The Washington herald., 1907-12-06

So, 7s2.S5O; ?. Boston. s2S.I77.O7s 5. PhiIa-
delphia. 81. 153 995; 4, Chicago, 80 l62 e52 5,
San Francisco. $lo.l50.Os6; s. New Orleans.
SEo923; Z. Baltimore. $5.296.s75: s. De-
troit' S2.o5O2l4; 3. st. Louis. $2.473,363; 10.
Tampa A.722,55l; II. Puget Sound, sl.765.-
oSs; l.. Cleveland, S.264, so; 10. Cincinnati.
sl,oOl.7S7
Licensing OF Customs Brokers.
For the protection alike of the depart
ment and the cus.oms brokers. there
should be a law licensing persons desir-
Ing TO transact business as custom-house
brokers. Such brokers as a class are
men OF standing and integrity, and the
relation they bear both TO the exporter
and the importer is OF such character
that OF necessity large financial interests
are involved. The customs law provides
that all merchandise imported into the
United States shall be deemed and held
to be the property Of the person 90 whom
the merchandise may be consigned and
therefore. the customs broker is, in many
Instances. the only person to whom the
government looks for the payment of
duty and for such information as TO the
character OF the merchandise and it's
value as is necessary for customs officers
10 have for the proper assessment Of
duties The high standing OF customs
brokers should be protected, not only in
the interests Of the government, but also
IN the interests Of the importing public
Would Abolish Fee System.
The fee system Of payment OF public
officials Is full Of evils that are apparent
and recognized. This system is still in
force in great part of the customs sery-
Ice. Customs fees were established by a
law passed in 1893. ar which time officers
Of the customs were allowed nominal sal
aries, they being permitted 10 retain the
lees. At that time it was apparently the
Idea that the customs business should be
seh-sustaining. These fees are petty ex-
actions from importers and owners and
the work Of auditing and keeping &C
counts which Is involved by the present
system may we'll be dispensed with and
expenses connected with such work
stopped Collectors and other chief officers
OF the customs should be paid fixed and
suitable salaries
The jamestown Exposition.
Under an act Of Congress approved
February 2. 1907, s1OO0oO0 was appropri-
ated 70 aid in completion OF the James
town Exposition, and the Secretary Of the
Treasury was authorized 10 collect this
amount from The company at certain
stated intervals during the progress of
the exposition. Full reports not having
yet been received from the exposition
company this matter will be made the
subject OF special communication TO the
Congress.
Receipts and Expenditures.
The receipts OF the government for the
fiscal year ended June 30. 1907. from all
sources. other than postal revenues. were
$685., l40. SSi05. The postal revenues We're
SlSS,5S5,OO5-5I, making the total receipts
$50. =, 5SS6 g. The expenditures fox the same
period were For postal service. SlS3. $50
005.5I. and for other matters. S57S. e03 747. IS.
making total Of S762 ass. $3.50. showing a
surplus Of 81. 81. $500. The securities re-
deemed on account OF the sinking rund
amounted 20 S30.590. $3.50
The nations public debt on June 30
was; Interest-bearing debt. SSs4, SEA 80;
debt on which interest has ceased. 81. Loss
sl9.26. debt bearing no interest Sl0l 81
G3L2S. Added to this are certificates and
notes issued on deposits of coin and silver
bullion 10 the amount Of Sl.l6O. 009, S6S,
making total debt Of 8, i57,1SS.06I54"
Cash in the Treasury.
The cash in the Treasury was as fol-
lows:
Reserve fund, gold coin and silver.
$50 700; trust funds held for redemp-
zion Of certificates and Treasury notes,
Il60. 0O9.S $50; general fund. Sla2 $50. Sl0ss: in
national bank depositaries. SlSl. 200 O53.62: in
Philippines treasury, s., -, S53. -, making
total of SlSSs. OF 0S6S3. The total IIabili-
ties are placed at s.. 26s as, 649.S2. leaving a
balance Of S4lS.5Sl. 4735l
Compared with the fiscal year 1905. the
receipts for 1907 increased SS4. 53S. 435. There
was an increase in expenditures OF So
77l.i7ISl
The revenues OF the government for
the current fiscal year, estimated upon the
basis OF existing laws. were SS44. 015 5S1. 10
The expenditures for the same period were
$50, 02S.5SlIe. Upon the basis of existing
laws the revenues for the fiscal year will
be SS7S.12i0il-33 and the estimates OF ap-
preparations for next year are S9i2. s4s.-
1856. showing an excess Of the total esti-
mates Of appropriations submitted by the
several executive departments over the
estimated revenues OF the government for
tbs. fiscal wear OF SEA SEE - 81