• This will not compile. You are missing quotes around the argument to system.
• Unless the syntax of cp has changed in Linux, you would want that to be: 'cp *.xls /newdir/.'.
• Why use perl for this, you are just spawning another interpreter? (However, see moritz's point below)
• See File::Copy
• It does not answer the question posed by the OP. More analogous (although not correct) would be cat *.xls > newdir/newfile.xls

Update: Add last point, remove recursive flag from cp command.

Update: Note moritz's most excellent point.

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