The times., 1899-12-30
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE.
Queer Sources of Government Rev
enue During the FfscnI Tear.

cnUe During the Fiscal Tear.
In transacting a business involving ST.
e0o 000,o0O year the Government finds
many peculiar sources Of revenue. and an
equal and larger number OF means of ex-
pcnditure The statement Of the receipts
and expenditures Of the Government for
the last fiscal year. rendered to Congress
by Secretary Gage, shows the smallest
receipt noted to be % cents. the fes for
a Chinamans certificate. From Illegal
fees. presumably not refunded the Govern
nent prOfted TO the extent Of So while the
sweepings of gold from the Treasurer's Of
fee, Washington netted 81. From the ex-
haust steam in the Hooe Building. where
the Geological Survey is hcuse ID, an in
come Cf $I5 was derived while the gas
company at Salt Lake refunded $l2 to the
Government which had been deposited as
security for the payment of the gas bill,
and counterfeit gold coin which fell into
the h9nds OF the Governments netted sl54.
In Alaska enterprising fur merchants
rented certain islands from the Government
for the propagation OF foxes. paying there
for 5000. The tax on seal skins came to
SI,1l6.e1I: penalties under the Chinese
Exclusion act to the amount Of 1924 were
collected; the Government gained 81 63S
by exchange. and 1920 from premium on
exchange and the Crow herd fund
brought in $26.3s5. Persons wanting dis
charges from the Navy and Marine Corps
PAID 50 S6S fer them. and employees of the
United States turned over Sl20 which had
been offered TO them as bribes.
Altogether, the Government had a fairly
prosperous year, its gross revenues, eXclu-
stve Of the postal service. amounting to
S5t5. $50 $50.
1t cost the Government last year 81. H.
4i3 for the Senate and 81. $50. .g11 for the
House OF which the Senate gave It's en-
pioyes S93. SS1 and the House $83,11 as
sratGity in the shape of an extra months
pay Contests for seats in the House cost
Stb.546. Under the caption Expenditures
OF the State Department" is an item for
SZ22 ,s5l Tor the national defence, presum-
ably spent for secret service. Regulating
immigration cost the Treasury Department
S263UI9; scientific investigation OF the fur
seal fisheries S53: for the national defence
the Treasury Department spent SI45, eos:
artificial limbs cost the War Department
%l25,2l4. On the Improvement of harbors
the sum Of H54l, ,6S5 was expended, and
the improvement of rivers cost SI1 $40. $50
more.
The War Department managed to expend
$4,000, 00o for the national defence. excius-
i've Of all other amounts for arms. pay
etc Altogether $232. .Ss5. .365 was expended
D. the War Department, being nearly one-
half the entire expenditures Of the Gov
eTnmeni.
The Navy Department spent $64. .354, 734.
Of which $6,197, 701 went for the national
defence and So S56. .262 as an emergency
fund. II may be of interest to know that
the reindeer in Alaska, or destined for
Alaska, cost the Government last year the
enormous sum Of S1.152 GOG. In pensions
The Government spent S139, ,394, 929. The
Indiana cost $l2 sos. I'll. The total reve-
nucs Of the Government including those
from the postal service. we're S610, $50, 004.
and the expenditures 500 Oe3. .564. Of which
S259. 9.236,1S4. or considerably more than
hair. went for pensions and the expenses
of the War Department