The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-04
LETTER or THE sEcRE1ARY or THE
TREASURY



and whether in his opinion said receipts will be adequate
70 meet the public exigencies, would respectfully
report
Tho receipts ion the stquarter Of the present fiscal year.
ending the 50th September 1855, S25 $50 Si9 &C.
stated Ia my annual report Congress OF Deem
Der g. 1883. The receipts for the remaining three
quarters were estimated at SIS, 500, 000, OF which
sum S3I 900 600 We're estimated from customs. 1t
was beloved that the quarter ending December 81
1858, you'd yield $40, O00 600 The present quar-
ter, ending the 9lst March, 1883 SIS 900 900 and
the next quarter ending 30th June 1889 5l2 600 600
Since my annual report submitted TO Congress
turns have been made from nearly all the ports for the
quarter ending the Sst December 1883 and estimating
for the few ports not yet heard from the total receipts
for the quarter will be about the of So 200 600
For the present quarter full returns have received
for the month of January from the ports OF New York.
Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore The receipts from
these ports amount TO si,3I6,b42 Sc Partial returns
have been received from other ports but not sui
hcient exont TO justify statement OF them.
In reference not only TO the CUSTOMS but the public
lands and other of revenue all the information
which has been received at the department since the date
of my annual report confirms the correctness OF the es
mates of probable receipts for the present and next fiscal
year which then submitted TO Congress / am there
fore OF opinion that the result will show that the actual
receipts for the remaining quarters Of the present year
and for the next fiscal year. will not vary materially from
the estimates already submitted to Congress
In support of this opinion submit to the considera-
ton of Congress comparison Of the receipts from
toms Tor the months OF the two preceding years aud
the present year.
In 1856 81 the receipts customs Tor the quarter
ending the Slst December sl4, 2l3,4l4 80. In
lS5758 the receipts from customs for the quarter
So 237 1913 60 In 1858 80 the receipts will prob
ably be SO, 200, 600, as have already stated.
During the fiscal year ending 30th June 1857 the inn
portations very heavy amounting in dutabe goods
exclusive of those exported, to 1924 60 S35 and the
receipts from customs for That sos 66f S3 90
In the fiscal year ending the 3oth June, 1883 the mpor
tatons much reduced amounting, in dutabe goods
exclusive of those exported to S202 293 9T5 and the
receipts from customs i2O46277 Sc To realize
estimates the importations of dutiable goods for the
present fiscal year reach the amount Of $3.50 900
600 besid those exported and for the next fiscal year
the of $3.50 900, 900.
Comparing the foregoing statement of receipts, and
looking to favorable and healthy reaction in business
should regard it unsafe and unwise to calculate upon
larger importation than the present estimates contem
plate
Entertaining these opinions / am compelled to say
that the receipts will not be adequate to meet the public
exgencies unless the expenditures should be reduced be-
low the amount estimated for | have seen no indca
tions that would induce the opinion that such result
be reasonably anticipated, On the contrary, should the
bills which have passed either the other branch Of
Congress I've finally passed by both and become laws the
expenditures would be very largely and permanently in
creased 1t is estimated that the pension till alone
which has passed the House. would add several millions
ts the annual expenses of the government and
larger amount for the next fiscal year Other bills
which have passed either the Senate the House would
in like manner, swell the amount of expenditure. These
contingencies to which the attention of Congress
should be directed in considering the probable receipts
and expenditures of the government. Either the
pendtures must be reduced to the estimated receipts
other of should be provided II the first
can be effected ii is certainly the most desirable.
l have already submitted to Congress- in compliance
with their requirements bills for the codcaton of the
laws and for the reorganization OF the collection
districts which, if sanctioned and passed into laws
would greatly facilitate the operations of this department
and reduce largely the expense OF collecting the
nue..
There stands upon the statute books laws requiring the
building of custom houses post Offices and court houses
places where the public does not require them
this time. repeal of those laws, postponement of
their execution period of greater prosperity and less
embarrassment would relieve the treasury OF that amount
of expenditure,
The recommendation which has been submitted to Con-
gress of aboshng the ranking privilege and raising
postage to five cents, with view of bringing the Post
Office Department practicable to its former
sefsustaning position thereby imposing the burden of
its support upon those who and enjoy its benefits
WILL if carried out very greatly relieve the treasury
These propositions for retrenchment to Congress
commended not only by the public demand for reform
and economy, but by their intrinsic merits. They
right in principle and policy, and when conrased
with propositions for increasing the public debt adj
ding to the general tax will receive the cordial approval
of the country
In other departments of the government reductions
might Also in all probability, be made. only speak
of those which have been brought TO the attention OF
ton.
IT. however, the appropriations made at the present
session should reach the amount estimated FOR in my
nual report deficiency will exist which he pro-
vdcd for by additional legislation and to the extent
that the appropriations shall exceed the estimates will
that deficiency be necessarily increased
have, in former report, expressed the opinion that
the public debt ought not to be increased by am add
tional loan That opinion remains unchanged
The present tariff and should be modified as to
supply such deficiency may exist and avail myself
of the opportunity afforded by the resolution OF the
House again call the attention of Congress the
concentrations OF my annual report the subject and
commend them to their favorable consideration
In this connection is proper to call particular atten
ton to the condition of the outstanding treasury
In the estimates OF receipts and expenditures by the de
partment the permanent redemption of these notes MS
they may fall due, has not been contemplated All the
calculations have been made upon the basis of contin
ing them in circulation and, matter of course the
redemption of the whole any part of them must in
the anticipated deficiency unless authority be
given for their reissue other provision made for their
redemption. Since the first of January last there have
been redeemed $543, 700 Between this time and the
30th June next the of $l7, 1853, 800 will fall due
and with the interest due upon them must be met.
state these facts for the purpose of showing that should
Congress adoun without egsating upon the subject it
would be almost impossible under the most favorable
receipts into the treasury from ordinary sources for the
department TO meet the public liabilities until another
Congress could be convened have already recommend
ed that this immediate demand should be provided for
by authorizing the reissue of these notes for two
years This be easily effected by extending for that
period the provisions Of the act of December 30 1857
authorizing the issue OF treasury notes The proposition
to convert these notes into permanent debt ought
would be virtually postponng their ultimate payment To
of he .,t