Las Vegas optic., 1913-06-26
new YORK PILES
UP BILLION in
DEBT
FATHER KNIcKERBocKER NOW
OWES AS MUCH AS DOES
UNCLE SAM.

! New York, June 26.-With the
statement Of the comptroller that New
York owes upward of $1,SOO,OOO,OoQ,
Father Knickerbocker easily becomes
the greatest municipal debtor in the
world Indeed his Indebtedness is as
great as the national DEBT. Against
this enormous Indebtedness Father
Knickerbocker has IN his Golfers
about sSO2,OOO,O0O which could be
used toward paying off the debt, and
much interest has been taken Of late
Of possible plans by which if such
step became necessary the remain
ing billion could be taken care Of.
Among the most ingenious is that Of
bridge tolls. What the city has put
into the aspans across the East river
equals the price paid by the United
States for ali the land it has acquired
by purchase west Of the Mississippi
river. In case of hard times or any
unexpected demand for funds the city
could exact toll from the million
people who use these bridges every
day The revenue from this source
alone should be sufficient to pay Off
the city's indebtedness. Another
great asset is the real estate which
the city owns, its book value at pres
ent amounting to nearly $5OO,OOO 900. |
Much of this of course is in longitud-
inal parkways which total ZIG, 900 feet
in length, or about So miles. This
great stretch Of parkways flanked by
fine roadways and walks, if laid out
along the Hudson, would stretch
from this city to West Point, with
cost of nearly S12,OOO,OO0. So while
New York's debt may at first seem
staggering Father Knickerbocker is
by no means on the verge of bank
ruptcy. However, the size of these
figures is undoubtedly largely respon-
sible for the increasing demand for
economy in the operation of the city |
which promises to be an important
factor in the campaign next fall.
Fight to Stop Smoking.
Whether or not mere man shall be
deprived of his precious privilege of
smoking on the four rear seats Of
open street cars is the question
around which merry war is being
waged The anti-smokers, led by
DR.. Pease, whose antipathy to the
weed is so keen that he is reported to
have left banquet because girl
reeited poem by James Whitcomb |
Riley in which mention is made OF
smoke wreaths, demand that all
smoking in or about any railroad,
street car line, or ferry house under
the jurisdiction Of the public service
commission be prohibited by law
At the first hearing held before the
commissioner most of DR.. Pease's
supporters were women, but the op-
nosition came entirely from the sex
which is permitted to smoke in pub
lie. They used no arguments TO
back them up in their opposition but
ridicule. and one of them had the
hardihood to try to change the tenor
Of the proceedings by asking that
tbe order be amended SO as to re-
onire the railroad companies to pro
vide more smoking accommodations
than they do. Humor was added TO
f,a situation by one man who waived
4 bunch Of coupons, such as are gwen
away with cigarettes and cigars, and
protested that he was not allowed
to smoke at home or in his office
and that the open cars were the only
available place left since he never
walked. II represent the great cou-
pom collectors Of New York" said
he. my dearest wish Is to owl
yacht For years ] have been saw
ing coupons to get one. But if /
can't smoke at home Or in the sub
way or at the office, and if you now
prevent me smoking on the street
cars, how can | ever get the yacht?" '
Further hearings win probably be
held before the matter IS ended.
,,fohable motive for the murder of {