The Departments — expenses of the army — counterfeiting&
Some interesting information is gleaned from the reports of the Departments accompanying the
President's Message to Congress.
In the post department, the receipts for ten months ending June 30, 1860, exceed those of the late
United State for the same time, $59,921, and the cost of service was reduced by the sum of $1,515,829. In the Treasury, up to the 1st of August, 62, the receipts were $302,535,196 and the expenses $328,748,830--the difference of $26,193,634 being made up of various balances to the credit of disbursing officers, which are not yet paid.
The war tax has been by the several States as follows:
North Carolina, $1,400,000;
Virginia, $2,125,000;
Louisiana, $2,500,000;
Alabama, $3,000,000;
Georgia, $434,126;
Florida, $225,374, and
Mississippi, $1,484,467--making a total of $10,168,967.
South Carolina has paid her quota in the form of 6 per cent' call certificates;
Arkansas and
Texas have not been rendered complete.
North Carolina and
Alabama have overpaid their respective assessments.
From the estimates for 31 days.--the month of December--we find that the monthly pay of the army is, field and staff, $220,225; 25 regiments of cavalry, $2,265,177; 100 companies of artillery, $435,152. and 350 regiments of infantry, $9,221,567; for 14,725,000 rations for the same, $6,600,481.--Transportation, &c., $4,368,758; pay for horses of non- commissioned officers and privates killed in battle, $25,000; subsistence of prisoners of war, $290,000; for the establishment, supply, and those attending in hospitals, $537,500; Ordnance office, $2,200,000; Engineer Bureau, $200,000; Post-Office Department, $744,251, (for the
P. M. General, chiefs of Bureaus, clerks, messengers and laborers;) for postal affairs, $138,051; Navy Department, $1,825; contingent expenses of Navy, $1,000.
The
Secretary of the Treasury alludes in his report to the fearful prevalence of counterfeiting Confederate notes, and says:
‘
Under these circumstances it will be necessary to change many of the plates and to make new issues.
The change would be more complete by dispensing with the variety of signatures which are attached to the other notes.
I am informed by the engravers that the signatures of the Register and Treasurer might be engraved in
fac simile, and printed, and that by stamping an elaborate engraving in colors on the back of the note the security against counterfeits would be greater than it is at present.
The expense of the issue would be diminished by dispensing with the numerous signing clerks, and its more prompt execution would be secured.
In order to make this change the authority of Congress is necessary.
The laws against counterfeiting (If not already sufficient) must be made to embrace these notes.
In this connection, too, it is proper to bring to the notice of Congress that the penalties of the law, while they apply to any person found in possession of counterfeit blank notes, with intent to utter them, do not seem to embrace notes which are completely filled up and ready for circulation.
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