Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-01
THE ANNUAL MESSAGE
IContin,.ed from First Page.l

evfnced on the part OF Congress growing rea1
ization Of the importance of the consular serv
ice in Fostering oi,r commercial relations abroat
and in protecting the domestic revenues. A
the scope Of operations expands, increased pro
vision must be made to keep up the essentia
standard Of efficiency. The necessity OF som'
adequate measure of supervision and inspec
ton has been so often presented that l neet
only commend the subject to your attention
THE TREASURY STATEMENT.
The revenues of the Government from al
sources for the fscal year ending June 80, 1890
were $4s3 G3 0s055, and the total expendi
lures for the same period were 1858, 61S, 5s4. SO
The postal receipts have not heretofore beer
included in the statement OF these aggregates
and for the purpose OF comparison the sum o.
$50. $50 G97 W should be deducted from both
sides of the account. The surplus for the year
including the amount applied to the sinking
fund. was SI05. 344. $500 The receipts foI
1880 we're ZIG, 03O, 923.79 and the expenditure,
els, 1881 in excess OF those OF 1899. The
customs receipts increased 1886, S42.SS and
the receipts from internal revenue l1,725,-
1879, while on the side OF expenditures,
that for pensions was els, .07596 in excess Of
the preceding year.
The treasury statement for the current fiscal
year. partly actual and partly estimated Is as
follows: Receipts from all sources, s4O6. 000, :
900; total expenditures. 1854 900 600, leaving a
surplus of So. OO0, 0O0-nOt taking the postal
receipts into the account on either side, The
loss Of revenue from customs for the last guar-
ter il estimated at S25OOO0 900. but from this is
deducted a gain of about 5l6. 900 900, realized
during the first four months of the year.
For the year 1892 the total estimated receipts
are s973, 900 900 and the estimated expenditures
S357 $50 209.42, leaving an estimated surplus of
s15, 147, 790.5s, which. with cash balance OF
452. 0OO, 900 at the beginning Of the year, will
give S67 lat 80. So as the sum available for the
redemption of outstanding bonds or other uses.
The estimates of receipts and expenditures for
the Post Office Department. being equal are
not included in this statement on either side.
THE ISSUE OF SILVER NOTES.
The act directing the purchase Of silver bull
lion and the issue Of treasury notes thereon"
approved July IA, 1890, has been administered
by the Secretary Of the Treasury with an earn
est purpose to get into circulation at the
earliest possible dates the full monthly amounts
of treasury notes contemplated by its provis-
ions and at the same time to give to the market
for silver bullion such support as the law con-
templates. The recent depreciation in the
price of silver has been observed with regret.
The rapid rise in price which anticipated and
followed the passage of the act was influenced
in some degree BY speculation, and the recent
reaction is In part the result of the same cause
and in part of the recent monetary disturb
ances. Some months of further trial will be
necessary to determine the permanent effect of
the recent legislation upon silver values but il
is gratifying to- know that the increased circu-
lation secured by the act has exerted and will
continue 10 exert a most beneficial influence
upon business and upon general values.
While IL has not been thought best to renew
formally the suggestion Of an international con-
ference looking to an agreement touching the
full use of silver for coinage at a uniform ratio.
care has been taken To observe closely any
change in the situation abroad. and no favora-
BILE opportunity will be lost to promote a result
which il is confidently believed would confer
very large benefits upon the commerce of the
world.
The recent monetary disturbances in Eng
land are not unlikely to suggest a re-examina-
ton of opinions upon this subject. Our very
large supply of gold will, if not lost by impul-
sive legislation in the supposed interest of sill
ver give us position of advantage in prOmot-
ing permanent and safe international agree
ment for the free use of silver US a coin metal.
THE INCREASE IN CIRCULATION.
The efforts of the Secretary to increase the
volume of money in circulation by keeping
down the treasury surplus to the lowest practi-
cable limit have been unremitting and in q very
high degree successful. The tables presented
by him, showing the increase of money in cir
culatiOn during the last two decades, and espe-
cially the table showing the increase during the
nineteen months he has administered the affairs
of the department., are interesting and instruc-
tive. The increase of money in circulation
during the nineteen months has been in the ag-
grs9ate $50. ss6.sl3. OF about g so per capita.
and Of this increase only Il, 100 900 was due to
the recent silver legislation. That this sub
stantial and needed aid given to commerce re-
suited in an enormous reduction Of the public
debt and OF the annual interest charge il mat
ter of increased satisfaction. There have been
purchased and redeemed since March 4, 1889.
and AZ per cent bonds to the amount Of f21l .
s32.450. at cost Of S246.62 al, resulting in
the reduction OF the annual interest charge of
Ss.967.6s9 and a total saving OF interest Of
$51, $50, 706.
THE INCREASED INTERNAL. REVENUE.
notice with great pleasure the statement of
the Secretary that the receipts from internal
revenue have increased during the last fiscal
year nearly sl2 900 900 and that the cost OF coll
lecting this larger revenue WAS less by S90.6l7
than for the same purpose in the preceding year.
The percentage of cost of collecting the customs
revenue was less for the last fiscal year than
ever before.
The Customs Administers ton Board provided
for by the act of June 10, 1880. was selected
with great care and is composed in part Of men
whose previous experience in the administra-
ton Of the old customs regulations had made
them familiar with the evils to be remedied, and
IN part OF men whose Legal ar judicial acquire
ments and experien 20 seemed to fit them for the
work Of interpreting and applying the new
statute. The chief aim of the law is to secure
honest valuations Of all dutiable merchandise
aud to make these valuations uniform at all
our ports of entry 1t had been made mani
fest by Congressional investigation that
system Of differentiation had been long in use
by certain classes Of importers. resulting not
only in great loss Of revenue. but in a most
intolerable discrimination against honesty. 1t
Il not seen how this legislation, when it il un-
derstood. can be regarded by the citizens of
any country having commercial dealings with
Us as unfriendly. IL any duty is supposed to be
excessive let the complaint be lodged there. II
VII surely not be claimed by any well-disposed
people that a remedy NAV be sought and al
lowed In . system Of quasi smuggling.
THE ARMY.
The report Of the Secretary of War exhibits
several gratifying results attained during the
year by wise and unostentstious methods The
percentage Of desertions from the Army ian
evil for which both Congress and the Depart
ment have long been seeking remedy has
been reduced during the past year "a per cent.
and for the months Of August and September.
during which time the favorable effects Of the
act Of june 10 were felt, 50 per cent as COM
pared with the same months of 1889.
The results attained by reorganization and
consolidation of the divisions having charge of
the hospital and service records Of the yolun-
tser soldiers are very remarkable. This change
was effected in July, 1883, and at that time
there were 49, 54 cases awaiting attention
more than half Of these being calls from the
Pension Office for information necessary to the
adjudication of pension claims. On the Both
day of June last, though over three hundred
thousand new calls had come In, there was not
q single case that had not been examined and
answered.
concur In the recommendations Of the Sec
rotary that adequate and regular appropria-
lions be continued for coast-defense works and
h.x.a ill., a