The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-10-06
Hon. e. b. " ashburn's Statement
OF the Receipts and Expendf-
lures of the Government.
A Surplus of $67,0OO,0OO Anticipated.

Yesterday we briefly alluded to the inter-
esting and valuable document which we give
below.
As some apprehension exists in the public
mind that the revenue receipts Of the nation
al treasury for the current fiscal year are like
ly to prove insufficient to meet the current
national expenditures-which apprehension
has recently been tostered by the publication
of an unofficial statement by a subordl-
nate of the Treasury Department-an inves-
tlgation Of the who,e subject has been insti-
tuted under the direction of Hon. (. b.
Washburne, Chairman OF the Committee on
appropriations, House Of Representatives. who
authorizes the following statement:
The sources of revenue Of the treasury are
three: hrst, customs; second, internal rev.
enue: third, miscellaneous. We ask the at
teDtion to the facts connected with each OF
these-m order.
1.-CUsTOMs.
The customs receipts at the port of New
York from the commencement of the present
fiscal ear, July 1, 1858, to September 26,were
S33, ,7SO BAT, gold. These receipts, adding one
fourth Tor receipts at the other ports (which
IS less than the average oil such ports), and
allowing tor fluctuations in importations,
would indicate gold revenue from customs
for the present fiscal year of at least $17OOOO,-
900; which estimates the amount OF com
credited on the books OF the treasury, from
customs receipts from all the ports for the
months OF July and August, substantially
verify.
The receipts from customs for the last
three fiscal years have been as follows: 1866
90, Sis. 045 65l; 1866-67, S176, Alt $40; 1867
SO, $164, ,464, 500.
1t is evident, therefore, that any statements
predicting reduction, of custom receipts tor
the present fiscal year below S165, 900 900, are
not warranted, either by the actual receipts
OIL the Treasury tor the first quarter OF the
present hscal year, or by any circumstances
connected with the trade and commerce OF
the country.
2.-INTERNAL REVENUE.
The receipts OF internal revenue from July
l, 1868, to September 20 were in excess of
S4O,OOO,OOO, indicating an average OF thirteen
anu one-half millions per month, or over $160,
OO0,OOO per annum. If it is urged that the
revenue Tor the time referred to was augment
ed by the receipts from the income tax"
and is not likely to continue as large tor the
year, we reply that the receipts from income
during the time specified were inconsderable
w. a1Vheu VI % anu uldL
any deficiency rom this source is likely to be
iully compensated from the lin on the rev
enue from distilled sprits-the returns tor
the month OF July ind eating an annual rev.
enue from ILLS source tor the current year, OF
double that rtce,ved during the preceding
year. 1t is also reasonably certaiL that when
the new law relative to the collection OF the
tax on distilled spirits is put in tull operation
in November, that the receipts from this
source will be also further largely augment
ed.
Again, the only taxes removed by Congress
which IN any way diminish the internal rev.
enue OF the current year as compared with the
preceding fiscal year, are those relative 10
raw cotton, and manufactured products-ex-
ciuc've OF spirits, beer, tobacco, patent medi
cines and playing cards. Allowing Tor these
reductions and assuming that the receipts
from other sources which have no: been re-
duced by legislation will continue subtsa antial-
ly as in 1S66-67, the minimum OF internal rev.
enue tor the current fiscal year, in oetail and
| aggregate, will undoubtedly be as follows: