Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-31
SURPLUS WIPED OUT
Expenses Increase and Re-
ceipts Fall Off.
TREASURY STATEMENT
FIGURES FOR FOUR MONTHS OF
PRESENT FISCAL YEAR.
Decrease Was Largely in the Sugar and
Steel Schedules, Due to Less
Importation.
TREASURY STATEMENT

The treasury statement at the close of the
four months of the present fiscal year,
which will be issued late this afternoon, is
likely to occasion considerable comment
One year ago the surplus for the same
months of the fiscal year was s13,5o0, 600, to
which s5,O00,OO0 of anticipated interest
should properly be added, making a total
of almost exactly one-third of that for the
entire fiscal year, which finally stood at
S54,0o0,oOO There has been no similar an
ticipaton of interest during the four
months of this fiscal year, and there is
practically no surplus, the expenses and the
receipts for the four months running neck
and neck. The total receipts for the fiscal
year have been about 500, ,391 .2S5 and the
expenditures s1S9.Sl1 ,697. leaving a surplus
of about s5s5,o00. In government finances
this is so small as to be hardly considered.
Elimination of Surplus.
The elimination of the surplus of last
year is accounted for by the decrease in
receipts and the increase in expenditures
The decrease in receipts is wholly in Gus
toms, and amounts to about $S,O 600, 900 less
than for the same period year ago. The
increase in expenditures falls in various
departments, some being in the navy and
a considerable amount being the appropria-
ton of S5,000O00 in aid of the st. Louis
exposition.
An examination of the decrease in Gus
toms revenue disarms much of the appre
hension that these figures might otherwise
produce. September'S falling off in customs
receipts came largely In the sugar and the
steel schedules, which was to have been
expected. There is no reason to doubt
that these items for October will be shown
to contrast greatly with those for october
of last year. The iron and steel schedules
on an average yield duties of 81 $40 per
cent. There was a falling off between the
last two Septembers Of 81, 100000 in impor-
tations, or nearly one-half
This would account for decline in
revenue of $4,000 Sugar averages to
Fay 81 $40 per cent. In 1902 this coun-
try imported $7,242,000 worth in Septem-
ber as against $4,S46,000 in the same
month of 1903. Sugar importations last
year were normal. How much below nor
NAL they are now on account of the an
ticipated passage of the Cuban reci-
procity treaty must be a matter of con-
lecture.
Few Luxuries Imported.
A more significant change in customs
receipts between this year and last, be-
cause of it's direction rather than its
amount, is the falling off in the importa-
tfon of articles of luxury. While the diff
ference between the two Septembers in
this regard Is trifiing, it is notable as the
first time a decrease has been shown
since the boom" times began. Every
previous comparison has shown a strik-
ing increase.
Internal revenue receipts are slightly
more this year than last. Miscellaneous
receipts are large. The sales of public
lands, the returns of which go to the ir-
rigation fund, have been phenomenal.
These returns for the first third of the
fiscal year will doubtless have an effect
upon Congress, which is soon to assem-
BILE, in strengthening the purposes of it's
leaders to insist upon greater economy.
ma co
the result of contracts which have been
entered into. 1t is not always those i'm
mediately in authority who are RESPONSE
BILE for large current outlays.