet in the statement OF Hus-
sein Effendi may be read there Is tax
Of a. plasters box OF two fiye-sallon
cans OF petroleum for the first month; y
plaster for each succeeding month" The
biggest item on the list Is the income from
tolls collected from the foothridge over
the Jordan, near Jerieho-a bridge so old
that the western mind can hardly take in
its weight OF centuries. These collections
amount TO 10000 plasters, which means in
our money ss.ss0. The tax for loaded
camel is ~ piasters; II he Is empty he
goes for 2 piasters. The laden mule may
cross for psasters. while the laden
donkey goes over at bargain rates-i
plaster.
From those who walked and drove their
solemn camels and their little gray DON
keys over the Jaffa turnpike t5.si3 was
collected In the year. For the whole dis
lance OF forty miles. from Jericho to
Jaffa, q loaded camel and his drsser may
go by paying piasters. on the other
hand. a carriage with three horses going
over the same distance must pay ~
plAsters n II has passengers; II empty II
need pay only ~. A two-horse carriage
goes for piasters and a one-horse gig
pays 1.
For cleaning and lighting the streets
Of the Holy City householders pay a small
tax. scaled according to the quarter OF
the city and the number Of persons in
the houses. The revenue from this
source Is 10000 piasters annually-ss.e so
The income from taxes on real estate and
other property owned (houses. shops,
etc.), is about ss.s76. II would not appear
from this modest figure that there are
many mllilonaires in Jerusalem. IL seems
almost cruel to stagger the good Hus-
seln Effendl with such figures as these:
Population OF New York City. 5.Oi6s7s;
taxable realty valued at N.sSs,S4o.ie4; tax
rate for Manhattan and The Bronx, n.72,
etc.
For the purpose Of road repair animals
that enter the city Of Jerusalem are taxed
10 the tune OF 500 per year, a camel
Involving ! plaster. a mule " donkey
". There is a tax upon carriages that
are let out for hire OF ~ piasters day.
The New York taxicab chauffeur pays a
yearly license fee OF g; a special hack
ers license costs only 30 cents. II Soks
as IL the Jerusalem liveryman had rather
the worst OF u. In the summer time he
is taxed a plaster extra TO pay for
sprlnkling the streets.
Hussein Effendi quantity says In his
letter to the New York comptroller that
Jerusalems income appears rather small
considering there are nom 5000 to saooo
souls. The explanation is found partly
in the fact that the municipality does not
concern itself with the maintenance Of
schools or police force, these belonging
TO the government OF the province Of
Jerusalem. Nevertheless, IL the good
Hussein Effendi and billions and trfl-
figuring In millions and billions and tril-
lions Of piasters, 1t would seem that a
brainstorm Is brewing for the far east
against the time when Mr.. Prendergast
,.,.S., ~. x,atarnanf -New York Press