I2, m ° #<7?3 Duke University Libraries Hu) /#£ D03212479S MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT. Richmond, Va., Feb. 17, 1S63. To the Sena'c and House of Representative*: I herewith transmit a Report of the Postmaster General, supple- mental to liia report submitted to Congress at the opening of the present session, to which I invite your special attention. JEFFERSOft DAVIS. *-97 y SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL. Postoffice Department. ) Richmond, February 12, 18G3. \ To the President : S.r: At the opening of the present session of Congress, I did not submit estimates for appropriations for this department for the fiscal year from the 1st July, 1863. to the 3 >th June, 18G4, because I had not at that time the means of determining the effect which the act of the 19th of April last, establishing a uniform" rate of letter postage of ten cents, from and after the 1st July last, and the act of the 21st of the same month, reducing the rates of commissions to be allowed to postmasters as compensation for their services, which was also to go into operation on the 1st July last, would have on the revenues of the department. And the information necessary to tho preparation of these estimates, is also necessary to enable Congress to determine the sum which will be required, if any, in addition to the current reve- nues of the department, to keep up the postal service. The accounts of the department for tho quarter which ended the 30th September last, being the first quarter after the above named laws went into effect, have now been made up; and I am enabled, on the data furnished by them, to present revised estimates for the present fiscal year, and to submit the necessary estimates for appropriations for the next fiscal year. The actual expenditures for the year which ended the 30th June last were $2,924,290 48 The actual receipts for the same year were 1,91 1,189 05 Excess of expenditures, $1,013,101 43 The estimated expenditures heretofore submitted for the present fiscal year, ending the 3Dth of next June, arc §3,37G.2G8 99 Estimated receipts for same year, l,!Ml,18) 05 Estimated excess of expenditures, $I,4G5,079 94 Unexpended balance of nppropriati >ns from the Genera] Treasury to meet this excess, 1. 470. 233 45 Which would leave an estimated balance in the Treasury to the credit of the Postoffice De- partment, at the end of the present fiscal real of $11,15$ 51 The revenues of the department for the quarter which ended tho 8 th September List, being the first quarter of the cirivnt fiscal year, and the first quarter after the above named laws, increasing the letter postage, and reducing the commissions of postmasters, went into effect, were : From letter postage paid in money, $184,208 13 from postage on newspapers and pamphlets paid in money, 45 243 28 From surplus of emoluments from box rents, 24 00 From postage stamps sold, 487.71)3 58 Making, $7 1 7.27 4 98 If th'13 rate of receipts should continue for the remaining three ? 'Barters, it would produce an aggiegate of receipts For the year, of wo millions eight hundred and sixty-nine thousand ninety-nine dollars and ninety-six cents, (2.869,093 96); being an estimated increase, baaed on the actual returns of the first quarter of the current fboal year, over the actual receipts of the year, which ended June 30, I S(J 2, •nd which formed the basis of my former estimate for this year, of nine hundred and fifty-seven thousand nine hundred and ten dollars and ninety-one cents ($957,910 91). Notwithstanding the reduc- tion of the rates of commissions paid to postmasters as compensation for their services, the estimated increase of receipts for p istages for the current fiscal year, based upon the actual receipts and commissions for the quarter which ended the 30th September last, it is estimated will increase their compensation eighty.- eight thousand two hundred and Thirty-eight dollars and ninety three cents. ($88,238 93.) for the year. Deducting this sum from the estimated increase of receipts for the present year, resuling from the increased rates of postage, and the reduced rates of commissions allowed to postmasters, would leave a nett estimated inert ase of eight hundred and sixty-nine thousand six hundred and seventy-two dollars and one cent, ($863,672 * * 1 > _ This latter sum is to be added to the former estimate submitted by me of the revenues of the department for the current fiscal year, and sub- tracted from the former estimated deficiency of one million four hun- dred and sixty-five thousand seventy-nine dollars and ninety four Cents, ($1,465,079 94,) and reduces that deficiency, which was based on the receipts of last year, to five hundred and ninety-five thousand four hundred and seven dollars and ninety-three cents, ($5)5. I'i7 93). This correction of my former estimate of the receipts and expendi- tures of the current fiscal year, requires that the sum of eight hun- dred and sixty-nine thousand six hundred and seventy-two dollars and one cent, ($869,672 01,) shall be added to the sum of eleven thousand one hundred and fifty-three dollars and fifty-one cents, (§11,153 51,) which it whs then estimated would remain in the Treasury to the credit of this department at the end of