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 of 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. The subjoined table illustrates the misapplication of the postal fund: These are instructive facts, showing how largely the revenues of this department are drawn upon for general objects of administration not properly chargeable to the postal fund. If to this be added the revenue which would accrue upon "free matter," charged with existing rates of postage, less the sum annually appropriated therefor, it is estimated that not less than two millions of dollars per annum are lost to the department, preventing an enlargement of mail accommodations to that extent in those States from which the postal revenues are mainly derived. Respectfully submitted: The PRESIDENT. WILLIAM DENNISON, SELECTIONS FROM DOCUMENTS ACCOMPANYING REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL. Exhibit of annual receipts and expenditures from January 1, 1831, to June Period of time. 30, 1865. Receipts. Expenditures. Excess of expenditures. $2,048, 529 60 2, 643, 711 37 3, 004, 554 54 2, 953, 191 23 2,585, 108 30 1,377, 247 77 3,544, 630 28 4, 430, 662 21 4,636, 536 31 4,718, 235 64 4,499, 527 61 5,674, 751 76 4,374, 753 71 4,296, 512 70 4,320,731 99 4,084, 332 42 3,971, 275 12 4,326, 850 27 4,479,049 13 5, 212, 953 43 6,278, 401 68 7, 108, 459 04 7,982, 756 59 8,577, 424 12 9,968, 342 29 10, 405, 286 36 11, 508, 057 93 12, 722, 470 01 11, 458, 083 63 19, 170, 609 99 13, 606, 759 11 11, 125, 364 13 Excess of $53, 799 98 567, 268 18 119, 109 81 226, 127 15 $177,602 65 285,691 31 72, 151 94 191, 928 75 151,879 61 174, 713 72 91,801 34 645, 245 11 78,528 28 59, 224 87 165, 772 42 Fiscal year ending June 30, 1837. Do... Do.. Do.. Do ..30, 1838. ..30, 1839. .30, 1840.. .30, 1841. Do .30, 1842. Do. .30, 1843. Do.. .30, 1844.. 861, 430 42 3,427,906 81 47,864, 893 93 4,296, 225 43 4, 237, 287 83 4,439, 841 80 4,089, 089 97 4, 013, 447 14 4, 161, 077 85 4,705, 176 28 5,499,984 86 6, 410, 604 33 5, 184, 526 84 5,240, 724 70 6,255, 586 22 6,642, 136 13 6,920,821 66 7,353, 951 76 7,486, 792 86 7,968, 484 07 8,518,067 40 8,349, 296 40 8, 299, 820 90 11, 163, 789 59 |