The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-01-05
Secretaries Reports.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.

AsHISGTON, Dec. n.
The Secretary of the Treasury in his
Report does not doubt the actual receipts
of the Treasury for the present and next
fiscal years will be fully equal to the es-
Inmates. The appropriations made at the
present session need not exceed the
amount contained in the estimates. 1t is
believed that they can be with the ordi-
nary and extraordinary receipts already
provided. The estimated balance that
will be in the Treasury June 3oth, is on
ly S3, $50. 900. and leaves no margin for
additional appropriations. Ii, therefore,
the appropriations should exceed the es-
Inmates, or Congress should determine to
provide within this period for the pay
ment of any portion of the public debt,
1t will become necessary to make pro-
vision for such contingencies. If addi-
tional demands are created upon the
Treasury by legislation of the present
Congress, provision must be made to
meet them, by such increase in the tariff
duties as may be required for that pur-
pose. In such an event he respectfully
refers Congress to his last report con-
tanning his views on that subject. As no
provisions have been made for the perma-
ment redemption OF any portion Of the
$50, ,OO0,O0 treasury notes, and as au-
thority for issuing them will expire on
the 30th of June, il will be necessary for
Congress TO extend the law for that pur-
pose for another period.
a
teresting account of the affairs of his de-
partment. He advocates various re-
forms trusts Congress will either give
It's sanction to the specific contract mails
between Portland aud New Orleans by
voting the necessary appropriations or
will indicate for the department such a
course of administration as shall warrant
1t in closing with some one of the propo-
sails which have been received and now
held under adyisement. He urges ac-
ton TO secure suitable post offices in New
York and Philadelphia, and recommends
the repeal of the clause of 1883 which
declares in forwarding mails TO foreign
countries the preference shall always be
given to an American over foreign steam
ships, when departing from the same port
for the same destination within three DAYS
Of each other. 1t is the highest element
in the mission of this department, and
hence that legislation which provides for
the retarding instead of accelerating the
mails, may be pronounced at least extra
ordinary in its character. The Post Of
flee Department according to the theory
OF It's organization. should be self-sus-
tanning. because of the peculiar charac-
ter of its functions. 1t should not be a
charge on the common treasury He ad-
vocates the abolition of the frauking pri-
vilege, and the substitution of prep
ment by stamps, when abuses would fall
where they belong. on the government
officials by whom they were perpetrated.
The Secretary of the navy, in speak
ing of the successful termination OF the
Paraguay Expedition. says the cost of
maintaining the seven purchased vessels
on commission was not much greater
than that OF maintaining a single steam
frigate. Their acquisition enables the
Department TO adopt more efficient mea-
sures for the suppression of the slave
trade.
Since the commencement of the pres
ent Administration, twenty steam vessels
have been added to the Navy. He rec
ommends still further increase of the
Navy Instead of repairing old vessels
or expending millions in the construction
Of large ships. he earnestly recommend