Evening star., 1932-03-28
Extravaganza of the Cities.

/ @ASN Va VIC S1tlSS.
Former President Coolidge. tn the
Saturday Evening Post, does what
everybody else is doing these DAYS
talks about taxes. And while Mr.. Cool
idge fails where everybody else fails in
not telling US what to do about it, he
at least succeeds in presenting, with
characteristic economy of words, a
startling picture of what has been going
on, and leaves no doubt of where much
of the blame rests.
! Mr.. Coolidge quotes figures TO show
that between 1903 and 1910 the cost of
municipal government was more than
I doubled, while the national govern
mental costs rose only from $475. 900 900
to $692 900 600; that between 1918 and
! 1923 the national bill had risen to
So, 1885 100000, the municipal govern
mental bill to $4,7S3, 900 900, and State
governmental costs were 81 PAP 900 900;
by 1929 the national governmental cost
had risen to SO ,932, 900 900, the munich
pal costs TO $7,126, ,o00, 900, and State to
81 800 ,000,00o The national expendi-
lures were reduced in per capita during
the last six years Of the period, and
during the period between 1919 and
1929 the national debt was reduced
nearly $4,000 900, 900, although it has
risen since 1880.
From these figures" says Mr.. Cool
| idge. lit is seen that the mounting cost
of government has been due to the ex
| travagance Of nearly all the States and
municipalities. Their expenses jumped
from $2,227, 600, 900 to $9,116,oOO,00 in
| l6 years. The average rate of increase
was about 20 per cent each year. OF
these StupendouS sums, interest took
81, ,481 100000, debt reduction $l,l26,-
COO, 900, highways $1,936, 100000 and
education $2,49l 900, 900 in 1928-29."
Here in Washington our governmental
costs have been rising at healthy rate,
although Washington has not been per-
mitted by our often wise legislators to
incur the Indebtedness for improvements
that is represented now IN the tremen-
dous interest payments under which
many other cities are burdened. Wash
ington has been kept on pay-as-you-
| go basis, and through the careful and
painstaking scrutiny Of every cent asked
| for and appropriated It may be ac-
cepted that the cost of government here
has been kept at the minimum and
restricted to essentials. Despite this,
WaShington's budget that was $22, ,977,-
All in 1922, rose to $45, OBS, ,676 In 1881,
about 100 per cent in eight years. The
budget is $42,564,6l8 for the current
fiscal year and the estimates sent to
Congress are for $40, ,956, ,432 for the next
fiscal year. The 40 per cent Federal
contribution of 1922 had dwindled, in
1882, to 2278, and in 1888, should the
Mapes plan be carried out, will be draS
tically reduced again. The real estate
levy, which was $s,606,311 in 1922,
reached 500 ,5S9, ,764 In 1881; it has in
creased since 1925 nearly 100 per cent.
Between 1920 and 1880 the increase in
population was about II per cent.
Yet, because some methods Of COM
parison will show that Washingtons tax
burden is below an average tax burden
for other cities, advantage is taken Of
the fact to hoist it to a level that is
not only high because Of the "extrava-
gance" in municipal costs shown by
Mr.. Coolidge, but is m1srepresented in
its actual height by method of COM
parison that can be challenged as to its
accuracy.
The crying need, these days, is for
reduction of costs and reduction Of
taxes. All over the country the ballot
welding citizens are daily shown to be
revolving against the height Of their
municipal taxes and their State taxes,
and a tax rebellion Is in progress that
has already succeeded in bringing down
the levies in some localities. Here in
Washington, where the citizens have
nothing to say about It, the effort is
to increase local taxes, and the propo-
nents of such increases use as a lever
citation Of costs In the cities where
the taxpayers are just beginning to
awaken to the extent OF their unprece-
, dented spending orgy during the rosy
, decade following the war.