Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-12-09
DOCUEI rlYT,S.

Sin: The Report which had the honor TO make on
the Both November, ls33 exhibited balance due from
this Department the st July 1888. beyond ,c whole
amount ofits available funds, Of sS195. 20S 40
The expenses for the transportation of the mail
sarily continued undminsed till the close of the year
1888 prior to which date the reencheus stated in that
Report could not take effect consequently balance of
debt against the Department continued augment till
that period.
The amount of hostages was from July to De-
eemoer 81 1855 $l,37o,437 %
tiers, including the contn-
gent expenses of their Off
ces during the same period,
amounted TO S43i 623 so
Incidental expenses of the
Department during the
time, amounted to 17z97 20
The expense for transpor-
taon of the mail from July
TO December 81 1888, ,0l3A02 GS
Making the total cxpen-
ses of the Department for
that half year -SI, 49,. s2S sc
This sum, after deductng the gross amount of hostages
Tor that PERIOD leaves deficit for the six months endng
3lst December 1888, % SI203u So
To this sum add the deficit existing on
the LIST July, 1888, lG5 2OS 40
And the balance of The debt against the
Department beyond the amount of its avail
liable funds was, the Lat of January, 1894 35 500 9s
From the LIST of January 1884 the rctrenchncnts m
the transportation of the mail, stated in my Rrport of
rs year. began to take effect and from thai period the
of the Department have exceeded its EXPENSES
me gross uiouht oi PostageS was, from January TO
June 30, 1884, 81 l4S 80 so
Compensation to Postmasters ipclld- "
ing the contingent expenses of their
oilces within the same period amount
ed To si6I 133 "a
Incidental expenses Of the
Department for the same time
amounted to 80 300 80
The transportation of the
mail from January 10 June
30, 1884, amounted to 9O0,O25 40
Making the total expenses
OF the Department for the half
year ending the ;iOth Of June,
This deducted frean the gross amount 80
OF postages for that period, leaves a rcye
me beyond the amount Of expenses for the
han year from January j to June 81, 1884,
This sum deducted from the deficit exist s'''0' %
ing January i,-lS31 1850 %
Reduces the balance of debt which ex-
listed against the Department the LIST Ju-
y' 1884, to S2Gs, OG2 "a
Such was the financial condition of the Department
on the LIST day of July last. The of this debt
has been continually diminishing TO the present time
and 1T continues to diminish in increased ratio
On the list day Of July, l6n the balance of the
count with Banks was $}lS GIG 80 against the Depar
mcnt, consisting Of loans $40 600 and ovcrchecks 10
the amount of $123Gl6 81
In this statement, the difference between loans md
oyeT-checks is rather nominal than essential
When over-chccks mutaally agreed upon to a Ger
tam definite amount as standing order, they called
loans but when they vary indefinitely to time and
amount, they are called over-checls. In either case
they are debts due from the Department to Banks
This amount Of balance against the Department has
been considerably reduced since the fret ofJuIy last
On the LIST day of the present month it stood follows
Amount due for loans from Banks S275 GOO 900
Amount OF oVerchccks, November ,1S34, 500 %
Ma Making together, the sum of s33OG69 60
posites in favor of the Department cor
shutting the amount Of cash on hand
amounted to s2,O3l "a
Making the actual balance of the accounts
with Banks, against tlc Department on
the 1st Of November, 1884, SfS937 10
The contracts for the Southern section, including The
States Of Virgina, North Carolina South Carolina and
Georgia, and the Territory ofFlorida which will xpire
with the current year. have been renewed 10 take effect
from the ist OF January next on such terms will effect
annual sasng from the amount now paid for tranaror
tation in that section Of about @f20,OO0
Additional retrcnclments have also been made in The
expense OF transportation subsequent 10 my last re-
port 10 the annual amount Of about $50 900 Making
together an annual saving from the LIST Of January next
Of $4,000.
From the savings thus effected together with the cur
rent excess ofrcvenue ia favor Of the Department II may
be safely calculated that without any reliance upon am
increase in the gross amount of postages the rciepHes
ofthe Department will exceed its expenditures during
tie ensuing calendar year TO the amount Of 270 600
FROM careful estimate, it may be anticipated with
entire confidence, that before the close Of the wear 5
the whole balance Of debt against the Department viii
upon the credit Of the Treasury MORMON arv otic e
dit authority than that Of the Department alonr
character Of debt Of the Government hat mere expo
dent 70 anticipate the Of the Department b,icd
upon the credit of those resources alone.
The means gifts liquidation within REASONABLE fnc
were always within the legal control Of tic head of tic
Department. and other means have at any time bcen
sought or desired by the Department
iH my Report Of November. 1873 fhe expense for
transporting the mail and ldr Dcidenalg from
July TO December 81 1888, wac cstma-
rec, ted AZ 81 ,0C1 Ga u
me actua expense Tor That period was ,0G1 100 "a
nTsIylng rom lhe estimate only S4l4 al
ending Both June, 1891 wore then cs.
,r, umated AZ $2,037, 40 81
that year, were SIg27Gd4 IA
Falling below the estimate by the cum Of SIOo7eG ~
Thus appears that the expenses Of iho Department
nave not essentially varn5 from the estimates buf fc
net revenue arising from posa0es has fallen short Of tho
estimates then made, than hundred thousand /
dollars This IS believed 70 be- in a very considerable
degree attributable to tho great increase Of free letters
Inc progressive increase Of population naturally brngs
with It an accumulation Of business in the Executive of
noes, winch tends, in measure TO increase their
correspondence; and ia addition 90 this fv paseoJ y,
harch, l3 extending 10 members Of Con0yeas ibo pri-
yhcge OF ranking during The whole recess Every other
year, te session Of Congress Is proraced 70 much
greater cngth than in the alternate year whom aeon
gross terminates.
The expenses for The delivery Of free letters at tV
cents each, have always amounted 10 a much create