The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-05

an increase of SO, ,346, about 8 per cent.
1920 of whom came via Canadian ports
and S7,326 were landed at ports of this
country. From European coun-
tries the arrivals show increases
as compared with last year, except
IRON Austria Hungary, Great Britain,
Russia and Portugal, while the aggre-
gate of Asiatics was 25 per cent less,
represented principally by the compar-
atlvely small immigration from Japan.
Italy again leads in the number sent,
which exceeds by 35,S61, or nearly SO
per cent, the total from the same
source for the preceding year. The i'm
migration was of a better class than
that of the preceding year, for, al
though the number was greater by &c.
546 but 1916, or 730 less than last year,
We're refused a landing at our ports of
entry. On our land boundaries, 1886
aliens. who attempted to enter the
United States in violation of law, were
also excluded.
Marine Hospital Service.
The surgeon general reports that on
Aug. /, 1901, the state authorities of
Florida transferred their quarantine
stations and functions to the marine
hospital service. They were accepted
under the provision of section of the
act of Congress approved Feb. Is, 1893,
in like manner as the quarantine at
savannah, Ga, was accepted in 1900.
One station, Mullet Key, was pur-
chased under the act of Congress of
June G. 19O0; the other stations were
leased for period of three years. Of
the stations thus acquired, six are
equipped for disinfection, and are To-
Gated at Fernandina, Miami, Key West,
Mullet Key, Carabelle, and Pensacola;
the other stations, five in number, are
for inspection only. recommendation
for the purchase of these stations have
been included in the estimates of ap-
preparations for 1903.
Navigation.
The report of the Commissioner of
Navigation shows that on June 30 1901,
the merchant marine of the United
States, including all kinds of docu>
mented shipping comprised 24,057 ves-
sells of 5,52421S gross tons. On June
30 1900, it comprised 1888 vessels, of
5,164,S39 gross tons. With the additions
of the past few months our merchant
shipping now exceeds the former max
imum of 5,539,S13 gross tons in 1861.
The total is surpassed only by that of
the United Kingdom, 14,O64,152 gross
tons. Germanys shipping aggregating
5,244,20S gross tons.
iCPOAL iudhSS ali IOT
government ship bounties, and on the
heel of that subject says: During the
past fiscal year the output of steel
steamers in the United States has ex-
ceeded all previous records. During
the current fiscal year the tonnage
of ocean steel steamers under con-
struction is double that of last year.
The number of steamers of the largest
types building from similar plans is
Toll 49,
of shipbuilding.
2 Life Saving Service.
The service embraced at the close Of
the year 270 stations, of which number
1876 were situated upon the Atlantic ana
Gulf coasts, IS upon the coasts of the
Great Lakes, 16 upon the Pacific coast
and one at the Falls of the Ohio, Louis
vile, Ky. The, number of disasters to
documented vessels was 377. On board
these vessels were 2,S4S persons, of
whom were lost. The estimated value
of the vessels was $5,263. 420, and that of
their cargoes S2,090,5S0, making the to-
tai value of imperiled property 1854,
600. OF this amount. $6405,035 was
saved and $54S,965 last Forty-three
vessels we're totally lost. The number
of disasters to undocumented craft was
1898. On board these vessels were 927
persons, 10 of whom were lost. The
value of property involved is estimated
at $213,540, of which sum $160,240 was
saved and $53,SOO lost.
Revenue Reduction.
The present years surplus will be
about 500, ,000, 900, one-half of which
has been or will be. applied to the use
of the sinking fund. 1t is apparent
that absolute accuracy in future esti-
mate concerning receipts and disburse-
ments can not be reached. Enough
appears, however. to justify a conserv-
ative reduction in taxes. Congress
must be the final judge as to what
particular objects of taxation and in
what degree reduction in rates shall
apply. In my opinion, it would be
within conservative limits to reduce
revenue to the extent of $50,000000. AS
a first step in that direction, l recon-
mend for consideration the repeal of all
the miscellaneous taxes known as war
taxes. These items exclusive of the
increased tax on fermented liquors, to-
bacco, tea and mixed flour) are esti-
mated to produce $27,500,000. They are
in their nature vexatious, in some m
stances oppressive, and, separately,
considered, yield but small revenue.