The expenditures of all kinds for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1866, are estimated at $14,098,500 00
The gross revenue for the year 1866, including foreign
postage and miscellaneous receipts, is estimated at
an increase of six per cent. on the revenue of 1864,
making 13,184,547 79
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Estimated deficiency of revenue compared with estimated
expenditures 913,952 21
From this sum must be deducted the amount of the
permanent appropriations to compensate the department
for carrying free mail-matter, under acts of
March 3, 1847, and March 3, 1851 700,000 00
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By which the estimated deficiency is reduced to $213,952 21
The grants for the transportation of free mail-matter for the last two
fiscal years have not been expended. Assuming that the amount of
$700,000 for the last year is still available, no appropriation for any
deficiency in the revenues will be required.
In making the estimate of probable expenditures for 1866, the amounts
actually expended under the several heads during the past fiscal year
have been taken as a basis; but an increase in several of the items
named has become necessary, particularly in the appropriation for
postage-stamps and stamped envelopes, the estimated cost of the latter
being increased $140,000 per annum, according to the terms of a new
contract elsewhere referred to in this report.
_IMPORTANT FACTS._
The maximum annual receipts of the postal department, previous to the
rebellion, from all the States was $8,518,067.40, which was exceeded in
the sum of $6,038,091.30 by the receipts of the last year from the
loyal States alone. The revenues during the past four years amounted to
$46,458,022.97, an average of $11,614,505.74 per annum. Compared with
the receipts of the four years immediately preceding, which amounted to
$32,322,640.73, the annual average increase of revenue was
$3,533,845.56, which has not resulted from any considerable additions to
the service, the ratio of receipts to expenditures having been larger
than, with few exceptions, at any previous period. A proper regard to
economy in administration, aided by larger contributions from all the
States of the Union, will enable the department to increase its
usefulness from year to year in all its legitimate functions. But it
must not be overlooked that the ability to fully perform its mission as
the postal agent of the Government is greatly impaired by the burdens
imposed by the franking privilege and expensive service upon routes
established for other than postal purposes, the receipts from which are
largely unremunerative. However much the establishment of these routes
is to be commended for national objects, in which regard they command
the approval of the country, it is not possible to see upon what
principle they are wholly chargeable to the postal fund, which belongs
to those by whom it has been contributed, and is pledged to meet the
wants of the postal service.