The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-09
ANNUAL REPORT
Secretary Shaw's Figures Show Big In
crease In Available Cash Balance.

Washington. Dec. 9-'ihe report OF Les
he NJ. Shaw. secretary OF the treasury.
which was made public yesterday. shows
that the receipts for the fiscal year were
s6sA 62i .i1T.si. and expenditures $40. .S23,-
40. .. leaving balance OF SA.@7 .esI.sS.
The receipts increased $40. zla. .S37.17 COM
pared with 1902 and the expenditures in
creased Si7, ,2S4, ,545.3s.
The most noticeable features IN the con-
dition OF the treasury are the increased
available cash balance aud the Increased
holdings OF gold. Since 1890, the available
cash balance. including the reserve has
more than doubled, rising from 3i79 259,-
Ss7 Is to s3sS 6s6. .li4.2 q. The cash I'm the gem
~ral fund increased during the year by
$50 1o3, $685.. and tho liabilities increased
50. 66. 1850. Thus the available cash bal
snce at the end OF 1905 exceeded that OF
1902 ny S2e, f9> 75S.07.
The annual report OF the commissioner
general OF immigration shows that there
arrived In this country during the fiscal
year ended June ~. iao3. s57.os6 aliens. trav-
cling in the steerage. an excess over the
corresponding figures Of the preceding
wear OF 2os.3o3 or 20 per cent OF these
S04. 456 arrived at United States continental
ports. 1850 at lnsular ports, either lia-
wall or Porto Rico, and $3.50 at Cana
dian ports.
Eight thousand seven hundred and
sixty-nine immigrants we're denied admis-
sion at the ports. The reflections for the
same causes during the preceding year
were 4974 There were returned during
the year for causes arising subsequent
10 landing 5i7, compared with i65 In 1902,
while 1894 were cared for. In hospitals.
against fet7 during the Preceding year.
or the total steerage immigration. 2SS5ie
were Italians. S2.3t3 were Poles. 59,AI
Scandinavians. 76.203 Hebrews, Il 7s2 Ger
mans 2, 1856 Irish, a. 427 Slovak, g.. so7 Cro-
tlan-S Slovenian, .. .i5l English. T,l24 Ma
syars and l55. $50 OF other natIonalities.
There is a scarcity OF paper currency
OF small denominations. That this de-
mand may be supplied. l recommend
that national banks be permitted 20
issue n large proportion of their au-
thorfzed circulation In denominations
OF IS.
I desire 20 emphasize the following
recommendations:
The tax on national bank circulation.
based upon bonds hereafter issued,
should be fixed at one-half of / per cent
per annum.
Many customs Districts should be
| abolished and others consolidated
No little criticism OF the customs SER
vice has arisen from fictitious and exor-
bitant charges as we'll az other acts OF
misconduct OF those engaged I'm repre-
senting importers before the department..
Some OF the worst frauds upon the
revenues OF the government have been
accomplished throgh the same agencies.
The arguments which have led all states
10 place limitations upon those who seek
TO practice law OF medicine Will apply
with equal force in support OF the rec
oumendation that customs brokers be
required TO register with the department.
and pay therefore q nominal fee. such
registration TO be subject 10 cancellation
for cause by the secretary OF the treas
ury
earnestly recommend the construc-
tom OF several very fast revenue cutters.
s,'all enough TO be used for boarding
and swift enough TO oVertake. and arrest
smuggling vessels now engaged in trans
ferring goods from tramp ships at
anchor 20 private docks. Such vessels
are much needed I'm the Puget sound dis
trct and at some points on the Great
Lakes.
Appropriations for secret service work
should he literally increased.