The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-08-05

I,y act Of March = 1867 iO,0O
Iy act OF February D. is6S.........,,,.., 2l769,ON
by act Of March 81, ls0S,,...",.",,.,,, i3oOo,vo
Total 2booo)
BY the system of internal revenue
which prevailed at the close ofthe war,
taxation may be said to have been all
but universal; land, agricultural pro-
ducc, unmanufactured lumber, bread
stulls, and a few other forms of prop
erty or product only, being excepted.
An aggregate of ten thousand distinct
articles or products, made available as
sources of internal revenue in July,
1865, would probably be an under
rather than an over estimate. At the
present time, of all manufactured arti-
cles or products Of industry, the fol-
lowing only are subject to specific or
direct taxation: Distilled spirits, fer
mcnted liquors. manufactured tobacco,
gas, matches and playing cards. Per-
tumcry, cosmetics, patent medicines
and few other manufactured articles
are subject to stamp tax proportional
to their selling price, since July, 1865;
furthermore, the additional tax Of
five per cent. on incomes in excess of
five thousand dollars has been repeal
ed, and the exemption on all incomes
has been increased from 5000 to ST.
900. The taxation formerly imposed
on the gross receipts accruing from the
transportation Of merchandise has also
been entirely removed.
Coincidcnt with the above rednc-
ton of taxation, or from August 81, &,
1865, to June 80, 1868, the aggregate
of the national indebtedness, including
cash in the Treasury, exhibits re-
duction in round numbers Of $3.50, 900
900. On this Abatement OF the debt
the reduction OF the interest, calculated
at six per cent, would be $l5,000,000
per annum.
TuIRD-EXPENDIrU aF5 OF TUE WAR
DEPARTMENT.
The aggregate expenditures made
through or under the direction of the
War Department, from April lst, 1865
to June 30th, 1868, inclusive, were
$9l7,l17,043,43. Of this aggregate
the disbursements for nine months, or
from April lst, 1865, to December
3lst, 1865, as stated by quarters, were
as follows:
Second quarter of 1861" ...~..".sill ,lo0,21z 80
fourth do do ......".....~ ..,...... Cs,i2,5ii IS
$500 80
1t thus appears that ofthe above to-
tai expenditures of the War Depart
ment $G47,6SS,000 or 10 per cent of
the whole was directly contingent up
on the termination ofthc war, and the
disbanding Of the army; and was dis
bursed in the nine months Immediately
succeeding the surrender Of Lee in
April, 1865.
The balance of expenditure charged
to the War Department on the books
of the Treasury-vis., $269, 9,42S,0 ,0S7,
1O-covcrs u period of thirty months
or from January /, 1866, to June 30,
1868, and represents the disbursements
further contingent upon the termin-
alton of the war,-such as arrears of
pay and transportation of troops, the
regular expenses Of the military es'ab-
lishment, the expenses Of the Indian
War in the summer and fall Of 1867
the payment of bounties (49,3S2,S59)
from July |, 1866, to June 30, 1868,
the payment for property lost or dis
troyed in the military service of the
United States { l,O00,000), reimburse
ment of State claims in 1868 (Sl0,
800, ,O00), river and harbor improve
mcnts and the expenses of Notifications,
subsistence Of Indians, Frecdmen's
Bureau, expenses of reconstruction, ,&c.
FoURTH-EXPENDIT OF THE MA
Wy DEPARTMENT
The expenditures of the navy De-
partment from April /, 1865, TO June
80, 1868, were Sl33,119,296. OF
this amount $56,Si7,SS9, or 45 per
cent. were distributed within the nine
months Immediately succeeding the
termination Of the war in April, 1865.
The balance, $73,27l, ,4O7, covers the
regular expenses of the navy, for a
period of thirty months ending July /,
1868, as well as the disbursements on
account Of prize money, and for the
settlement of contracts entered into
prior to the end of the war.
FIFTH-FREEDMEN's BUREAU AND
RECONSTRUCTION.
According tothe accounts of ftheTrea-
sury the expenses Of the Freedmen's
Bureau since its organization have been
$5,617,OO0. Concerning the proper
ton this expenditure incurred blythe
bureau for the relief of starving and
destitute of both races, and for educa-
tional or other purposes, the Treasury
has no information.
According to the accounts OF Trea-
sury the expenditures contingent upon
the acts of Congress regulating recon-
struction have been $2,344,700 Sc.
coNcLnsIoN.-The above statements
are derived from the books and ac-
counts Of the Treasury Department,