which the printing cost $31,285 32, and the stationery $7,061 77; and those of the House, $199,219 57,-of which the printing cost $65,086 46, and the stationery, $36,352 99. The aggregate expenses of the two Houses together rose from $50,690 02, to $276,666; being an actual increase of 54 to 1,-and an increase, in proportion to population, of about 7.2 to 1. But enormous as this increase is, the fact that the number of members had increased not more than about ten per cent. from 1823 to 1840, is calculated to make it still more strikingly so. Had the increase kept pace with the increase of members (and there is no good reason why it should greatly exceed it), the expenditures would have risen from $50,690 to $55,759 only,—making an increase of but $5,069; but, instead of this, it rose to $276,666, making an increase of $225,970. To place the subject in a still more striking view, the contingent expenses in 1823 were at the rate of $144 per member,which one would suppose was ample,-and in 1840, $942. This vast increase took place under the immediate eyes of Congress; and yet we were told at the extra session, by the present Chairman of the Finance Committee, that there was no room for economy, and that no reduction could be made; and even in this discussion he has intimated that little can be done. Enormous as are the contingent expenses of the two Houses, I infer from the very great increase of expenditures under the head of civil list generally, when so large a portion is for fixed salaries, which have not been materially increased for the last seventeen years, that they are not much less so throughout the whole range of this branch of the public service.

I shall now proceed to the other item, which I have selected for more particular examination, the increased expenses of collecting the duties on imports. In 1823 it was $766,699 -equal to 3.86 per cent. on the amount collected, and 98 on the aggregate amount of imports; and in 1840

it had increased to $1,542,319 24,-equal to 14:13 per cent. on the amount collected, and to 1:58 on the aggregate amount of the imports ;-being an actual increase of nearly a million, and considerably more than double the amount of 1823. In 1839 it rose to $1,714,515.

From these facts, there can be little doubt that more than a million annually may be saved under the two items of contingent expenses of Congress and the collection of the customs, without touching the other items comprised under the civil list, the executive and judicial departments, the foreign intercourse, light-houses, and miscellaneous. It would be safe to put down a saving of at least a half million for these.

I shall now pass to the military, with which I am more familiar. I propose to confine my remarks almost entirely to the army proper, including the Military Academy, in reference to which the information is more full and minute. I exclude the expenses incident to the Florida war, and the expenditures for the Ordnance, the Engineer, the Topographical, the Indian, and the Pension Bureaus. Instead of 1823, for which there is no official and exact statement of the expenses of the army, I shall take 1821, for which there is one made by myself, as Secretary of War, and for the minute correctness of which, I can vouch. It is contained in a report made under a call of the House of Representatives, and comprises a comparative statement of the expenses of the army proper, for the years 1818, 1819, 1820, and 1821, respectively, and an estimate of the expense of 1822. It may be proper to add (which I can with confidence), that the comparative expense of 1823, if it could be ascertained, would be found to be not less favorable than 1821. It would probably be something more so.

With these remarks I shall begin with a comparison, in the first place, between 1821 and the estimate for the army proper for this year. The average aggregate strength of the army in the year 1821, including officers, professors, cadets,

and soldiers, was 8,109,-and the proportion of officers,— including the professors of the Military Academy,-to the soldiers, including cadets, was 1 to 12:18, and the expenditure $2,180,093 53,* equal to $263 91 for each individual. The estimate for the army proper for 1842, including the Military Academy, is $4,453,370 16. The actual strength of the army, according to the return accompanying the message at the opening of the session, was 11,169. Assuming this to be the average strength for this year, and adding for the average number of the Academy, professors and cadets, 300, it will give, within a very small fraction, $390 for each individual, making a difference of $136 in favor of 1821. How far the increase of pay, and the additional expense of two regiments of dragoons, compared with other descriptions of troops, would justify this increase, I am not prepared to say. In other respects, I should suppose, there ought to be a decrease rather than an increase; as the price of clothing, provisions, forage, and other articles of supply, as well as transportation, are, I presume, cheaper than in 1821. The proportion of officers to soldiers, I would suppose to be less in 1842 than in 1821, and, of course, as far as that has influence, the expense of the former ought to be less per man than the latter. With this brief and imperfect comparison between the expense of 1821 and the estimates for this year, I shall proceed to a more minute and full comparison between the former and the year 1837. I select that year, because the strength of the army, and the proportion of officers to men (a very material point as it relates to the expenditure) is almost exactly the same.

