Page:A Study of Mexico.djvu/198

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CHAPTER IX.
The Federal budget — Receipts and expenditures — Principal sources of national revenue — Foreign commerce — Coinage of the Mexican mints — Imports and exports — The United States the largest customer for Mexican products — Silver monometallism in Mexico — Its inconveniences and abandonment — Introduction of paper money — Sanitary conditions of Mexico — Terrible mortality of the cities of Mexico and Vera Cruz.

The Federal budget, in respect to expenditures for the fiscal year 1886-'87, as reported by President Diaz to the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, was as follows:

Congress. $1,052,144
Executive Department. 49,251
Judiciary. 434,892
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 419,828
Ministry of Interior. 3,539,364
Ministry of Justice. 1,333,696
Ministry of Public Works. 4,711,771
Ministry of Finance. 12,004,270
Ministry of War and Navy. 12,464,500
Total. $36,009,716

The estimates of receipts were uncertain. It was hoped, if business recovered, that they would reach $33,000,000; and the Government promised