South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-14
We Are the SpenderS
BY Justin NIcGrath.

The bureau of census has just is
sued a report of its investigation OF
county and municipal Indebtedness In
the United States from 1902 TO 1913.
1t is a staggering exhibit of collec-
tive eXtrava gance.
The onIy conclusion which possibly
can be drawn from it is that there
must be retrencLment or inevitably
there will be ruin.
Counties and cities do not draw
their funds from an inexhaustable
source.
They are subject to the same econ
Omic rule that operates for the indi-
vidual. They cannot spend in eX-
cess of their income without counting
disaster Il they persist in pursuing
the spendthrifts course they will meet
the spendthrifts fate.
Figures are not usually interesting,
but the figures shown in this report
are more than interesting. They are
positively startling.
The debt incurred by the is state
governments increased in the 10 years
covered by the report $1O6, .O34, or
445 per cent, and the per capita debt
increased us Der cent.
The cities, villages, towns, town
ships, schools districts and all other
minor divisions of government in the
United States having power to incur
debt reported a net Indebtedness of
$3,475, 954,353 in 1913. This is an
increase of 45,SS4,743, or 1882
per cent over the amount reported in
1902. The per capita debt increased
at about two-thirds this rate
AS an indication Of the general ten
dency toward an increased indebted
ness it is pointed out that, with the
exception of New Hampshire and the
District of Columbia. every state
showed an increase in the net debt
since 1902.
The state Of New York alone re-
ported nearly one-third of the total
increase and also reported the larg-
est per capita debt. S107.71, no other
state having reported a per capita
debt in excess of 500. The per
capita debt most nearly approaching
this figure, S70.21, was reported by
the state of Washington. New Jer-
sey was thicd,. with a per capita debt
of $61.66. with Oregan and Massa-
chusetts following in order with a per
capita debt of S57.S6 and $52.S6 re
| speCtively.
Rhode Island was the only state
not reporting a county debt.
Every state, except New Mexico, re-
ported revenue loans.
So the states not only spent more
/ imam luelE income Uul the OQlSO pre-
ceded the income.
The largest county debt, $34,S45.-
12O, was reported by Ohio. New Jer-
sey reported the second largest
amount, $22.S09,441, followed in or
/ der by Pennsylvania with S3O,796,465.
/ Texas was $27.66S,3O4 and New York
with $23,31O,172. No other state re-
ported a county debt in excess of
/ $40, 600.
The figures given on the debt of
/ cities show that the bigger the city
the greater the extravaganza.
The city of Chicago. with a net
debt OF $S1,O99, S19 was toe largest
mnicipal debtor in the state 1t re-
ported ia per cent of the net debt
of all incorporated places in Illinois
Its debt showed an increase durine
the period 1902 TO 1912 CT S29,SS7.-
$50 or SIS per cent. The per capita
debt which was only $11.9S had in
creased to S34.S5 in 1913.
New York city reported a net deb
Of SS62. SCI, or S5.4 per cent OF
the amount reported for all the cite:
OF the state. This was an increas,
from 1902 of 1886. 705.469. or 164.C
per cent. The per capita debt in 191:
was S165.95, having increased S76.93
or S6.4 per cent over 1902.
That certainly appears to be goins
some. doesn't it? But, then, ever!
city is doing IT,
We certainly are the spenders.