Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1909-12-09
MAC VEAGH MAKES
HIS ANNUAL REPORT
Secretary Of the Treasury Also Com.
ments on Customs Frauds and
Causes Of Decentralization
Revealed.

Washington, Dec 8.-Secretary Of
the Treasury Franklin MacVeagh to-
day transmitted to congress his an
nual report on the state of the
finances Of the nation, The estimates
of expenditures for the executive de-
partments for the fiscal year 1911, he
says, have been made with unusual
care. They total $671,2S8, 075.21,
which sum is $55,663 ,09119 less than
the appropriations for 1910. In view
OF the general growth of the country's
business. this means that large re-
tren chment has been made.
The totals of the detailed estimates
OF receipts for the current fiscal year
submitted herewith are $648, 600, 900,
and for 1911 are $672,0O0,OO0, leaving
an ordinary deficit for the current
year of $34,075,620.12, and for 1911 a
surplus of $48,775,44949. Adding the
payments on account of the Panama
canal and the public debt, the total
deficit of the present year becomes
81. ,620.12, and for 1911 . surplus
Of Sill, 924.79. Since the treasury has
not ct present either in the banks or
In Its vaults. materially more than q
working balance, says the report. 1t
will become necessary, in order to
meet these deficits, to sell either
bonds or certificates of indebtedness.
The secretary speaks at some length
Of the sugar trust customs frauds and
the resulting work for rehabilitation
of the customs service, especially at
the port Of New York. He says:
"The study of the causes Of the de.
moralization which has been revealed
Is still Incomplete, but the main causes
Are evident. It is clear, for instance.
that the influence of local politics and
politicians upon the customs service
has been most deleterious, and has
promoted that laxity and low tone
which prepare and furnish an inviting
soil for dishonesty and fraud. Unless
the customs service can be released
from the payment O political debts
and exactions, and from meeting the
supposed exigencies of political organ
izations, big and little. it will be i'm
possible to have an honest service for
any length of time.
ANY considerable share of the pres
ent cost of this decentralization to the
public revenues, to the efficiency Of
the service, and to the public and pri-
vate morality is tremendous amount
to pay In mere liquidation Of the small
debts Of political leaders.
1T is also clear that the widespread
disposition of returning American trav.
elers to evade the payment. Of legal
duties has greatly helped to create
the conditions which have become In
tolerable. Those Americans who travel
abroad belong to the sections of the
people which most readily create pub
lie sentiment and are most respon-
sible for it; and the fact that In 80
many instances these travellers are
willing to defraud the government out
of considerable or even small sums
creates an atmosphere the docks
that strongly tends to Affect the
morale of the entire customs service.
And when to this is added the fire.
quent willingness upon the part of
these responsible citizens to spe-
officially corrupt the governments
men, then the decentralization is fur
Their accumulated"