The Sentinel=record., 1915-02-11
AT THE END OF ITS ROPE.

New York City frankly confesse' that it is at the end of it's financial rope and that it will have to change it's methods-and either increase it's revenues or reduce it's expenditures Which of these two horns of it's di- lemma it will choose is a point at issue between it's officials, it's citi' zens and its newspapers. The mayor and the city chamberlain believe that the best policy Is to raise more reYe- nue and to find new taxes that will produce the money needed. On the other hand the comptroller and the presidents of the several boroughs are, opposed to mora taxes and say that the people are unable to pay them. Their program is to reduce salaries and 10 drop those depart ments which are not absolutely nee essary. New York has gona further in the way of social uplift than al. most any American city-it is at the end of it's rope in such work and must economize.
 The city budget has been steadily increasing, growing three or four times as rapidly as population. It was $5l,00O,000 in 1898 when the present city was organized 1t is S17O,0O0,000 today and will certainly pass tIe s200,00O,000 limit for next year. The burden has been made all the heavier by the state and the leg. islature by new state taxes and bad legislation.
 It is clear that if the city is to rGn on it's present lines, it must have more revenue. It is equally clear that real estate will stand no more taxa. tion, as the present rate is almost confiscatory; and that the goose which has laid so many golden eggs in the past is pretty nearly exhaust. ed. To meet the difficulties present ed the mayor mas appointed a spe- cial commission to suggest new taxes from which the needed funds can be secured. The commission has a num- Der of new sources of revenue for con. sideration and action. It proposes a habitation or household taxa tax on the unearned increment, borrowed from LloydlGeorges famous measure that caused such a sensation in Great Britain. an occupancy tax; an in. come or salary tax based on all sala- ries and others Of like character
 This program. it is perhaps need less to say, meets with much opposi. tion. Nor is the economy program any more favored for the people do not want to give up all tAe luxuries the city provides for them It not only provides abundantly for the pub lie schools but it even supports city university at which all who wish il can secure a college education; and it expends hberally for the develop ment of artistic and literary taste All these features are beneficial ant  desirable but what can the city dc if it has not the money to pay fol them? This, in fine, is the problem before the people of Manhattan |, decide-more taxes or more economy and the same question is before mos other American cities, in one form O another.
 What is now confronting New Yorl city will soon be upon Hot Springs The legislature by it's act in prohih iting the issuance of liquor license has cut off from Hot Springs abou S4O0O0 annually. This deficit mus be met, and unless the legislatur provides some new method of raisin revenue the only course left will b to raise the valuation on real and per sonal property. When this is done means that the valuation must b more than doubled to yield thi amount of revenue to the city. Unde our present taxing method as ever taxpayer knows only 20 per cent o the total tax collected goes to tn city.