An agreement was reached at Paris in 1875 between the principal powers for the interchange of official publications through the medium of their respective foreign departments.
The admirable system which has been built up by the enterprise of the Smithsonian Institution affords a practical basis for our cooperation in this scheme, and an arrangement has been effected by which that institution will perform the necessary labor, under the direction of the Department of State. A reasonable compensation therefor should be provided by law.
A clause in the act making appropriations for the diplomatic and consular service contemplates the reorganization of both branches of such service on a salaried basis, leaving fees to inure to the benefit of the Treasury. I cordially favor such a project, as likely to correct abuses in the present system. The Secretary of State will present to you at an early day a plan for such reorganization.
A full and interesting exhibit of the operations of the Treasury Department is afforded by the report of the Secretary.
It appears that the ordinary revenues from all sources for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1882, were as follows:
From customs $220,410,730.25 From internal revenue 146,497,595.45 From sales of public lands 4,753,140.37 From tax on circulation and deposits of national banks 8,956,794.45 From repayment of interest by Pacific Railway companies 840,554.37 From sinking fund for Pacific Railway companies 796,271.42 From customs fees, fines, penalties, etc. 1,343,348.00 From fees—consular, letters patent, and lands 2,638,990.97 From proceeds of sales of Government property 314,959.85 From profits on coinage, bullion deposits, and assays 4,116,693.73 From Indian trust funds 5,705,243.22 From deposits by individuals for surveying public lands 2,052,306.36 From revenues of the District of Columbia 1,715,176.41 From miscellaneous sources 3,383,445.43 ______________ Total ordinary receipts 403,525,250.28
The ordinary expenditures for the same period were—
For civil expenses
$18,042,386.42
For foreign intercourse
1,307,583.19
For Indians
9,736,747.40
For pensions
61,345,193.95
For the military establishment, including river
and
harbor improvements, and arsenals
43,570,494.19
For the naval establishment, including vessels,
machinery, and improvements at navy-yards
15,032,046.26
For miscellaneous expenditures, including public
buildings, light-houses, and collecting the revenue
34,539,237.50
For expenditures on account of the District of Columbia
3,330,543.87
For interest on the public debt
71,077,206.79
______________
Total ordinary expenditures
257,981,439.57