The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-01-06
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS


REPORT OF TIE SECRETARY OF THE Treasury
Secretary Cobb reports $s375l ,5ll57 as the
amount expended during the fiscal yenr ending
June 80, 1883. The aggregate means provided
ior the same year were $SS,O00,18f.lI. Hence
dedue'ng the expenditures from the aggregate
means during year, balance remained in the
Treasury on July l, 1859. of "a ,3sa,275.b4.
Dir. Cohb says:-I do not doubt that the &C.
'uai reee 'pts INTO the Treasury for the present
ahi next fiscal years will be fully cauai to the
estimates The only remaining question in
connection with tile estimates to be considered
Is The probable demands upon the Treasury dr.
ring this period. II the appropriations made
at the present session do not exceed tho amount
contained in the estimates it is believed tint
they can be met with the ordinary and ,xtrn-
ordinary receipts already provided for by Inv.
HE estimated balance that will he in the Treas
ury OH the 30th of June, 1861, is only x3,5 $50 :
i9"6l and leaves no margin for additional ap-
rr"Pr,"t'ons II. therefore, the appropriations
should exceed the cal immeS or Cunpress sho,ld
determine to provide within this period for the
payment OF any portion of tho public debt, it
VIII become necessary TO make provision for
such contingencies. The idea Of Increasing the
pnoiic debt to meet the ordinary expenses of
the Government should not be enterlu;,.1 6,r
II moment. If additional demands nr,. c,c,,..,
upon the Treasury hy the legislation OF li,,
present Congress, provision must be made to
! meet them by such increase of Tariff Of duties
rs in"y oe required for that purpose.
POSTMASTER Generals REronr.-The Re.
! port of Postmaster General Holt, urges upon
Congress the necessity of making nn early np-
! preparation to meet all the existing Liabilities
"f,he Post Office Department. The failure Of
the last Congress to provide for the exrenscs
of Department is dwelt on at considerable
length and the hope expressed that inasmuch
| as the filth Of the Government has thus been
broken, that not only the principnl If these
debts will now be promptly paid, but them also
The actual (paiD expenditures of the DE.
| partnIrnt i'll the fiscal Nenr ending June 3n,b
1899. amounted to Sll.45S ts5.Gs To this
must he added ih" asccr,sinel liabilities Of the
| Department. which could not he pail, owing
to the fainre of Congress to make the usual
! appropriations, an! which now constitute de.
fci"ncy t" he provided for to June 3Oth, 1853
Sl.296 600. 2h-makirg grand total OF actual
(pnd) expenses anil liabilities of SIS 754, ,092 49,
The gross revenue for the Year 1859. inclu-
ding receipts from letter cnrrers and from for
oign postagea. anouutel 10 $7.96s. 4S4 Ex
cess of expenditures for 1889, ST. 9Y6 009 90
Estimated expenditures for 1860, including the
C"lii,'raia service, is $l5,n2s,d27.62 Drtcien
cy ofaenns for the service of 1860, S. 52f,Y24
Total value of postage stamps and envelope,
Issued TO rostmasters during the year 1859
Fl. 62l. 53334.
In The way Of retrcnchment. Mr. Holt think.
the franking privilege ought to bc paid for out
of the national treasury, and that publishers o
newspapers ought to be made to pay pos,nge OH
their exchanges. But. if from the grandeur MI,
benificencc Of its mission, the press is cxccptc,
aud is to he subsidized to the extent of i,s post
age hy the government, then undenlably, sucI
subsidy should be contributed from the COM
mon treasury also instead Of being imposed. q.
at present, OH the oppressed revenues of the
Post Office Department., which under all cir
cumstanccs, should be maintained iuviolate.