The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-01-23
NATIONAL ECONOMY.
Reports from the Departments Of Gov
eminent as to the Feasibility Of Re
aaeiHg Estimates
washington Cor. n. y. Herald.

i eminent as to the Feasibility Of R
# aaeiHg Estimates
g Washington Cor. n. Y. Herald.
/ In reply to a resolution of I'll
d house of representatives, of D,
/, cember 10Th, requesting a revisio
! of the estimates for the expense
of the government for the fise:
: year ending June 80, 1875, th
] president to day transmitted t
the speaker of the house amende
estimates and replies from the We
rious departments. showing tina
, action had been taken by them q
!, follows:
Il The postmaster general report
that he has caused careful exam
nation to be made of the est
, mates heretofore submitted for ap
preparation for postal service dur
ing the next fiscal year, and finds
after such examination, that M
reduction in the sums asked TO
can be safely made. He furthel
states that before approving thu
estimates submitted to him by hi:
subordinates he had theaa mos
thoroughly examined and reduced
by $674,517. The revised est
mates, he says, are without excep
ton based on the actual necessi.
ties and the probable develop.
ments of the postal service, as
shown by the annual reports OF
the postmaster general for the last
three years. The largest amounts
required are for inland mail trans
pOrtation, $15,5S2,O21, and for
compensation of postmasters, &c.
100000. The increase asked for
in the first of these items is less
than five per cent. on the amount
required during the last fiscal
year, whereas the average annual
increase in that branch of the SER
vice during the past three years
has been at the rate of over IL
per cent. annuity. A great reduc-
ton will, in his opinion, seriously
impair the ability of the depart
ment to provide for the real wants
of the country. In regard to the
second item the postmaster gener-
al states that he has no discretion
whatever, the compensation of
postmasters being fixed by law.
The other items estimated for, he
says, in each instance placed at
the lowest figure consistent with
the expected demands of the SER
vice, and are indispensable to its
requirements. The total of the
estimates made for the depart
ment, therefore, stand at the same
amount as heretofore presented
viz, $36,104,912.
The secretary of the treasury
in his report says the estimates
belonging exclusively to his de-
partment amount to $I73, 1884, sos,
including the interest on the pub
lie debt and the amount required
for the sinking fund, aggregating
$131 .594, 346, for which there are
permanent appropriations. The
amount payable on the general
salary account and for the current
and ordinary expenses of the va
rious branches of the service, be-
sides SIS, 1923, 296 for other objects
of expense, ordered by the laws of
congress, in relation to which the
secretary has no authority or dis
erection, except to carry out the
will of congress as expressed in
the laws under which he is requir-
ed to perform his duties. OF the
whole estimate for the year ending
June 80, 1875, only the sum of
s., 967 ,261 is subject to the con-
sheraton of congress outside of
the requirements of existing laws.
These latter may be omitted.
They include 81 ,632, 300 for light
house and sums for revenue YES
sells. But the secretary doubts
the propriety of emitting these
appropriations. He shows where
reductions to slight extent may
be made. Mr.. Mullett, supervising
architect of the treasury, says
that should it be decided not to
commence any new works, and to
suspend general operations on GER
tain buildings named, the expend-
itures for the current fiscal year
can be reduced by very nearly
100000.
The head of the state depart
ment says that the only estimate
that can be reduced is the appro-
priation for official postage stamps
to $4,000.
The chief of the department of
justice also states what reductions
can be made, though to a compar-
atively small extent.
The reductions that can be made
in the navy department amount to
100000, and the secretary does
not think reduction to any greater
amount either proper or safe.
The estimates for the navy, al.
ready considerably lower than
those of last year, are based upon
the legally authorized force in the
service, and are made largely to
meet the requirements of existing
laws. There has been some accu
mutation of available supplies du
ring the last two months, anC
where this has been the case thu
secretary has indicated correspon
ding reductions to maintain thu
squadrons of the navy in eficien
Icy. To supply the places of old
worn and expensive ships witt
, new and useful ones will requir'
the tull amount estimated for tn
various working bureaus, and i
) these are materially cut down tn
squadrons themselves must be re
duced. These considerations ap
ply to a condition of peace, AM
: the secretary thinks the lesson o
the day in truth is that our nav
should be increased, not diminish
ed; and after review of tn
: necessities of the service the ser
!, rotary is constrained to declar
: frankly his opinion that no reduC
r ton should be made at this tim
{ in these appropriations, especial
= intended to put the cruising vel
8 sells of the navy in condition &c
q active and immediate service; anC
o while entertaining views that re:
d economy would be to increase th
2 appropriation to a sum suficieI
d to make our naval force fully eff
IS eicnt, the secretary will be read
It to accommodate the action of til
8 department to the wishes of col
a gress.
z The report of the secretary
is war says that the military est
d mates ale based upon the actu
Y, cost of material and supplies, Al
1t by the number of persons autho
y. lied by law to be employed.
at SO far as regards the strictly mi
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