The republic., 1850-12-05

Excess over last estimates ..... 1855 %
The fret fact which strikes the mind upon look
ing at this recaptulaton is that the estimate for
the next fiscal year exceeds that for the present
5 ,T2s, ,67O o.
Faithful guardians of the public treasury will
naturally inquire how does this happen The
question demands candid answer, and / shall
proceed 10 give one, which hope will be no les
sltisiactory than free from all attempt at conceal
Inent or disguise.
Department Proper.
Under this head the estimate for the next year
falls below that for the present S4i 097 6S. This
rcsus from the fact that there is deficiency of u
previous year to be provided for. Last year there
a deficiency Of S3l737 % to be met. Nov
there are une1pended balances hand which, in
addition to the sum estimated, will supply the want.
of the Department.
Land Serrice.
The estimates under this head exceed those OF
last year : l57 lis %. This u caused by the in
crease Of expense consequent tho passage Of the
act OF 2sth September, 1850 granting bounty land
10y the contemplated extension Of the land system
over the newly acquired terrtJry; and by the de
hciencics IN the estimates Of the ast fiscal year.
Indian .96airs.
Here there il an excess over the estimates Of last
year Of s ,423,O33 80. reference 20 the report
0f the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs will show
that, whilst many Of the items embraced in the for
fncr estimates have been reduced or omitted In the
present the aggregate OF the present estimate has
been increased by making provision for dcficicnccs
which wac not done ia The estimate Of last year,
aud by embracing large sums necessary " carry
into effect treaty stipulations, and TO extend
our Indian relations into new Territories, in pursu
ance Of recent acts Of Congress. Some idea may
be formed Of the magnitude Of these latter items
when IL IL remembered that our Indian population
has been almost doubled BY our recent acquisition
Of OftcrrtOry from Mexico.
Pension Office
In this item there ia also an apparent excess Of
startling MAGNITUDE. IL exceeds eati o
last year Sl,ll5,4Gg IS. But little examination
will show that II is TO great extent merely appa-
rent, and that, far IL j. rcal IL results from
'auses over which the Executive officers could
eTeise no control and which entirely consistent
with the true interests Of the country. These posi-
hOns arc susceptible of ready demonstration, as
will proceed IN a lew words 20 show
The estimate OF last year fell short Of the actual
expenditures Of the bureau, including the dehcien.
cIes Of the preceding year, S92i 6s5 45. This de-
hciency was supplied by the appropriation Of
$500 900 in the deficiency bill" OF the last session
Of Congress, and by S36i,655 IS, which IL
embraced in the present estimate. Adding these
sums 10 the estimate OF last year. and the aggregate
IL ; ,iO3 9f5 23 Then deduct from the estimate OF
year 36i ,6S5 IS, which amount is asked for
90 supply the deficiency Of the present year, and
which - not properly char gesbe 10 the next, and
the true amount Of the estimated expenditure OF
the Pension Bureau for the ensuing year ia ascer.
tained to be 81 200 037 50, S439O7 81 less than
the actual expenditure Of the current year, includ
ing the deficiency Of > 500 900 for 1850.
lhs mode OF stating the account, however, al
though iteShi0its true comparison Of the present
estimates with the aotud expenditures Of the cur
rent year, does not resent fair view of the
amounts legitimatey chargeable to the Pension
Bureau for the two ycars respectively, because il
embraces among the expenditures Of the year end.
ing June 30. 1861, . 561 900, which wac defci.
cheney in the year 1850. Dscsrding that sum from
the calculation, the result is as follows
Estimate for year ending Goth June,
1881. 81 ,f79 ,2j6 IS
Add deficiency embraced in present
estimate e...,..................... =. 36I ,65s 40
Aggregate chsrgesble TO year end
IGy goth June, 1851 ..........., l,St3,9f5 %
Estimate for year ending 30th June,
1907. ..ss..s.ssss.ss <yokfSfEV OF
Deduct estimate for deficiency Of
year ending 30lh June, 1851 49,, 36i,6Ss Is