The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-01-05

amounting to four million two hundred ard ninety
six thousand and nine dollars "a 296 O09l together
with the further estimate of that officer for the ser
vice of the present fiscal year, ending Both June.
1880 be;no five millions five hundred and twenty
six thousand three hundred and twenty-four dol
lars Us 526 324) making an aggregate of ten mil
lion three hundred and sixty-one thousand six hum
bred and eighty three dollars so, 80; 6S3l
Should these appropriations be mace as reques-
ted by the proper departments, the balance In the
treasury on the 3Oth June 1861, will not. 1t is es
tmated, exceed three million five hundred ana
thirty thousand one hundred and ninety-slx dol
lars and sixty-one cents ($3, $50, 1876 61).
transmit herewith the reports of the Secreta,
the Postmaster General. They each contain valu-
able information and important recommendations
well worthy of the serious consideration of Con-
gress.
of War that the army expenditures have been ma
terialy reduced by a system OF rigid economy,
which, in his opinion, offers every guarantee that
the reduction will be permanent The estimates
of the Department for the next year have been re-
duced nearly two millions of dollars below the es-
Inmates for the present fiscal year, and half mill
ion of dollars below the amount granted for this
year at the last session OF Congress ~
E The expenditures of the Postoffice Department
during the past fiscal year, ending on the 30th OF
June, 1885, exclusive of payments for mail service
specially provided for by Congress out of the gen.
eral treasury, amounted to sl4 1854 493 49, and its
receipts to 81 1853 474 or; showing deficiency to
be Supplied from the treasury of So 996, 009 26,
against 81, 677 Is for the year ending 30th
June, 1858. The increased cost of transportation
growing out of the expansion of the service re-
quired by Congress explains this rapid augmenta-
tion of the expenditures. 1890. -
1t is gratifying, however, to observe an increase
of receipts for the year ending on the Both June,
1859, equal to s4S1 69l 81 compared with those in
the year ending on the 30th June, 1853.
1t is estimated that the deficiency for the current
fiscal year will be SIS, 98S, 424 o., but that for the
year ending 30th June, 1861, it will not exceed
81 342 413 80, should Congress adopt the measures
of reform proposed and urged by the Postmaster
General. Since the month of March retrenchments
have been made in the expenditures amounting to
81 ,s26,471 annually, which, however, did not take
effect until after the commencement of the present
fiscal year. The period seems to have arrived for
determining the question whether this Depart
ment shall become permanent and ever increas-
ing charge upon the treasury, or shall be permit
ted to resume the sclfsustaining policy which had
so long controlled its administration
The course of legislation recommended by the
Postmaster General for the relief of its embarrass-
ments and for restoring it to its original indepen
dence, is deserving of our early and earnest con-
sideration. .sffal--f- IS Ifsafa hae
In conclusion would again commend to the Just
liberaty of Congress the local interests Of the
District of Columbia. Surely. the city bearing the
name of Washington, and destined, | trust, for
ages to be the capital of united, free and pros
porous confederacy, has strong claims on our fa-
vorable regard
JAMES BUCHANAN.
WASHINGTON CRY, December -, 1859.