Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-21
FIGURES FOR TIE THOUGHTFUL.


organization to June 80, 1875, has been
given in the RECORD Union, together with
the amount of defalcations and the ratio OF
such losses per 81, O0e to the aggregate re-
ceived and disbursed under the different
administrations. We deem the table Of
such great value as to demand further
reference to its facts. Under Washington,
in eight years the less on the 81, COO en-
customs receipts WIS IS IS. From his
time down to jackson it at no time ex
ceeded 3 6S, but under Old Hickory it
ran up in eight years to Sc SO. Under
Polk it was but .0G; Pierce, SO; Bu-
chanan, 81 Lincoln, 10, and under
General Grant but 90. The loss on re-
ceipts from all other sources was, under
Washington 80, jackson 81 40, Pierce
81 20, Buchanan 81 81, Lincoln .lo and
Grant .43. But let US aggregate all re-
ceipts, and we find that under Wash
ington (eight years. the defalcation
ratio of loss to have been to each
81, 0O0, IS y Adams "A years., 81 cents
Jefferson Is years., 81 65; Madison u
years., 81 10; Monroe Is years., So 81
the second Adams "A years., s. 40; Jack
son Is years., So So Van Buren, in his 4
years, brought it to So Oh; Harrison and
Tyler "A years., (S3 6S); Polk "A years. re-
duced it to cents under Taylor and
Fillmore "A years., it rose to 81 30, but
under Pierce "a years. it was rs cents;
Buchanan "A years., 62 cents Lincoln "A
years., 10 cents Johnson a years., So
cents Grant Is years., 81 cents. With the
solitary exception of Folks quiet admins
tration, Lincoln's, though in the stormiest
of periods, showed the lowest ratio of
losses. But it should be borne in mind
that the amount handled under Folks adj
ministration was less than S202, 600, 900,
while under Lincoln the aggregate handled
was over 81, 600, 600, 900, and in Grants
time it was nearly $4,000, 600, 900. The
greatest aggregate losses were under jack
son, SLAP, 1897 GO and johnson, 81, $685.
72l 80; and Buchanan, with sos, 493 60,
was only exceeded by his predecessors in
one other instance-M Monroe, 1929, 946 50.
Prior to- une30, 1861, the ratio of total losses
was 5000 to the 81 ZOO, but from July l,
1861, to June 30, 1875, the period of most
vital interest to the country, and embrac
ing the administrations in which the Re.
publican party is held responsible, the figure
is but 81 cents. In the Postal Department
which has not thus far been included, as
it collects and disburses its own revenue,
prior to 1861 the loss was So 50, but since
then, to June 80, 1875, it has been 81 81.
Let US see, also, what were the total sums
handled, Postal Department excluded.
Prior to 1861 we find the whole long period
to make the total of receipts but 81, 263,-
go, 6l0 6S. while in the fourteen years fol-
lowing nearly sl3,oOO,Ooo, were
handled, yet the losses prior to 1861 were
81, 734, 020 out of two and a half billions
handled, while in fourteen years following,
out of nearly thirteen billions of dollars
handled, in a period in which occurred
costly internecine war, the losses were
about 100000 less. These figures are
sufficiently suggestive and Will awaken the
attention of the thoughtful whenever the
cry of governmental robbery is raised.
But let us now glance briefly at the dis.
bursements, losses and ratio Of losses per
81, coo to the aggregate of disbursements.
In the War, Navy, Pension and Indian
Departments the losses were, under Wash
ington, 80 cents Adams, 81 %; Jefferson,
IS II; Madison, So IA; Monroe, S23 63;
the second Adams, So 81 jackson, 81 10;
Van Buren,, - SIS; Harrison and Tyler,
81 20; Polk, 81 09; Taylor and Fillmore,
Sc OF; Pierce, So 25; Buchanan, 50 u;
Lincoln, 81 70; johnson, 90 cents; Grant,
81 o. Prior to 1861, IS So; since and to
1875, but 81 81 Prior to 1851 the dis
bursements were but ittleover one billion,
but since, to 1875, four and half billions
nearly. But taking the sum totals of dis
bursements and we find the losses charged
to Washington's administration to be but
60 cents Adams, 81 35; Jefferson's,
3 50; Madson's, 81 u; Monroe's,
Sl3 %; the second Adams, s. Is; jack
sons, $40 81 {; Van Buren's, S2l Is; Harri-
son and Tyler's, $40 81 ; Folks IS 30; Tay.
Tor and Fillmore's, 81 81; Pierce's, So Sc;
Buchanan's Sc 9S /; Lincom's, 81 Al john
sons, IS cents and Grants but 50 cents,
or the lowest figure attained since WASH
ington's time Grant disbursed over 81, 000,-
000,0 COO; Washington but about $50, $780,
600. Jackson lost $40 81 on the thousand
in disbursing s223, 800, COO, Pierce s. Sc
with S2S5 500, 900, and Buchanans6 % with
S32S, 1S3, 600. Bat Lincoln, losing but
81 IL, disburged over four billion six hun
bred thousand dollars, and Grant but a
little less.
In conclusion, we cannot do better than
to reproduce the reorganization of the
whole showing, which includes all that we
have gone over, and to submit the figures
as texts for the student of the political his
tory of the country. We have heretofore
enlarged upon the significance OF the table,
and at present refrain from tLc further ex.
tended ANALYSIS IL invites