The Washington herald., 1908-06-30
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Tomorrow is the governmental new
years day. so fixed by act Of Congress
passed August &c. 1912. when the fiscal
year began to be reckoned from July l.
At 4:4O o'clock this afternoon Uncle Sans
bookkeepers viii close the accounts for
the fiscal year 1908 and open new ledgers
for the fiscal year 1909. Balances viii not
be actually struck. however. for weeks
The red lines will not be drawn until the
receipt of the final reports covering the
transactions up to midnight Of June 30,
1908, in every city and hamlet throughout
the United States and from every point
no matter how remote. where a disburs-
ing officer or government agent handles
an American dollar II the final reports
Of the collector Of internal revenue at
Honolulu vary even 20 the extent OF
half-ounce snuff stamp, value three-six-
teenths Of a cent, the reports must be re-
turned for correction or verihcation. and
make the return journey halfway across
the Pacific before the nations books are
closed for the year.
The significance Of the American fiscal
year increases annually with the won
derful growth Of the country. On Feb
ruary II. 1T79. Congress. by resolution, es-
tablished the Office Of Secretary OF the
Treasury with a salary OF 5000 year
attached Five years later the current
expenses OF the government. exclusive OF
the interest on the public debt aggre-
gated $455. 400. To meet the expenses OF
the government for the fiscal year 1909
Congress appropriated upward or SoJz.-
100000 II wes estimated al the beginning
OF the year that the receipts from all
sources would total something more Than
$S44 900. 0O0
These calculations provided for a sur
plus OF So. 100000 IN the revenues for the
] current fiscal year. but 1t remains 70 oe
seen whether or not the books will dis
close such a happy state Of affairs Be
/ ginning with the financial strlngency thai
developed early last fall. there was q
decline in the customs and internal rev
enue receipts which continued throughou
! the remainder Of the fiscal year A con
/ siderable deficit is now apparent.
! A fact IN connection with the close o
the current fiscal year that will probably
give comfort 10 the prohibiuonist is tha
one Of the largest items IL the reduction
OF the revenues uA AAAr 80 - A++--'---N -
in the receipts from the tax on disd.le'
spirits. The extent OF the falling OF
from this source cannot be accurate!,
stated prior 10 the appearance Of III
official report. but from data now mad
public II is evident that the receipts fror
distilled spirits will show a loss Of ap
uroximately 81. .000. 900. as compared wit
-. 49,,
more than overcome the gain made b
distilled spirits in the previous fiscal year
when the receipts showed an increas
OF upward ~ $l2.C00oCo. or a cOnsumpuo
OF more than 11000,Oo9 gallons in exces
Of the Withdrawals during the fiscal yea
1906. One feature. however. Of the Gu
rent years collections from distine
: spirits. calculated TO be more or less dis
quieting 10 the prohibitiOnist. is. dcspiI
this evident reduction IN the consumptlo
Of ardent spirits. the figures now avai
! able indicate an increase Of 2.5o0 rct1
, dealers IN intoxicating liquors
r The falling of IN the receipts from di'
c TILED spirits is due 10 three causes: IT
e depression in business, following u
monetary stringency which began la
fall. the use of grain alcohol. free
? tax. in the arts and industries, and q
e passage of prohibitory laws. The loss
the revenue. however, BY reason o. II
local option laws IS not as great
popularly supposed. Careful analysis
governmental statistics plainly indlcat
that while the consumption Of disun'
: SPIRITS. taking the country as a whole,
s increasing, the per capita consumpti'
}. Is steadily decreasing. The natural i
$ crease in the population and the cons
d quent opening up Of new territory whe
: the saloon Is permitted Is at present OF
= stripping the advance OF the tempcran
IS wave