The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-07

Leaving ordinary OF 81
This shows increase OF $ess,ooo over the proper
revenues OF the preceding year.
The sums received the Of the emoluInents of
posmastes, beyond the amounts they by law allow
ed to retain and the amounts collected from failing bid
des and their guaranors are not separately stated
part Of the in the accounts OF the Auditor The
Auditor states that the former deducted from the
amount paid for the compensation OF pOsmasters" and
'clerks for Offices" that much of the latter
collected in money is credited under the head of "oher
miscellaneous receipts and the residue. which was de-
Quoted from the amount due to such failing bidders for
transportation service, deducted from, and lessons
that extent the expenditures under the head of Trans
ed change the OF keeping these accounts and
future reports will doubtless show the amount OF rev.
enues derived from these sources respectively
the last fiscal year exceeded those of the preceding year
sos. oa3 IS, being increase Of aboat 6i per cent
II the balances accrung TO the British pos, office during
both years excluded (as they must be TO show The
true increase of our own posages) the increase will be
S9e7 $40 10, or more than is 65- IOoihs per cent.
Excluding these balances, the receipts of the first three
of the year exceeded those of the corresponding
quarters of the preceding year about 20a per cent but
the postages for the last quarter fell or, and exceeded
those of the corresponding quarter OF the preceding year
only about Ii per cent that the increase for the year
only about IS 65 loOhs per cent before stated
The reduction during the last quarter of the fiscal year
mostly attributable 10 its near approach 10 The period
when the rates OF postage prescribed by the act OF The 30
of March last TO go Into operation, and the
quent delay correspondence until IL could be carried on
at cheaper rate. similar reduction was observed
upon the adoption of the reduced rates under the act of
s45. The practical extension ot the ranking privilege
10 the and elected to the present
Congress after the commencement Of that quarter also
aided slightly in producing this reduction. During the
last spring senator and representative elected 10 the
present Congress claimed the full privilege of ranking
under the provisions of the OF lsi5 and si7 The
practice OF the department had been adverse to the claim
and having doubts regard 10 the construction OF
the statutes under which the right claimed the opin
ion OF the law officer oil the government was asked His
opinion was in favor OF the right claimed, and IT was
therefore acknowledged a9d no,ee oi the decision com
muncated.
BY the previous practice Of the department. the full
ranking privilege OF members OF Congress was deemed
10 commence onlythry days PRIOR 10 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 five persons have been entitled to the frank
ing privilege as senators and exsenaiors in Congress
from single State four from another; and three IRON
several Of the other States and that representative and
late representative in than hall the districts have
a 40 bee entitled to such privilege.