The age-herald., 1900-12-04

for sale Iy otzzSeisks price 50% per bOt/e.
 notable expansion of our foreign trade and abundant evidence has been furnished, both at home and abroad, of the fact that the consular reports, including many from from our diplomatic representatives, have to a considerable extent pointed out ways and means of disposing of a great variety of manufactured goods which otherwise might not have found sale abroad.
 Testimony of foreign observers to the commercial efficiency of the consular corps seems to be conclusive, and our own man. ufacturers and exporters highly appreciate the value of the service rendered, not only in the printed reports but also in the indi- vidual efforts of consular officers to pro mote American trade An increasing part of the work of the bureau of foreign com merce whose primary duty it Is to compile and print these reports is to answer in- quiries from trade organizations, business houses, etc., as to The business in various parts of the world, and notwithstanding the smalness of the force employed the work has been so systematized that re- sponses are made with such promptness and accuracy as to elicit hattering encom- iums. The experiment of printing the con sular reports daly for immediate use by trade bodies, exporters and the press which was begun in January, 1898, continues to give general satisfaction.
 heCSipLS ana ENPenCItuTeS'
 It is gratifying to be able to state that the surplus revenues of the fiscal year. ended June 30, 1900, were $97527 ,0601S. For the six preceding years we had only de- ficits the aggregate of which from 1894 to 1889 inclusive, amounted to $2S3 022, ,000l4. The receipts for the year from all sources, exclusive of postal revenues. aggregated $567, ,240, ,851.S9, and expenditures for all pur- poses, except for the administration of the postal department, aggregated $4S1,D3, 79l.- n. The receipts from customs were $233,- 164S71.16. an increase over the preceding year of $27, ,036, ,3S9.41. The receipts from in ternal revenue were $295, ,327, 76 an in- crease of $21 ,S90, 765. .25 over 1889.
 The receipts from miscellaneous sources were $3S, 74S, ,053.97, as against $36, 394976.92 for the previous year.
 It is gratifying also to note that during the year a considerable reduction is shown in the expenditures of the government. The War Department expenditures for the fiscal year 1900, were $13i,774, 767.7S, reduc- tion of $95, ,066 4S6.69 over those of 1S99 In the Navy Department the expenditures were $55, ,953, ,077.72 for the year 1900, as against $66, ,942 04.25 for the preceding year, a decrease of 1908, ,026.53. In the eXpendi- lures on account of the Indians there was a decrease in 1900 over 1899 of $263O, ,604.3S, and in the civil and miscellaneous expenses for 1900 there was a reduction of $13,41S, ,000. "A Because of the excess of revenue over expenditures the Secretary of the Treas ury was enabled to apply bonds and other securities to the sinking fund to the amount of $56 544 556.06. The details of the sinking fund are set forth in the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, to which invite attention. The Secretary of the Treasury estimates that the receipts for the current fiscal year will aggregate S5S0,- OO00O0 and the expenditures $500 900, 900, leaving a balance of $S0,00G,00. The present condition of the treasury is one of undoubt- ed strength The available cash balance was $139 303, ,794.5O. Under the form of statements prior to the financial law of March IA last this would have been includ- ed in the statement of available cash gold | coin and bullion held for the redemption | of United States notes.
 Gold Coin and Bullion.
 If this form was pursued the cash bal ance including the present gold reserve of $150, 900 would be $2S9, ,SO3, 79450 Such balance November 30, 1899, was $296 495, S01.- 55 In the general fund whch is wholly separate from the reserve and trust funds there was on November 30, T0,0 ,079.15 in l bold coin and bullion, to which should be 1 added $22, 300 in gold certificates subject 1 to issue, against which there Is held in the | division of redemption gold coin and bull 1 lien making total holding of free gold :, amounting to $93, 470,37315
 It will be the duty for Congress to pro- | vide whatever further legislation is needed l to insure the continued parity under all l l lie money, silver and gold. Our surplus revenues have permitted the Secretary of l the Treasury since the close of the fiscal | year to call in the funded loan of 1891 con | tinued at per cent in the sum of $25, ,35i,50 | And including November 30, $223 47S,100 Of these bonds have been paid. This sum- to- l gether with the amount which may accrue l from further redemption under the call will be applied to the sinking fund
 The law of March IA, 1900, provides for 9 cent tbirtV-Vear bonds. 1 payable, principal and interest, in gold coin | of the present standard, that portion of the sum represented by the per cent :, bonds of 1908. the per cents of 1097 and the per cents of 1904. of which there was outstanding at the date of said law $S39,- 149,93O The holders of the old bonds pre- ] sented them for exchange between March i IA and November 30 to the abount of $364,- l 943750 The net saving to the government | on these transactions aggregated $9106, 166. An effect of the operation, as stated by the | secretary, is to reduce the charge upon | the treasury for the payment of interest from the dates of refundng to February l, 1904 by the sum of more than seven mil lion dollars annually. From February 1, 1904, to July 1, 1907, the annual interest | charge will be reduced by the sum of more than five millions and for the thirteen | months ending August l, 190S by about four million. The full details of the refund ing are given in the annual report of the l Secretary of the Treasury. The beneficial
 effect of the financial act of 1900 so far as | it relates to the modification of the na- | l---~-~~-~.--~--~~-----~~> ---~--~~--