The Washington times., 1915-02-03
NEW YORK AN EXAMPLE

| ANO" 4oAn WY 80 AoSAhS oA~
financial situation. Ever since the
consolidation of the boroughs into
the present greater city, extrava'
gance has run riot. The municipal
debt is now rather higher than the
public debt of the United States. The
annual budget is about 100000, 900
or one-fifth that of the Federal Gov.
ernment. Indeed, if the postal ap-
preparation be left out of considera-
tion-for it is in fact paid by the
earnings of the department-the
New York city budget is just about
one-fourth that Of the United States
Government.
The condition grows out Of the
rule of the city by legislature that
does not represent the city alone, but
the State. The New York World
makes the startling statement that
two-thirds of the city expenses are
fixed for it by the legislature at Al
bany, so that they cannot be trimmed
even if an economical administration
at the city hall should 50 desire. AS
a result, new forms of taxation are
being planned by the present city ad-
ministration, which with no respon.
sibility has inherited the fearful
burden.
New York's position suggests
some reflections on the relations be-
tween Washington and the nation
Congress makes the appropriations
for Washington; but it has assumed
in consideration of that privilege
the obligation to pay half of them
There are people who would like to
undo this relationship, and leave
Congress free to appropriate, with
out having the responsibility to pay
any fixed share. The results, sooner
or later, would be likely to parallel
pretty closely those in New York.
1t is dangerously easy business
this of spending other peoples
money. 1t is especially tempting
when there is the excuse of provid-
ing political jobs; and that excuse
would exist here. New York is be-
ginning to clamor seriously for the
privilege of real home rule, and, the
development of it's financial affairs
in recent years surely justifies the
demand. AS matters stand now, no.
body whom New York can reach and
call to account is quite responsible
for what is done.
Under governmental scheme
which divides the fiscal burden, Con
gress has given Washington a wise
administration at least in regard to
the imposition of great municipal
debt. This city has a debt so small
as to be negligible, and is in sight
of surplus in it's revenues that will
before many years pay the debt
There is not another city of com.
parable size in the land that is in sc
fortunate posture as concerns its
debt. Yet New York and Washing
ton are in many ways entitled to be
compared. Each has been practically
rebuilt. on bigger and more gener-
Gus lines in the last generation
Each has faced the necessity of liv-
ing up to it's position in the world
The one has accomplished this with
out mourning a vast debt or break.
ing down it's credit; the other has
brought the second municipality OF
the world to the verge of financial
disaster.
No legislative authority is good
enough to be trusted with ruling a
community to which it is not respon-
sible. Albany is not responsible to
New York and it doesn't have to pay
New York's bills. The results are to
be seen in the present state of af-
fairs there. Congress is responsible
on the fiscal side at least, for Wash
ington: it pays. There is a vast diff