South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-18
COST MORE To RUN
CITIES THAN STATE
Expenditures Exceed Reven-
ueS in Twenty-Five Out
OF FOrty-eight States.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1s.-Munl-
cipal government is costing the
American people considerable more
than does state government. This
is one Of the facts brought ont bv "a
preliminary report issued today bv
the bureau OF the census on states
finances during the fiscal year 1915.
In % OF the As states the excess of
expenditures for governmental costs.
including interest and OUTLAWS for
permanent Improvements. over rev
enues during the year was S55.ZS3,-
400. or S6 cents per capita In the
remaining % states the excess Of
revenues over expenditures was SIS
60S.917 or 30 cents per capita.
The aggregate revenues of an the
states during the year were S45S.-
222. 597: the aggregate expenditures
for current governmental costs in
Guiding interest. $399,714,-85. and
the aggregate OUTLAWS for pc manent
Improvements. sg5.192.T99.
For an the states taken as a group
the per capita receipts from prop
crty taxes were S2.73, from other
taxes. 9S cents. from earnings of
general departments. u cents, and
from an other sources combined, 45
cents
The highest per capita propert3
taxes S7.28. are shown for Arizona,
and the lowest 81 cents for Mis-
souri,.
Governmental Costs.
The expenditures during the year
for governmental costs. which ae-
gregated S494.3O7.OS4. were in the
order Of their Importance. for eN-
penses of general departments,
S37q.O3O.O94- for OUTLAWS. $93,192,-
799. for interest. $1S.545,95J, for
expenses of public service enter
prises railroads toll bridges. ferries.
canals. docks and wharFes. ETC.,
maintained by nine states only. s.
12S.236. Expenses Of general de-
partments comprised payments Tor
education (school and Hhraries),
S147.164.24z: for charities. hospitals
and corrections. $S9.189,4O0; for
general government Legislative,
executive and judicial branches
S44.5OS.417. for protection TO per-
son and property (pohce and nre de-
partments, militia and armorles'
regulation Of corporations, PROBES
sionaI occupations labor, liquor
traffic sale of certain commodities,
and weights and measures. protec-
ton OF fish and game. etc. S2b,294.-
sol: for highways, S22,16l,t66; Tor
general and miscellaneous items, IN
Guiding pensions and gratituities,
so 21456g: for development and
conservation OF natural resources,
S16R5S.6S5. fOr conservation OF
health and sanitation, S9'4o5'b''i
and for educational and general rec
reation. parks and reservations, ana
monuments. $STS,646.
The average per capita eNpendl-
turee from ali governmental costs,
including interest and OUTLAWS. M the
as states wre $500. The highest
figure shown under this head for any
one state. S12.17. is that for Callior-
mia. and the lowest. S1.Sl, for south
Carolina. The average per capita
expenditures for all governmental
costs. including interest but eNclud-
inc outlavs were $4.O6 The hgh-
est 6eure appearins under this mead
for any state is that for Nevada
5000. and the lowest ls shown lot
South Carolina. Sl-Sl-
That the cost of maintaining the
state Governments imposes "a rela-
tveIv light burden ON the shoulders
Of the taxpayers IS brought OUT
clearly bv "A comparison of state and
municipal taxation and government
al costs ror the 204 American
cities Of over 10000 population the
average per capita expenditures TOT
am govern -lental costs. includin- lh-
+erest and OUTLAWS. during the hscai
wear 1918. amounted 90 S&4-65. the
correspouding figure for the states IS
hint s5.Oe. For the cities the aver
age pcr capita expenditure for all
governmental costs. including inter-
est but eNcluding OUTLAWS were
Se40S. for the states, $4.o6 For
the cities the average per capita re-
CENTS from property taxes were
SlS.72. for the states. S-.'a-
Exceed Revenues.
For the AS states taken toEether
the navments for Governmentalu
costs. including interest and OUTLAWS.
exceeded the revenues hy S36.6lf.-
asa. hut the revenues exceeded the
current expenses and interest hy
S5S.5lS. 312. am amount more than
three-hfths as great as that OF the
total OUTLAWS. which aggregated 500
1879. In other words. the states.