Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-01
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF
WAYS AND MEANS.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF
WAYS AND MEANS.
The Committee of Wavs and Means, in ODE.
dience to the order of the House, have had I'M
der consideration so much OF the Message Ut the
President o@ the United States referred to them
as relates to So such further reduction IN the re-
venue as NAV not be required Tor OBJECTS oi &C.
neral welfare and public defence authorized by
the CONSTITUTIONS" aud now submit the following
Report
unpaid at the expiration OF the present year,
amounts only to seven millions sixteen thousand
dollars a sum less than the market value Of the
stock of the Back Of the United States owned
by government rne application OF this fund
alone. Independently Of the other stocks in IN.
cnrpora,rd companies subscribed for and held
b, Government, and amounting at its origin or
yar value 10 the further sum nf | ,S80,000) may
| make the commencement Of the next year the
epoch OF that - happy and memorable event"
on the near approach of which the President has
Justly congratulated Congress and his fellow.ci
uzen,, " the extinction Of the public DEBT ut a
urea, and free nation" The time and the occa-
sion, whilst they are fitted to awaken the noblest
| feelings of the ratrlot, and to give confidence
and ariour To the principles and hopes of every
friend of republican institutions, call also upon
| US with equal force to discharge those weighty
and honorable and practical duties to WHICH we
have been cordially invited by nur Chief Ma2ls.
! trate:-The removal Of those financial - bur.
thens winch NAV b. 'uund to fall unequallv upon
any," and the reduction of the revenue 10 such
| limit - sill b. consistent with the shnpici'
ty Of an economical Government, and necessary
to an Fl; lent public service"
The examination OF the general accounts OF
the receipts and expenditures of the United
States for the last six years presents the follow
ing results: The aggregate expenditure tor the
six wears ending with the 5lst OF December,
| 1882, Including the estimated expenditure
of the present monthly amounts TO lb2, 100000
dollars.
During the same period that expenditure has
! been supplied by an aggregate amount OF reVe'
nue. from various sources, but chiefly from the
customs. Of Isl. 800, 900, in addition to an IN
expended balance IN the Treasury at the com
meme ement of that term, OF 6,35S,b8b dollars.
about one.sixth OF which consulting "i the paper
of broken banks and similar funds, has remain
ed unavailable in the T,ea'ury.
| D"ductng from these receipts and exPendl-
lures the amount received AMI paid out on &C.
count of claims Of our citizens against foreign
Governments, of which the Treasury was mere
4
result an annual average of t'ceaty-sir millions
of dollars of annual income. and an annual ave-
rase expenditure absorbing this amount together
with the balance in the Treasury at the end OF
1926. amounting to nearly twenty seven NIL
iions of dollars year.
Ding the same period 80,l7S, 600 dollars OF
pubic debt was paid of leaving an average an
nuai amount OF rxpendi ure tor all other purpos.
e., IF something less than thirteen millions hVe
hundred thousand dollars.
These amounts aIe stated in round numbers,
as they are sufficiently accurate tor all the Pur-
poses OF this report, and present the views OF The
Commute unembarrassed with minute detail, III
apprsmcuOus manner.
In the srus> sum upon which this average an.
nual expenditure is calculated were included the
payments for the settlement OF The claims OF
Massachusetts, Virginia. and South Carolina,
the large expenditure consequent on the em'gra-
ton of the Indian Tribes, aud the exiinsulsh.
ment of Iudian titles, all made during the last
three wears. Making allowanc for these extra.
ordinary expenses, the income necessary tor the
ordinary operation of Government, providing IL
be, aly for an efficient civil, military, and naval
service. need not amount to more than thirteen
millions of dollars annually, including the Pen
sion system of former years This calculation,
deduced BY the Committee from the Ireasurer's
accounts from 1897 to 1882 inclusive, cores
ponds in its result very nearly with one furnished
by the Treasury department, founded on some
what different data, BY which the average exPen'
diture of six years, from 1926 TO 1881 inclusive.
for all ordinary and fixed expenses. together with
those Of a less permanent character, but growing
out Of the regular aud long continued policy Of
our LEGISLATION, as for fortifesfions. navy yards,
light houses, &C., is stated at IS. i4S.O dolls
To this SUN the act at the last session extending
the system OF revolu tonarv pensions will require
for some years an add ional sum, which !, not
vet fully but Is certainly not less than
one million of dollars. II another annual mil
lion be added to the enlarged expenses OF our