The New York herald., 1921-05-11
Crushing Government Costs.

1
beginning at the reduction Of the cost
IF government with a cut Of $1S,-
100000 for this year as compared
with last year. 1t is up to every
State government and village govern
ment to do the same thing, if 1t
doesn't want something to drop on it
like a thousand of brick.
AS war imitation swept private busi-
Eess of its feet and into the clouds
with pyramiding costs and prices, pub
lie business likewise went soaring
with its costs and taxes. In many
ways the public increases were worse
than the private increases, because
not only were the legitimate costs of
government necessarily advanced
with higher charges for coal and all
other supplies, higher labor charges
and higher interest rates on loans,
but the spenders cut loose right and
eft, not from sheer maliciousness of
squander of the public's money, but
essentially to strengthen themselves
politically In this chance of life
time to take care Of influential party
leaders, workers, friends and cheer
full givers.
Now the squander orgy is over for
all parties that are In control of any
public business from country Cross
roads town to the Government of the
United States. There Is no more ex-
cuse for them to continue on a war in
flation basis with expenditures and
taxes than for manufacturers, mer-
chants, distributors and others in
everyday individual and business
walks. There will be no more chance
for them to remain In control Of po-
litical organizations and public affairs
IL they go on running riot with the
public's funds than there would have
been for mill owners and merchants
to stay on earth IL they had not set to
work with all the brains, energy and
courage at their command to work
out the inevitable economic readjust-
ment required of them to haul their
labor and other production costs
down, cut prices and get their busi-
ness started back toward normal
National taxes, State taxes and local
taxes are costing the average house
hold In the United States more than
1t used to take to feed, clothe, shelter
and otherwise support millions of
American families. The Federal ex-
penditures, still running at five billions
of dollars a year, represent more than
cost of $3.50 year to the average
American family.
In New York the actual cost of State
government last year was probably
nearer $4,000, 900 than the 1920 ap-
preparation Of $145,00O,0O0 indicates
for the overspendings beyond the ap.
. preparations were scandalous, as evi.
denced by the millions OF deficiency
appropriations necessary this year to
take up that 1920 slack. With 2,5O0,-
600 households in New York this
makes the cost of State government
some $65 year to the average family
In New York.
, In the city of New York the munici.
, pal budget appropriations. inclusive OF
mandatory State and county additions
are pressing closely upon $3.50, 0,0oO0 00t
year. With a million households
in the city this makes the cost of mu
nicipal government some $3.50 veal
10 the average family In New
York city.
But the direct tax costs, whether
Federal, state or local, reflect them
selves, sometimes multiply themselves
in additional living costs springins
from Government squander and tax
ation-the rents Of the butcher, thu
baker and the candlestick make
which go into their commodity prices
with something to spare; the In
creased costs OF everything marked
up In price to cover the taxes Will
something more to spare.
Add nil the direct taxes together
Federal $3.50 State s65 and munici
pal S350-and the average family n
New York city gets tax score