The sun., 1918-09-01

The story which the preliminary
budget figures tell is one not of economy
WfAch the governments of every city in
but extravaganza not in keeping with
: wartime policy. The Real Estate Board
OF New York claims that the figures
mean that the tax rate this fall will be
twenty EIGHT points above the last tax
rate. which was thirty-four points over
the previous years levy. The outlook
: has greatly exercised real estate inter-
~ests because despite the promises OF the
city government that new sources of
revenue would be found to relieve the
: burden on real estate none has been
discovered and the big increase which
seems inevitable IL the extravaganza Of
municipal plants is not eliminated will
have to be carried by real property.
Real estate brokers are preparing to
fight extravaganza and have planned a
campaign Of publicity which will show
60 the city budget makers each week
where and how the estimates made by
various departments and bureaus can be
reduced. They intend to remind the
k1ayOT PROMISED fTeSluent
Wilson, when he called on him while on
his way south to Palm Beach last win
ter. that he would run the city at as
little cost as possible and that he would
cut out all municipal operations which
would require the expenditure a money.
At the outset the budget committee
Of the Real Estate Board OF New York
claims that there Is too much municipal
charity and that 1t is unequally dstrib-
suted. Real estate men maintain that II one
scitizen is entitled to free college educa =
Ation, free doctors. free dentists, free
;, nurses, free medicine, then all citizens
are. A family living on the East Side
IL not entitled to anything free from
the city that the city is not prepared
to give TO a family living in Flushing
or on Staten Island
The budget committee feels that there
never was a time when the poorer peo-
pie of the city needed less help than
row The poorest kind of unskilled labor
80 In demand at $3.50 a day and skilled
labor Is paid from $50 to sle5 a week.
The rents In cold water tenements have
: not increased and there are many va
cancies and the latest Government re-
port shows that the cost OF living has
only increased 65 per cent. since 1914.
There is no ground for the senti-
mtntalist. the professional settlement
worker, or the professional mendicant,
who, so often In the past. have un-
Justly Influenced the city boards TO
waste city money. to make much I'M
-pression now.
The collection OF water taxes in the
Comptroller's Office and the abolition
OF the bureau for collection OF water
revenues In the Department of Water
Supply, Gas and Electricity would re-
duce the levy one point, the Realty
Board says. Water taxes can be made
to come due at a time when there is
very little to do In the tax collection de-
partment OF the comptroller's office.
A proper reorganization OF the In
spection and audit forces OF the De-
'partment of Water supply. Gas and
Electricity would make the matter VI
certifying the reading Of water meters
IN the comptroller's office simple one.
This economy would result In a saving
of at least 100000.
There Is no need for separate bu-
reau in the Comptroller's office for the
collection Of assessments and arrears
ana the collection OF city revenue.
The bureau for the collection OF taxes
>ouid take care OF the collection OF
saxes. assessments water taxes, city
revenues and still not be overworked,
There ought not to be one place to
: nav taxes due, one to pay taxes In
Arrears and another 20 pay water taxes.
An accounts due the city should be
uaid at one place and over one counter.
This would save 100000.
The law and adjustment bureau In
INA cot u rollers office should be part
Of the bheau Of auditing, accounting