New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-14
Revenues of the Country.

length on the postotiice appropriation Dill:
The revenues of the country are derived
from tour sources. which are staLed Ill Ine
report OF the Secretary OF the treasury;
They are from customs, from Internal
revenue, from sales of public lands. ana
from miscellaneous sources. FROM saies vi
nublic lands the House OF Representatives,
has taken the entire amount 10 be app.ieus
to public exuenditure, so that item Is out ol
consideration. The customs, the secretary
of the Treasury estimates, Will amount 10
S2l2 2OO0. OC0 In that estimate OF the Secfc
tary there is an increase over last year ol
receipts from customs OF some Si2'o"'Voo.
Whether it vii be ultimately more or less
is a matter Of estimate. Last month, II
that be taken {. criterion, would lhaicate
the increase will he more. Looking, how
ever to the disturbances abroad, and the
receipts during the present mouth, 1t may
be less.
The Secretary of the Treasury, taking last
wear and so much of the present year winch
has passed, estimates the amount TO be re-
ceiyed from customs for the purpose OF de-
fraying the public expenses at $li2,oO0, OO0.
The House OF Representatives has stricken
from that. by taking the duty OFT of tea and
coffee. $40 292 093 They have further re-
duced it by taking the duty OFT of salt and
coal, which amounts to Sl.109 SI5. making
in all $2l ,OOl, ,93S. which will reduce the re-
ceipts from customs, as estimated by Tie
Secretary of the Treasury, to $50 ,99S,062.
Mr. Crebs-Wbat does the gentleman say
the reduction will be on account OF taking
the duty off of tea and coffee
Mr.. Dawes Nineteen million two hun
dred and ninety-tWo thousand and ninety
three dollars.
MI, Sargent-What is the reduction in
consequence Of taking the duty of Of salt
and coal!
Mr.. Dawes-One million seven hundred
and nine thousand eight hundred and forty
five dollars. The receipts from internal
revenue for last year were Stii.0ll.l76 "A
In that is reckoned 5.40i ,lSi ID from ar
ticles which are now exempted by law from
the payment of any internal revenue tax.
In that is reckOned also a corporation tax
of $2,500,0U0. which is now admitted by
every one has been repealed. In that is
also included the income tax, which the
Secretary of the Treasury estimates at Sl2.-
100000. We have therefore to make tc-
duction OF SO ,90l ,lSi Is, which will reduce
the revenue estimated from internal taxa
ton to Sil4. 992 09.
The other source of revenue is what is
known as miscellaneous revenue. In its ma
ture il is very uncertain item to rely
upon 1t arises not from any source fixed
by law but from incidental sources in the
nagemcnt of the affairs of the govern
mcnt. II is shown in the balance OF lnlscel-
laneous expendilures. The Secretary of the
Treasury puts down in his estimate the re-
ceipts for the next year from this item at
81" ,3j9 ii The miscellaneous revenue
for 1871 was S3l ,566, 736 J3. If we take the
miscellaneous revenue for last wear to see
whether that much can be relied upon. We
will find that the premium on gold OF SIC.
5q4 jO2 Is. which accrued from the sales Of
gold. has all gone. That may be one thing
or another The Secretary of the Treas
urv himself takes that out OF his estimate
for the miscellaneous revenues 1or
the next wear. Look over the list.
and YOU VIII find homestead aud other
land fees amount to S5i5.H23 Il. They
have gone with the proceeds of the public
land, and they are not to he reckoned on
So thfy are not to be recognized. You
also find, direct tax. $3.50 ,315 81. That
having been collected can not De collected
again. You also find proceeds OF Indian
trust lands" 81. l40 l20 2S-those being the
Indian trust lands that were sold by the
government and " hich went to the other
SIDE OF the ledger. They are no source of
revenue tor Us during the next year. Then
we have accrued interest. sale. etc. In
dian trust" S}s7 0ol Oh. Then there are
..reiu hurselnents" to the United States for
| MONEYS advanced to meet interest on nom
! paving stocks, held in trust for various In
! dian tribes. 1850 Take those our and
| you have from that source. el2, lSl.H3 OIL.
OF course this can not be figured out ex-
| actlv. IL depends upon the contingencies OF
the government. They may be more from
| unexpected sources. and they may be less.
| take the last years miscellaneous sources
| and deduct what is absolutely necessary,
| in the attempt not to say exactly what are
our resources. but to show this House that
| there is nothing we know of which we can
RELY upon to add to this aggregate.
These items. then, aggregate S:}i1 5S9,
! 433 10. against expenditures OF so" .6o', ,45S,
| leaving "a balance of S!7. .1SS,9 ,9.5 10, without
having paid one dollar bevond the interest
toward the public debt Now the law re-
| uures us to pay into the sinking fund just
| as much As 1t requires lis to pay tor the I'M
| provement of Il harbor. or to spend money
| anywhere else: a great deal more so. be-
cause it is 20 sustain the public credit 1t
requires Is 10 pay SIS. 263 into the sink
| ing fund. and we have but sll.1SS,975 10 tU
do it with. If. therefore. We do not receive
! revenue from q great and unexpected IN
crease Of imports beyond the estimate OF
| their increase bv the Secretary OF the
! Treasury. or from some other BOW nnpro
! vded source and i nur expenditures are
not brought down below the figures here
stated. we shall te obliged to borrow
nearly Sli.G09, 900 to pay 10 tlie sinking
fund without one dollar going toward the
! principal OF the public debt.
| And that. sir. il III the last OF the tour
wears OF this administration. the first three
F! ;,i which paid &3O0, 100000 OF that debt he
! sides what was paid into the sinking fund
| Sir, [ know that these figures are subjects
| for lust such criticism as the gentleman
| from Michigan very properly made IN re
| gard to one item OF the estimates. Bat
| know. too. that against them all stands the
| pressure of great public expenditures that
| DO not enter into the estimates Of public
expenditures. and which, III the end, fee
| an apprehension that | can not conceal, in
| common with all those who make these
| figures constantly their study. VIII over
| balance all we can possibly save upon the
Ordinary expenditures.
| I have but a few more words to say, if
NAV be permitted to 90 little beyond the
| half hour V hich ihe committee so kindly
allowed me. and which is about ont.
| The Chairman--If no objection be made
| the gentleman will be permlt5ed to proceed
| No objection was made.
! Mr.. Crebs-Wil the gentleman from
| Massachusetts Mr.. Dawes yield 10 Ele fol
| a question:
MIR. Dawes-Yes; for a question only.
Mr.. Crebs-l desire to ask the chairman
of the Committee on Ways and Means Mr.
! Dawes whether i'll his opinion, If the tarit
| On pig IRON should be reduced, the revenue
| would not oe increased!
Mr.. kerr-Reduced 70 what rate.
Mr.. Crebs-To five dollars per to,l, vii
saw. think the revenue would Je increa IeC
| ten if not eleven million dollars.
Mr.. Dawes-I wish could see some poin
where could change the figures bav'
| Given. I do think that there is some reason
| TO sunpose that The Secretary Of the Treas
| urv has nn9erestinatcd the receipts from
customs for tie next year. But the larger