The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-04

For the purpose of comparing the
revenues of the year with those of
the preceding year, there should
also be deducted the sum of s l63,-
SoS o9-being the amount of addi-
tional appropriation under the act
of March, 1851, and the census
appropriation of Sl2, 900 SITE, S5S SO
Leaving as the ordinary revenues of
the year SO, 55l ,977 50
This shows an increase of 5000 Oo6 Al over the
proper revenues of the preceding year.
The sums received as the excess Of the emolu-
inene OF postmasters, beyond the amounts they are
hy law allowed TO retain, and the amounts collected
from failing bidders and their guarantors are not
separately stated part of the revenues in the
accounts of the Auditor. The Auditor states that
the former are deducted from the amount paid for
the compensation of postmasters" and ''clerks
Tor ottlces; that 80 much of the latter was col
lected in money is credited under the head Of
"Other miscellaneous receipts" and the residue
which was deducted from the amount due to such
failing bidders Tor transportation service, was de-
Quoted from, and lessons to that extent the expen-
diture5 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 revenue
derived from these sources respectively.
The receipts from hostages, American and for
eign, for the last fiscal year exceeded those of the
preceding year 5000 ,223 IS, being an increase of
about l6g per cent
II the balances accruing TO the British post office
during both years excluded, Gas they must be
TO show the true increase OF our own posta the
increase will be 1897 ,6l0 10, or more than Is IS
l00ths per cent.
Excluding these balances, the receipts of the frat
three quarters Of the year exceeded those of the
corresponding quarters of the preceding year about
2oa per cent, but the hostages for the last quarter
lell OIL and exceeded those of the correspond
ing quarter of the preceding year only about IA
per cent; so that the increase FIR the year was
only about IL 65l00ths per cent, as before stated.
The reduction during the last quarter of the
fscal year Is mostly attributable to its APP
proach to the period when the rates of postage pre-
scribed by the act of the Sd of March last ere to
go into operation, and the consequent delay in cor
respondence until itcoud be carried on at a cheaper
rate "A similar reduction was observed upon the
adoption OF the reduced rates under the OF 1916
The practical extension of the ranking privilege
TO the Senators and Representatives elected to the
present Congress after the commencement of that
quarter also aided slightly in producing this re-
duction. During the last spring a Senator and
Representative elected to the present Congress
claimed the full privilege of franking under the
provisions OF the acts of 1915 and S47. The prac-
tice 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 in favor
OF the right claimed, and it was therefore know.
lodged, and notice of the decision communicated.
Ny the previous practice of the Department the
full ranking privilege Of members of Congress
was deemed to commence only thirty days prior
to the commencement of the first session of Con
gress held during their term of Office. 1t is, per
haps, worthy OF remark that during the past sam
mer five persons have been entitled to the frank
ing privilege as Senators and ex- Senators in Con
gress from single State; four from another; and
three from several of the other States; and that
Representative and a late Representative in more
than half the districts have also been entitled to
Euch privilege.
The expenditures during the year were as fol-