Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-12-10


any surplus. From July to November
the receipts from customs were. APP
proximately, $9.000.0O0 less than the
receipts from the sane source for a
corresponding portion last year. Should
this decrease continue at the same ra-
ito throughout the fiscal year the sur
plus would be reduced by, approx
mately, $30.000o00. Should the rev.
enua from customs suffer much fur
ther decrease during the fiscal year the
surplus would vanish. 4 large sur
plus is certainly undesirable Two
years ago the war taxes We're taken
off with the express intention Of
equalizi,l@ the governmental receipts
and expenditures and, though the
first year thereafter still showed u
surplus, it now seems likely that a
substantial equality of revenue and
expenditure will be attained Such be-
ing the case, it is of great moment both
to exercise care and economy in ap-
preparations and to scan sharply any
change in our fiscal revenue system
which may reduce our income. The
ftures is emphasized by the fact that
we cannot afford to be parsimonious in
providing for what is essential to our
national well being.
Needs OF Financial situation.
The integrity Of our currency is be-
yond question, and under present con-
ditions it would be unwise and unnec-
essary to attempt reconstruction OF
our entire monetary system. The same
liberty should be granted the secretary
of the treasury to deposit customs re-
ceipts as is granted him in the depos-
it of receipts from other sources. In
my message of Dec 2. 1902, called
attention to certain needs of the fnan-
cial situation. and again ask for
consideration of the congress for these
questions.
1.-THE president commends the work
of the international monetary confer
ence and advises its continuance.
a majority Of our people desire that
steps be taken in the interests Of
American shipping so that we may
once more resume our former position
in the ocean carrying trade. But hith-
erfo the differences Of opinion as to
the proper method of reaching this end
hayeN been so wide that It has proved
impossible to secure the adoption of
any particular scheme. Having IL
view these facts, recommend that the
congress direct the secretary of the
navy. the postmaster general and the
secretary of commerce and labor. asso-
ciated with such representation from
the senate and house of representatives
as the congress in its wisdom may des-
ignate. to serve as a commission for the
purpose of investigating and reporting
to the congress at its next session what
legislation is desirable or necessary for
the development of the American mer-
chant marine and American commerce
and incidentally of a national ocean
mail service of adequate auxiliary ma
val cruisers and naval reserves. While
such a measure is desirable in any
event, it is especially desirable at this
time, in view of the fact that our pres
ent governmental contract for ocean
mail with the American line will expire
in 1905. The establishment of new
lines of cargo ships to South America,
to Asia and elsewhere would be much
in the interest Of our commercial ex-
pansion
Immigration.
We cannot have too much immfgra-
ton of the right kind, and we should
have none at all Of the wrong kind.
lte need Is 70 devise some system BY
Whlcla unuesifapie Immigrants shall be
kept out entirely. while desirable i'm
migrants are properly distributed
throughout TIE country At present
some districts which need immigrants
have pone, and in others. where the
population is already congested, immi-
grants come in such numbers as to de
press the conditions Of life for those al
ready there. During the last two years