The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-08
eCvts Message Sent Y4st1aay to United States Congress-

The expenditures for the same period were
O6.099O07, the surplus for the fiscal year
being $54297. 667. The indications are that
the surplus for the present fiscal year Will
be very small. IL indeed there be any sur
plus. From July to November the recelpts
from customs were. approximately, $s,VO,-
600 less than the receipts from the same
source for corresponding portion OF iast
year. Should this decrease continue at the
same ratio throughout the fiscal year, the
surplus would be reduced by approximately
$3O,OOo,OoO. Should the revenue from Gus
toms suffer much further decrease during
the fiscal year the surplus would vanish
large surplus is certainly undesirable
Two years ago the war taxes were taken
of with the express intention Of equalizing
the governmental receipts and expenditures,
and though the first year thereafter sun
showed surplus II now seems likely that
a substantial equality of revenue and ex-
penditure Will be attained. Such being the
case, IL Is OF great moment both TO exer-
else care and economy In appropriations,
and TO scan sharply any change In our
fiscal revenue system which may reduce
our income. The need of strict economy IN
our expenditures Is emphasized by the
monious in providing for what Is essential
TO our national well-being. Careful econ
omy wherever possible will alone prevent
our income from falling below the point
required in order. to meet our genuine needs.
Needs Of Financial Situation.
The integrity of our currency is beyond
question, and under present conditions 1t
would be unwise and unnecessary to at
tempt reconstruction of our entire none
tary system. The same liberty should be
granted the secretary of the treasury TO
deposit customs receipts as is granted him
In the deposit of receipts from other
sources. In my message of Dec. 2, 1902 1
called attention to certain needs of the
financial situation, and 1 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 govern
ment of China, and in harmony with an act
OF the Congress appropriating $4,000 TO pay
the expenses therefor, a commission was
appointed 10 confer with the principal Eu-
ropean countries In the hope that some plan
might be devised whereby fixed rate or
exchange could be assured between the
gold-standard countries and the silver
standard countries. This commission has
filed its preliminary report, which has been
made public. deem IL important that the
commission be continued. and that sum
OF money be appropriated sufficient to pay
the expenses or Its further labors.
The Merchant Marine.
A majority Of our people desire that steps
be taken in the interests Of American ship
ping, so that we may once more resume our
| former position in the ocean carrying trade.
| But hitherto the differences of opinion as
to the proper method OF reaching this end
have been wide that II has proved i'm
possible to secure the adoption of any par
ticular scheme. Having in view these facts,
I recommend that the Congress direct the
secretary of the navy, the postmaster gen.
| eral and the secretary of commerce and Ia
! Dor, associated with such a representation
| from the Senate and House of Representa-
uves as the Congress in its wisdom may
designate. to serve as commission for the
purpose OF investigating and reporting to
the Congress at its next session what legis-
lation Is desirable or necessary for the de-
velopment OF the American merchant ma
rine and American commerce. and Incl
dentally OF national ocean mail service Of
adequate auxiliary naval cruisers and naval
reserves. While such a measure Is desira-
| BILE in any event, il Is especially desirable
| at this time In view OF the fact that our
| present governmental contract for ocean
mail with the American line will expire in
1895. Our ocean mail act was passed in
/ 1891. In 1895 our twenty-knot transatlantic
| mail line was equal to any foreign line.
| three-knot steamers and the British have
contracted for twenty-f0ur-k steamers.
does not the commerciai i'i public i @i aban a.
don Ii. If We are to stay In the business II
| ought to be with the full understanding of
| the advantages to the country one hand
| and on the other with exact knowledge of
| the cost and proper methods of carrying II
| on Moreover. lines OF cargo ships are of
/ even more importance than the fast mail
| lines, save so far as the latter can be de-
| pended upon to furnish swift auxiliary
cruisers IN time of war. The establishment
| OF new lines of cargo ships to South Amer
| lea, to Asia and elsewhere would be
| much in the interest of our commercial ex-
| pansion.
| Immigration.
We cannot have too much immigration
of the right kind. and we should have none
| at all OF the wrong kind. The need is to
devise some system by which undesirable
immigrants shall be kept out entirely while
desirable immigrants are properly distrib-
uted throughout the country. At present
some districts which need immigrants have
none. and In others. where the population
is already congested. immigrants come in
such numbers as to depress the conditions
/ of life for those already there. During the
last two years the immigration service at
New York has been greatly improved and
the corruption and inefficiency which for
| merly obtained there have been eradicated
| This service has just been investigated by
a committee of New York citizens of high
standing. Messrs. Arthur V. Briesen, Lee
K Frankel. Eugene A. Philbin, Thomas
port deals with the whole situation al
| length and concludes with certain recon-
mendations for administrative and legis-
lative action. 1t Is now receiving the at
tention of the secretary of commerce and
labor.