The New York herald., 1851-12-03


Receipts on account u asal is11ses.. I,0U u
Collestiens Of damages nv &aHng
o0nexoctoso.. .......... .......... 5O ~
Other misosllsnsous receipts. ....... 4,l20 81
The appropriation made By the act OF
May q, 1860, for postsgss on the
census blanks, returns. kc..... $4,000 90
The annual appropriations made By
the twelfth section Of the act Of Sd
March, 1917, in compensation of
mail services performed for the
several Departments of the govern
The appropriation made by the eighth
section OF the act of Sd March. 1851,
in further payment and compensa-
ti0n for the mail service performed
for the two houses of Coagrsss. and
the other Departments and officers
Of the government in the transpor-
tation Of free matter. ............ l63, ,SSS 81
s6,7s6, 1913 22
From this sum must be deducted the
amount received for British post
ages, payable to the British post
office under the postal con pvention
Of December, lS4S, as now stated
Dy the Auditor ............... oo,oo ri
year w : 81, r27 $3.50 70
For the purpose of comparing the re-
venues Of the year with those Of
the preceding year, there should
also be deducted the sum of $l63,-
SSS 89-being the amount Of addi-
tional sppropria tion under the act
Of March, 1851, and the census sp-
propriation Of $l2 900. ........... Sl75,333 81
Leaving as the ordinary revenues of
the year ......... sc, SOL ,s77 SO
This shows an increase of s999,006 Al ever the
roper revenues of the preceding year.
The sums received as the excess of the emolu-
ments of postmasters, beyond the amounts they are
by law allowed to retain, and the amounts collected
from failing bidders and their guarantors, not So
parately stated part of the revenues in the 40
counts Of the Auditor. The Auditor states that the
former are deducted from the amount paid for the
" compensation of postmasters' and "olerks for
ofices that much of the latter as was collected
in money is credited under the head o." Other mis-
cellaneous receipts" and the residue, which was
deducted from the amount due to such failing bid
and lessons to that extent, the expenditures under
the head of transportation of the mails" The
Auditor has been requested to change the manner
of keeping these accounts, and future reports will,
doubtless, show the amount of revenues derived
from these sources respectively.
Thereceipts from postages, American and foreign,
for the last 6scal year exceeded those of the pre-
cedine year 49, being an increase OF absus
l6b per cent.
II the balances accruing to the British post Office
during both years are excluded, (as they must be
to show the true increase OF our own postages the
increase will be 3997,6l0 ~. or more than Is
90 l00ths per cent
Excluding these balances the receipts of the 6rst
three quarters Of the year exceeded those of
responding quhrVero OF tn6 proC0uuk yoaI 6ooub
per cent; but the postages for the last quarter fell
of, and exceeded those of the corresponding quar-
ter of the preceding year only about IA per cent;
so that the increase for the year was only about
Is 65-l0Oths per cent, as before stated.
The reduction during the last quarter Of the hs
cal year, is mostly attributable to its near approach
to the period when the rates of postage prescribed
by theact Of the Sd of March last were to 60 into
operation, and the consequent delay in correspou-
dence until it could be carried on at cheaper rate
A similar reduction was observed upon the adop-
ton of the reduced rates under the act of lS45 The
practical extension of the franking privilege to the
Senators and Representatives elected to the pre-
sent Congress, after the commence ment Of that
quarter also aided slightly in producing this reduc
ton. During the last spring, Senator and Repre-
sentative elected to the present Congress, claimed
the full privilege of franking under the provisions
of the acts Of fSa5 and lS47. The practice of the
department had been adverse to the claim, and
having some doubts in regard to the construction
of the statutes under which the right was claimed
the opinion of the law officer Of the government was
asked. His opinion was In favor Of the right claim
ed, and it was therefore acknowledged, and notice
Of the decision communicated.
By the previous practice of the department the
full rAnkng privilege Of me mbers of Congress was
deemed to commence only thirty days prior to the
commencement of the first session of Congress held
during their term of Office II is, perhaps, worthy
of remark, that during the past summer i've per-
sons have been entitled to the frankng privilege as
Senators and ex Senators in Congress from single
state four from another and three fro a several
Of the other States; and that q Representative
ard late Representative in more than half the
districts have also been entitled to such privilege.
The expenditures during the year were rs fol-