New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-08

service is the determination or willing
ness of certain classes of importers To de-
fraud the government Of as much OF its
duties they can compass. Some or
these importers work through undervalu-
atoms with which the service has been
in many instances unable to contend. ana
TO defeat which the present tariff law has
introduced new methods of administration.
Others. as shown by recent court trials,
work through a combination OF consignor,
consignee and customs officials. And still
others. as I'm the sugar frauds. disregard
the foreign shipper and form n corrupt or
ganization out of their own people and the
people of the government
All these revelations. and the efforts 10
carry the revelations further. the prosecu.
lions and the reorganization. far "a IL
has gone, have occupied but a few months.
None OF this difficult work is complete or
nearly complete. IL has had to be carried
on at the same time with the usual busi-
ness OF the customs service. The Treasury
Department. having the firm support of the
President, will continue il without pause
and will have as II has had the effective
cooperation OF the Department OF Justice.
The undertaking is not primarily one OF
able incidents OF the purpose TO rehsbilitate
the service. We must have the facts and
But they will lead in the end TO the estab-
lishment Of an administration Of the Gus
toms service that is At for the government
OF d great nation.
BANKING AND CURRENCY.
Banking and currency reform also comes
up for discussion. OF this he says:
II is not necessary and not appropriate
for the Secretary of the Treasury at this
time TO discuss the plan of banking and
currency reform. The necessity for such
reform is universally recognized. and when
The time IS ripe II viii be the duty or the
Treasury Department TO express Its judg-
ment Meanwhile the initiative in this inn
portant legislation was committed by the
Congress to its Monetary Commission. ana
until that commission has reported II VIII
be the policy of the department 10 preserve
an open mind. The question has been and
still Is growing. The reform Of our cur
rency system has enlarged itself into the
reform of our banking and currency sys.
TENS. which brings into contemplation not
merely the national banks, but the state
banks i'm their three divisions-commercia
banks, trust companies and saving insti-
II is TO be hoped that the extent and
gravity Of these broad establishments VIII
induce a public demand for calm and dis
interested treatment of the Issues ana
public recognition of the profound impor-
lance OF rational harmonious aereenleh .i
Neither political partisanship nor speclsi
interest nor pride of opinion should be al
lowed TO obstruct a purely economic reform
of such great significance to the nation IN
both it's national and international rela-
tons The change, when IL comes. ana
whatever IL may be. must be al any rate
fundamentally right. IL is better by far
that there shall be no change whatever
than that IL shall he another makeshift-
We must have at least the heglnnlng OF
neither an adjustable currency nor trust
worthy surplus reserves. two absolutely es-
sential features Of any banking system
upon which the finances and the commerce
OF this great nation can securely rest. To
secure these essentials-tO speak of no
others-the Iooked-for reform must deal
with fundamentals.
The Secretary closes with the following
summary of receipts and disbursements:
Orsiuar, r.eeints ss0a $50 4sa 81
Ordinary disbursements ......... So. 324. 444 II
Excess Of ordinary disbursements
over receipts SIS. 7s4. a54 90
Panama Canal receipts .......... $40 ISL COS 81
Panama Canal disbursement. S1.41e. AZ Al
Excess Of Panama Canal dis
bursenlents receipts SsSs. 49, ~
Public debt receipts .......... S45 SPA 23a so
Public debt disbursements. 1Oi. e9e.IIo %
ments over receipts. -. $50 sT2 sac 30
Postal revenues ...............s 5000, $50. $50 o.
Postal service paid from postal
revenues and exclusive Of Sl9.
sol O62 81 grants from the
Treasury for deficiencies. 2O3. $50 3s3 ~
Excess n disbursements over all
receipts being decrease 81 hal
ance in general fund in 1909. siis, 1e5. eio IS
40. iaoS Seas III. s47 ~
Total balance IN general fund June
so 1909 Observation-Disclosures. s.3T5. AIS ~
Decrease in 1909. ..............s Sis 79S. oIs SO