New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-03

Every month we have bulletins similar to
the above. Their language is GOOD people,
eff YOU do MT know what the Government
"cOsts. it is your own fault. All the necessary
Conformation is spread before YOU" Now we
venture to say that the figures above given
are of no more use for ascertaining the cost
of the Government than the Chinese characters
on a tea chest. A man might study them from
month to month and year to year for life
time and still be as far from the truth as ever.
The fact is, the Treasury does not intend
that the people shall understand its operations.
And that is why a comprehension of its cur
rent business is no more possible from the out
side than bird's-eye view of the Hoosac
Tunnel
Let us sift the above figures a little. II is
stated that about thirty eight million dollars
have been paid out in warrants during the
two months, exclusive of payments on account
of the Public Debt. This is at the rate of
tro hundred and trenty-eigM million dollars a
year. We know the Government is extrava-
CANT; but it cannot cost ~ much az that.
The expenditures of last year, exclusive of
those on account of the Public Debt, were
only one hundred and eighty millions. If we
add to the aforesaid thirty-eight millions six
teen millions for two months interest on
the Public Debt, we have a total of fifty
four millions, which is certainly in excess
of the Governments receipts for the
two months. But if the interest on the
Debt, added to the current expenses, exceeds
the receipts, the result must have been an in
crease of the net indebtedness. The Govern
ment, like an individual, must necessarily run
behind when it spends more than it re-
ceives But, if we can believe Secretary
Richardson, the Debt has decreased eight mil
lion dollars in the two months. Hence the
receipts from taxes, customs, sales of public
lands, premium on gold, &C., must have
reached sixty-twO million dollars for the
two months, which is at the rate of
three hundred and Seuenty-hcO million dollars Il
year. or about forty millions more than last
years receipts. But we have official state
ments, fully as worthy of credit rs any other
official statements, from which we learn that
in August about eighteen millions were re-
ccived from customs, and in September about
fifteen millions, and for the two months about
seventeen millions from the internal revenue,
making in all fifty million dollars. Where
do the twelve millions come from which are
required to bring the total up to sixty-two
mliOnsl
The War Department appears to have abb
sorbed over ten millions in the two months,
or at the rate of Sirty millions year, and the
Navy Department seven millions, or at the
rate of f0rty-tlcO millions year. Can the
Government squander money at that rate and
IL f,ot -, tI,.
Mr.. Spnner's payments by warrants are of no
more value as a statement of the cost of Gov
eminent than the figures in the Nautical AL
manac Unlike the Nautical Almanac, they are
Of no use at all to any portion of the commu-
nifty. They are simply so much dust thrown
in the eyes of the public. We defy any one
to make head or tail of them. How long shall
we consent to be fed with such chat by Mr..
Richardson and his officials