The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
Receipts and Expenditures of the fis-
cal Year-ImpOrts and Exports.

lllS llt ICCtlDlS liz
for the fiscal year 1893. the Secretary says
that the governments revenues from all
sources for. the year were 1851, 716,56l.9i, or
which 500, 1856, Ole. 70 was from customs and
$161, OF, G23.9 from internal revenue. The
total expenditures were $459, S74, SSI.65. leaV-
ing a surplus of s2,34I675.29. AS compared
with 1892, this shows an increase in receipts
of $50, S4S, 301. 70, and in expenditures OF %S,-
454,623.9 81. On the basis of existing laws the
revenues of the government for the present
fiscal year are estimated at $3.50, III 1888 and
the total expenditures at Si5S, 12l,365.SO. or
a deficit of SIS, 5000 0O. The principal items
in these estimated revenues are: From GUS
toms, $175, 10000 and from internal revenue,
$50 coo. OGO. while 1852, 100000 for pensions com
stitutes the largest item in the estimated
expenditures. 1t is Stimated that on the
basis of existing laws the government rev
enues for the fiscal year 1895 will be Si54-
427, 74S. A. The estimates of appropriations
heretofore submitted for the year aggregate
$4iS. 300, 1898, or an estimate surplus OF
Discussing our foreign commerce, the Sec
rotary says that our total imports and eX-
ports were.
For 1892 Imports. Exports
Merchandise ..........$ 1897, 402, 49, $1,030. 27S,1iS
Sold .."., ~ 49, s'S a. eSs S9,siS'55s
For 1885
Merchandise. SSb6, 4uo,92Z $HlI,obo,Is
Gold .." 258siissaa'SSss9a 40 40 'S Ss7s !
ElltI
The prominent facts disclosed by these
figures" says the report. are that the
values of imports OF merchandise attained
the highest point in the commercial history
| of the country, and that the exports of gold
reached a higher figure than ever before
in a single year since the foundation of the
| government. This outward movement OF
gold, occurring in time of peace and APP
| p~arently i'm defiance of commercial laws,
will make the year 1898 memorable IN imam
pCrtS as well as the exports of silver coin
and bullion were greater in amount than
is recorded i'm any one year OF the country's
h"istory-eXceeding even the panic year Of
1873. The year 1893 also witnessed a further
decline in the relative Importance of the
American merchant marine in the foreign
carrying trade. falling from even the low
per cent of 1892 to the lowest on record.
only 12.2 per cent. of our IMPORTS and eX-
| ports being carried in American vessels"
The Secretary says that economy and
good administration in the collection of
customs revenue would be promoted by
combining customs business in the interior
to the commercial centers. He
that the law be 40 amended as TO authorize
the Secretary of the Treasury To reduce
the number of customs districts whenever
he thinks it to the interests of the service.
and that he be authorized, where
authorizes 1t, TO station officers to enter
and clear vessels.
Speaking of the work of the Bureau of
| Engraving and Printing, the Secretary saws
it now executes most of the engraving and
printing required by the government. and
adds: 1.-The most considerable work of this
kind now executed outside of the bureau
is the postage stamps and postal notes re-
quired by the Postoffice Department. 1t
might be well for Congress to consider the
advisability of having this portion of the
work of the government also executed by
this bureau, as IL has all the facilities for
executing IT, and would afford perfect Sc
curity to the government. 1t would seem
to present an anomalous condition of affairs
for the government TO maintain a large es-
adjustment for the execution of this char
acter of work and yet have a part of II
done in private establishments"
THE CHINESE ACT.
TIL Secretary says that much difficulty
has been experienced by officers charged
with the duty of assisting in the enforce
ment of the Chinese exclusion laws by req
son Of certain practices resorted TO by
Chinese persons of the coolie class. The
law, he says, requires Chinese of the ex-
empt class to submit certificates from the
Chinese government, and attention is called
to the large number of Chinese claiming
TO be merchants coming from Havana, who
seek permission To pass through the United
states en- route to China. Many laborcrs.
it is stated, have come in thus. and the
Secretary says: 1t is not, of course, sup
posed that the Chinese or American CON
Suls Intentionally aid in violation OF our
laws, but there can be no doubt that MANY
laborers have been admitted on merchants
certificates obtained through misrepresenIa-
ton and probably corrupt use of money.
Once landed. our officers have found il diff
cult and frequently impossible to secure
conviction and deportation of the holders
OF such fraudulent certificates, and / am
OF opinion that so long as our laws pro-
hibit the landing of Chinese laborers The
privilege of passing through our territory
cannot be safely granted, and it should at
once be revoked. If this privilege is con-
tinued il will be impossible 70 secure an
efficient execution of the laws passed biz
Congress for the EXCLUSION of Chimes la
borers."
The Secretary says that the Marine Hos
pital has $685.. go IS available balance on
hand of the appropriation for the pre-
vention of epidemic diseases, and. speaking
of the many cholera outbreaks during the
past year, he says: 1T is believed that
never before was this disease prevalent AT
one time in so many different localities
throughout Europe, and the danger of its
conveyance to the United States was much
greater than if TX had been limited 10 a few
ports. even though the latter had ii in more
violently epidemic form. To the care ex-
the various consulates and by the consular
service abroad may be properly ascribed
the almost total exclusion OF cholera from
the shores of the United States"
ON the subject of the Pacific railroads
the Secretary says that there are now out
standing S64.623, 512 of the six-ber-cent.
United States bonds issued in aid of the
Pacific railroads; on Jan. Is, 1895. g. 3s2. 600
of these bonds mature. and others at va~i-
Gus dates TO Jan. l. 1899. He adds: '"rhese
bonds are absolutely payable on the re-
spective dates of their maturity, differing
IN this regard from the other outstanding
winch are redeemable at the pleasure OF
OF this fact, IL is important that Congress
should take action nj fhig session with ra.