the year, and shows that the estimated amount which will remain in the Treasury to the credit of this department at the end of the present fiscal year, will be eight hundred and eighty thousand eight hundred and twenty-five dollar* and forty-nine cents, ($880, 825 43). It is possible that a larger amount of postage stamps may have bee* Bold and absorbed as currency duiiug the first quarter of this year than the average sales for the three remaining quarters; and if 60, this will, to that extent, affect the accuracy of this, estimate. Ad4 the available revenues of the Department may be in some degree affected by the success of the Auditor, in their collection and use in payment for the service. In view of the foregoing results from the operations of the acts referred to, I beg leave to submit revised estimates in detail of the receipts and expenditures of the Department for the year ending June 30, 1863, and also for the year ending June 30, 1864. Estimated Expenditures for the year ending June 30, 1863; For transportation of the mails, §2,493,383 81 " Compensation of Postmasters, 753,966 60 Clerks in Postoffices, 98,8215$ " Ship, steamboat and way letters, 777 09 <; Advertising, 6,879 0$ " Mail bags, 714 77 " Office furniture, • 81 81 " Pda:,ks and printing, 30,00 II 00 " Wrapping paper and twine 8,000 00 " Mail depredations and special agents, ■ 25,2! '6 50 " Miscellaneous payments, 17,112 111 " Postage stamps, 22,869 50 " Mail locks, keys and rating stamps, 689 4'J §3,464,5)7 92 ■v< Estimated Receipts for the year ending June 30, 1863: From letter postage, paid in money, $736,832 52 " Newspapers and pamphlets, ' 180,973 12 " Surplus emoluments from box rents, 96 00 " Postage stamps, 1,951,198 33 $2,869,099 96 Estimated excess of expenditures, $595,4 '7 9l Amount carried forward, §595,407 C| Amount brought forward. $505,407 96 Amount of appropriations remaining to the credit of the Department on the 3 Hli June, 1862, $682,806 93 To balance of appropriation under act of April 3d, 1868, :n per es- 'timate of March llth, 1862, 532,-211 74 Amount appropriated l»y act of Oc- tober 9, 1863. 13 >,607 39 Amount appropriated l»y act of Oc- tober 13, 1863, 130,607 39 $1,476,233 15 Which would leave n balance in the treasury to the credit of the Department at the end of the current •fiscal year, of . 880,825 49 Estimated Expenditures for yf.au ending June 30, 1864: I&r transportation of mails, $2,8011,164 0B " Compensation of postmasters, 750,966 60 " " of clerks in postoffices, 98,821 29 " Ship, steamboat and way letters, 777 09 " Advertising, 6,879 03 " Mail bags, 711 77 " Office furniture, 81 81 " Blanks and printing, 30,01)0 (10 " Wrapping paper and twine, 8,000 00 " Mail depredations and special agents, 25,206 50 J* Miscellaneous payments^ 17,112 07 " Postage stamps, 22,819 5 ) " Mail locks, keys, and rating stamps, 6S9 40 Estimated Receipts for the year ending June 30, 1864: From letter postage, paid in money, $736,832 52 " Newspaper and pamphlet postage, 180,973 12 f* Surplus emoluments from box rents, 96 00 " Postage stamps, 1,951,198 32 $3,771,282 14 $2,869,090 96 Estimated excess of expenditures, $902,182 18 Deduct amount of estimated unexpended balance re- maining in the treasury to the credit of the De- partment on 30th June, 1863, 880,825 49 Estimated deficiency for year ending 30th June, 1864, $21,356 69 The estimates of expenditures for the year ending T unc 30, 1864, are greater by the sum of three hundred and six thousand seven hun- dred and seventy-four dollars and twenty-two cents, (3'6,774 22.) than the estimated expenditures of the present year. This results from an increase of the estimated cost of transportation, made in con- sequence of the facts that contracts for carrying the mails for the next four years from the 1st of July next, are to be made during the coming spring in the States of Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro- lina, Georgia and Florida. The present cost of transportation in these States other than by railroads is three hundred and six thousand seven hundred and sev:nty-four dollars and twenty-two cents, ($3'.)6,- 774 22.) per annum. On account of the augmented prices of every thing, and of the fact that the competition for the new contracts will bj reduced in consequence of mail contractors, their drivers and riders, who are liable to miliary duty, being now required to go into the army, it is deemed advisable to add in the estimates for next year one hundred per cent, to the present cost of transportation other than by railroads in these States. The estimated deficiency for the next fiscal year of twenty-one thousand three hundred and fifty-six dollars and sixty-nine cents, ($21,366 69), may be met without an appropriation from the general treasury, if Congress will enact laws to carry in^o effect the recom- mendations made in the report which I had the honor to submit on the 12th of January last, recommending an increase of the postage on newspapers, and the repeal of the law authorizing newspaper exchanges to be carried free of postage, to which recommendations attention is respectfully called. It is estimated that if the changes therein recom- mended are made, they will produce an increase of the receipts of the Department of sixty