, 1888-12-06
UNCLE SANS CASH
Report of the Secretary of the
Treasury.
OUR siO1, 100000 OF A SURPLUS,
He Recommend y Suspension OF the
Further Coinage of silver--Other
Interesting Items.

WARRINGTON, Dec. 81 uo tohowhnB
is synopsis Of the report OF the secretary
ordinary revenues OF the government. for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883,
amounts to S379, ,266, ,074.76, OF which
82l9. .O9l, ,173. .63 was received from custom
duties and 24,296 87l.98 FROM internal
revenue taxes. The total receipts from
all sources exceeded those for the fiscal
year ended June 80. 1888, by 1867, 1910.
The ordinary expenses of the fiscal gear
ending June so, 1887, were $259, 65395S;' No.
81, laevinH o surplus OF $ll9,6l2, llo.OS;
The decrease in expenditures as compared
with the year ending June 30, 1887, was
S8, 8,478, ,220.3 notwithstanding the pay
ment Of more than s.. .000, 900 for pensions
in excess of what was paid for that pur-
pose in the latter mentioned year. line
estimated receipts for the year ending
June 80, 1890, are S377 900 600, and the
estimated ordinary expenditures for the
same time are 1915, 767 .4So. showing a
surplus of S101, ,232,5ll.
The foregoing statements OF the surplus
do not take into accountthe sum necessary
to be expended to meet the reairements OF
the sinking fund account, amounting 10
more than S47 200, 900 annually: The cost
of collecting customs revenues FOR the iast
fiscal year was 2.44 per cent. for the year
1885 Il was 3.77 per cent. The excess OF
internal revenue taxes collected during the
last fiscal year over those collected during
the year ending June 30, 1887, was $5.-
489, ,174.26, and In the cost OF collecting
this revenue decreased from 3.4 per cent:
in 1887 to less than 80 per cent. for last
was S723, ,94S. .04 for the year ending June
80, 1887, and 1884. 1888 for the following
year.
An accumulated surplus on September
30, 1888 was 500. .444, S45 "a; surplus rev.
enue from that date to June 30, 1883, as
estimated, are 1886, ,208 .25. making
the total accumulations Of June ~, 1883,
which could be used in the purchase OF
bonds, S17l $1,000 %; between said
September Goth and November I'D. S44,-
399, ,509.50 has been paid for bonds. con.
between November and June 3Oth next,
the surplus would then amount to Sl2I,-
600, 900, with the surplus already accumu,
lated, amounting 10 Sl01 900 900. would
make total of S22o, o,OOO,OOO
which might be used during the next
nineteen months for the purchase OF inter
est-bearinR bonds. Calculations on this
basis would show that principal and inter
est on 4 per cent bonds could be paid be-
fore 1900. At the close Of the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1887, there had been
COIOtu uuutT tuc COufputuoIy
act S266. .988, $50 in silver dollars, 500, ,5O4,'
1916 of which were in the hands OF the pee
pie. On the 3Oth day of June, 1888, there
had been coined $299, ,90S, 800, and OF this
fo'''SsiHUa IN silver eoin % and I'd 5000, o,Ss7, ,S76
in silver certificates Tor redemption.
of which silver dollars to that amount
were held by the government on the 3otn
day of Nov, 1888; e3l2, $50, ,49O had been
coined; $50, $40, $3.50 Of silver dollars we're
actually in circulation, and S237 ,3lS. l46 In
certificates, for which reason the secre-
tary recommends suspension OF further
coinage of silver. The value OF the prin-
cipal articles of domestic merchandise for
the year ending June 30, 1888, was $685.
S62, ,104, as against $703, 3,022, 1923 for the
preceding year. The total value OF inn
ported merchandise increased for $692, 3d.
768, in 1887, to $723, liza in 1883. be-
ing and increase of $3l 1897 ,346 or 4.6 per
cent. of imports and exports carried dur.
ing the year. Only l3.44 per cent. OF this
was carried in American vessels.
The total number vf alien passengers
coming into the United States from for.
eign countries, other than Canada and
Mexico, during the year ending June 80.
1888. was 567 $40. Receipts of the capi.
tation tax were 1891, 1880. Expendi.
lures on account of Immigration during
the year were $159, 1856 TO-. During the
past year the tonnage built in this coun,
try was 2l8.0 .086 tons. compared to l5O, ,45O
tons of the previous year. The total ton
mage of the country amounts to 4l9,l9l ,577
tons. Internal revenue receipts OF the
several objects of internal taxation ara as
follows: Distilled spirits, $69. 3O6. 1855;
manufactui ed tobacco, $50. .662 ,S4l .52; /;
fermented liquors, $23, ,324 ,21S.48; total
revenue from this and other sources
were Sl24, 1926, AIS 80. an increase of over
six and half millions over the previous
year.
The revenue marine service makes the
following showing: Aggregate number
of miles cruised by vessels, 303,3l1; num-
Der of merchant vessels board.
ed and examined 25.552; fines and
and penalties incurred by vessels so seized
or reported, $31l, ,844; number Of vessels
in distress assisted, ,526; number OF persons
on board vessels assisted, 404l. The
steamers Rush and Bear cruized during
the summer in the vicinity .of Pribylov
In that part of the Behring sea engaged in
unlawful killing Of seals. In their visits
to other parts Of the territory
Of Alaska proper maintenance
Of the customs regulations OF the United
States was investigated and enforced. Sub
stantisl aid was given. BY these vessel. ct
various points at which they touched to
shipwrecked seamen, destitute miners and
explorers, and to natives Of the territory,
medical attendance being frequently at.
forded which could be obtained from no
other sources. Captain Shepard brought
down from San Francisco In the Rush
thirty persons whose removal from the ex.
posed situation In which they were placed