The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-07

the law and no man Is below IT; nor do
we ask any mans permission when we
require him TO obey II, Obedience 10 the
law is demanded as q right: not asked as
a favor
We have cause as q nation TO be
thankful for the steps that have been so
successfully taken 10 put these principles
into effect. The progress has been by
evolution. not by revolution. Nothing
radical has been done; the action has
been both moderate and resolute. There
fore the work will stand. There shall
be no backward step. II in the working
OF the laws IL proves desirable that
they shall at any point be expanded
or amplifed. the amendment can be
made as It's desirability is shown.
Meanwhile they are being administered
with Judgment. but with insistence upon
obedience TO them: and their need has
been emphasized I'm signal fashion by the
events OF the past year.
GOVERNMENT RECEIPTS AND EX-
PENDITURES
From all sources, exclusive OF the pos
tai service, the receipts OF the govern
ment for the last fical year aggregated
$500. 800. STA The expenditures for the same
period being s5oS. 099 .O07 the surplus for
the fiscal year being S54,297 .667 The in
dications are that the surplus for the
present fiscal year Will be very small.
II indeed there be any surplus. From
July to November Jhe receipts from Gus
toms were approximately. nine million
dollars less than the receipts from the
same source for a corresponding portion
Of last year Should this decrease con-
1nue at the same ratio throughout the
fiscal year the surplus would be reduc-
ed by, approximately. thirty million dol
lars Should the revenue from customs
suffer much further decrease during the
fiscal year the Surplus would vanish
A large surplus is certainly undesirable.
Two years ago the war taxes were taken
off with the express intention OF equal
izing the governmental receipts and ex-
penditures. and though the first year
thereafter stiTl showed q surplus, II now
seems likely that n substantial equality
OF revenue and expenditure will be at
tanned. Such being the case II is OF
great moment both 10 eXcerise care and
economy in appropriations, and 10 scan
sharply any change I'm our fiscal revenue
system which may reduce our income.
The need OF strict economy I'm our ex-
penditures Is emphasized by the fact
that we cannot afford TO be parsimoni-
Gus in providing for what Is essential
TO our national weil-being. Careful
economy wherever possible will alone
prevent our income from falling below
the point required in order TO meet our
genuine needs.
The integrity OF our currency is beyond
question. and under present conditions
Il would be unwise and unnecessary to
attempt a reconstruction OF our entire
monstary system The same liberty
should be granted the secretary OF the
treasury TO deposit customs receipts as
is granted him I'm the deposit of receipts
fEs.N eFh II. 30
December @ 1902, called attention to
certain needs OF the financial situation.
and I again ask the consideration OF the
congress for these questions.
During the last session of the congress-.
at the suggestion OF a Joint note from
the Republic of Mexico and the Imperial
Government OF China, and i'm harmony
with an act of the congress appropriat-
ing S25,o0o to pay the expenses thereof, a
commission was appointed to confer with
the principal European countries I'm the
hope that some plan might be devised
whereby a fixed rate of exchange could
be assured between the gold-standard
countries and the silver-standard coun-
tries. This commission has filed its pre-
lminary report. which has been made
public. deem II importanat that the
commission be continued, and that a
sum OF money be appropriated sufficient
to pay the expenses of its further labors.
MERCHANT MARINE.
A majority OF our people desire that
steps be taken i'm the interests OF Amer
lean shipping. so that we may once more
resume our former position in the ocean
carrying trade. But hitherto the differ
ences of opinion as TO the proper method
OF reaching this end have been so wide
that II has proved impossible TO secure
Having in view these facts / recommend
that the congress direct the secretary of
the navy. the postmaster-general. and
the secretary OF commerce and labor, as
sociated with such a representation from
the senate and the house OF representa-
tives as the congress I'm It's wisdom may
designate, to serve as commission for
the purpose OF Investigating and report
ing 20 the congress at its next session
what legislation is desirable or necessary
for the development OF the American
merchant marine and American COM
merce, and incidentally OF national
ocean mail service OF adequate auxiliary
naval cruisers and reserves. While such
n measure r. desirable I'm any event. n Is
especially desirable at this time In view
Of the fact that our present govern
mental contract for ocean mail with the
American line will expire In 1905. Our
ocean mail act was passed In 1921. In
1895 our 20-knot transatlantic mail line
was equal TO any foreign line Since then
the Germans have put on 23-knot steam
ers. and the British have contracted for
A-knot steamers. Our service should
equal the best. If n does not the com
mercial public will abandon II. II we
are TO stay in the business II ought
% be with a fun understanding OF the
advantages ~ the country on one hand.
and on the other with exact knowledge
OF the cost and proper methods OF carry
ing II on Moreover. lines OF cargo ships
are OF even more Importance than fast
mail lines. save so far as the latter can
be depended upon TO furnish swift aux
Hilary cruisers In time OF war. The es-
tablishment OF new lines OF cargo ships
TO South America. to Asia. and elsewhere
would be much I'm the interest OF our
commercial expansion.
IMMIGRATION.
We can not have too much immigration
or the right kind. and we should have
none at all OF the wrong kind. The need
Is 90 devise some system by which unde-
A.. tt.,s. a.Nu -