or seventy thousand dollars per annum. If these changes should be made, it will only be necessary for Congress to ap- propriate the revenues of the Department arising from postage for the fiscal year ending June 3D, I8G 1. If they arc not made, it will bencces- sary fur Congress to provide the sum of twenty-one thous md three hun- dred and fifty-si x dollars and sixty -nine cents, ($2 ! ,.">oG 6'J), to cover the estimited deficiency of revenues for that rear, or for the Depart- ment to curtail the service so as to avoid the expenditure of that amount . It will be seen from the foregoing that, from the fid heretofore given thi-i Department by appropriations from the general treasury, its operations may be carried on until the 3 )th of June, 18 n 4. if allowed to use the full amount of the appropriations heretofore made; and will secure another year in which to ascertain whether the De- partment can be sustained by its own revenues. • By reference to the estimates submitted by me, on the 31st Decem- ber la it, it will be seen that in consequence of the failure of Congress to appropriate the accruing revenues of the Department, the accounts for the \\m'.\\ year which ended < n the 3 )th June, 1862, cannot be closed un:il an appropriation of two hundred and seventy-six thou- sand three hundred and fifty five dollars and twenty-three cents, (§276 355 23), of the accrued revenues of that year slwdl be appro- priated This resultel from the fact that no appropriation of the accruing revenues of the Department has been made to a later date 8 than the 1st of March, 1S62. And hence, though in fact it has hcen osiBg its accruing revenues in anticipation of their being appropriated, if now called on to close the accounts of the Department without further legislation, it would appear that the entire amount of appro- priations heretofore made from the general treasury, in aid of its revenues, has hcen already expended, and that the amount to be expended between this and the 30th of June. 1864, according to the foregoing estimates, would have to he paid out of the accruing revenues of the Department hereafter to be appropriated. In consequence of the failure of Congress to appropriate the accruing revenues .of the Department, I have not been enabled, by the use of covering warrants* to place them in the treasury, as required by the 1st section of the act of July 2, 1S3G, 4, to change the organization of the Postoffice Department, and to provide more effectually for the settlement of the accounts thereof," so as to use them in payment of its liabilities. This will appear more fully by the following exhibit of appropriations and expenditures up to the 31st of December, 1862. The appropriations and expenditures of the Department from tho 1st of June, 1SG1, to December 31st, 1862, arc as follows, viz: APPROPRIATIONS. Amount of revenues appropriated by act approved 16th March, 1861, • §1,727,213 49 Amount of grant from the general trea- sury by same act, $320,060 36 Amount of grant from the general trea- sury by act approved 29th of August, 1861; 500,000 00 Amount of grant from the general trea- sury by act approved April 3, 1862, 1,451,602 31 Amount of grant from the general trea- sury by act approved October 9, 1862, * 130,607 39 Amount of grant from the general trea- sury by aet approved October 13, 1862, 130,607 39 Total of grants, ' 2,532,877 45 Aggregate of revenues and grants appropriated, $1,260,(195 94 EXPENDITURES. Amount of expenditures during the month of June, 1861, as exhibited in Auditor's statement, submit- ted January 12, 1863, $135,927 24 Amount of expenditures between tho 1st of July, 1861, and 30th June, 1862, as exhibited in same report, 2,921,290 43 Estimated amount of expenditures between the 1st of July, 1862, and December 31, 1S62, as based upon the revised estimates for the current year, herein- before set forth, 1 ,732,253 96 Aggregate of expenditures, 4,793,471 68 Deduct amount of appropriations, 4,260,095 94 Iteming; $632,37,3 74 For which no appropriation has yet been made. In view of the foregoing, if not otherwise directed by the action of Congress, I shall treat the appropriations heretofore made from the general treasury, in aid of the revenues of this department, as having been expended, and use the accruing revenues, which have accumu- lated in consequence of not having been heretofore appropriated, in payment of its liabilities for this and the succeeding year. The tabular statement prepare I by the Auditor, and hereto annexed, shows in detail, and by States, under the appropriate heads, the amount of revenues collected, and the cost of their collection, for the quarter which ended the 30th September, 1862.- This revision of my former estimates and submission f estimates for the next fiscal year, makes it necessary for Congress to appropriate the following amounts from the accruing revenues of the department. For the year which ended June 30th, 18G2, $ 276,355 23 For the current fiscal year ending June 30th 1863, 2.869.K99 96 For the fiscal year ending June 3'Jth, 1S64, 2,869,099 96 I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, JOHN H. REAGAN, Postmaster G.nera*. 11 _ vc I- cc — — DC l~ c S3 Cl 3 : . 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