On turning to Document 165 (H. R. 2d sess. 26th Con.) a letter will be found from the then Secretary of War (Mr. Poinsett), giving a comparative statement, in detail, of the expense of the army proper, including the Military Academy

* See Document 38, (H. R.) 1st session, 17th Congress.

for the years 1837, 1838, 1839, and 1840. The strength of the army for the first of these years, including officers, professors, cadets, and soldiers, was 8,107,-being two less than in 1821. The proportion of officers and professors, to the cadets and soldiers, 11.46,-being '72 more than in 1821. The expenditure for 1837, $3,308,011, being $1,127,918 more than for 1821. The cost per man, including officers, professors, cadets, and soldiers, was in 1837 $408 03, exceeding that of 1821, $144 12 per man. It appears by the letter of the Secretary, that the expenses per man rose, in 1838, to $46435; but it is due to the head of the department, at the time, to say, that it declined under his administration, the next year, to $381 65, and in the subsequent, to 380 63. There is no statement for the year 1841; but as there has been a falling off in prices, there ought to be a proportionate reduction in the cost ;-especially during the present year, when there is a prospect of so great a decline in almost every article which enters into the consumption of the army. Assuming that the average strength of the army will be kept equal to the return accompanying the President's message and that the expenditure of the year should be reduced to the standard of 1821, the expense of the army would not exceed $2,895,686,-making a difference, compared with the estimates, of $1,557,684; but this from the increase of pay, and the greater expense of the dragoons, cannot be expected. Having no certain information how much the expenses are necessarily increased from these causes, I am not prepared to say what ought to be the actual reductions; but unless the increase of pay, and the increased cost because of the dragoons are very great, it ought be very considerable.

I found the expense of the army in 1818, including the Military Academy, to be $3,702,495—a cost of $451 57 per man, including officers, professors, cadets, and soldiers; and reduced it in 1821 to $2,180,098a cost of $263 91, and

making a difference between the two years, in the aggregate expenses of the army, of $1,522,397, and $185 66 per man. There was, it is true, a great fall in prices in the interval; but allowing for this, by adding to the price of every article entering into the supplies of the army a sum sufficient to raise it to the price of 1818, there was still a difference in the cost per man of $163 95. This great reduction was effected without stinting the service or diminishing the supplies, either in quantity or quality. They were, on the contrary, increased in both, especially the latter. It was effected through an efficient organization of the staff, and the co-operation of the able officers placed at the head of each of its divisions. The cause of the great expense at the former period, was found to be principally in the neglect of public property, and the application of it to uses not warranted by law. There is less scope, doubtless, for reformation in the army now. I cannot doubt, however, but that the universal extravagance which has pervaded the country for so many years, and which has increased so greatly the expenses both of Government and individuals, has left much room for reform in this, as well as other branches of the service.

In addition to the army, there are many other and heavy branches of expenditure embraced under the military head— fortifications, ordnance, Indians, and pensions—the expenditures of which, taken in the aggregate, greatly exceed the army; the expense of all of which, for the reason to which I have alluded, may, doubtless, be much reduced.

On turning to the navy, I have not been able to obtain information which would enable me to make a similar comparison between the two periods, in reference to that important arm of defence; but I hope, when the information is received which has been called for by the Senator from Maine (Mr. Williams), ample data will be obtained to enable me to do so on some future occasion. In place of it, I propose to give a comparative statement of the expense of