The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-07-21
Our Washington Letter.
[OuR REauLAR LErTER j

1t is now settlei that the President
will start on his contemplated trip across
the continent to Yellowstone Valley al out
August LIST, If nothing should occur to
interfere with bis present plans. The ar
rangements for the trip are in the hands
of Lieut. Gen. Sheridan. The party will
number about ten persons, and will be
gone FIVE or six weeks. The President
will join Gen. Sheridan and the other
members Of the party at Chicago. 1t is
proposed to GO direct to Yellowstone with
as few stops as possible, The President
has abandoned oil idea of visiting New
port. He will probably remain in Wash
ington until he starts for the West, with
the possible exception Of making occas-
ional short sea trips on the stesmer dis
patch"
The report ef the Academy of Sciences
on Prof. Golfers sorghum experiments
is now printed, and Commissioner Loripg
declares tearfully that he has not kept it
OaCh uhys luo OOlnmishlOneE uhb "
molasses man of his own now, besides a
clairvoyant, and an herb doctor. OF
course they are not distinguished in this
manner In the blue book, but these names
accurately describe their business.
The end of the fiscal year in all the de-
partments of the government is marked
by the adjustment of the accounts with
the government and their fiual closing
out. The ledgers which contain the re-
cerds of the expenditures of the past
year are closed, the accounts balanced,
and the word "Finis" written over the
last page. Unlike the accounts of pri-
vate individual the balancing is not fol-
lowed with the transfer of whatever re-
mains over to the new account which is
opened with the new year. The old
books are closed and the balance returned
to the Treasury, while the amounts ap-
propriated for the new year by Congress
are entered upon the ledgers, and the
new accounts begin. This balance, which
the government claims at the close of IL Q
year, varies all the way from five to eight
million of dollars. These five or eight
million, however, are somewhat dwarfed,
at least in their relative magnitude, " hen
the total amount of the expenditure Is
stated. The figures show that last year
there was expended about 1882, 600, 600,
which represents the total cost of the
Government, including current EXPENSES
and interest on the national debt. How
mUch Of this will be returned to the
Treasury AS u balance, cannot be ascer-
tanned just at present, but the balance
will probably not amount to more than
five or six million. This amount was un-
usually large, owing to the increased
amount for pensions aud the large ap-
preparations for rivers and harbors.
This year it is calculated that the Coy
ernment can struggle along on about
s3lS. 900, 600.
There is nameiess fascination in the
Washington air. The average citizen,
living far removed from the Capital. Of
zen wonders Why the office-holder who
comes to Washington is 50 10th 20 leave
it that he will often stoop to almost any
device TO secure further lease of power,
whether it be four years in the White
House, another term in either end of the
capital or only longer commission in q
petty department clerkship. But when
the citizen comes TO Washington himself,
the mystery is solved. He may not be
able to define them very clearly but he
cannot stay long in the city without
himself experien ing in some measure
those subtle Influences which render tho
Capital so attractive to the permanent
resident. Even to the casual visitor
there is something very interesting about
merely watching the great governmental
machlue or Ii specting its component
parts. The very atmosphere of the Cap
ital, instinct with the official ana social
life that cenlers about the seat of govern
ment in great nation seems TO possess
"a singular charm which disposes one to
linger and enjoy it. The stranger no
longer wonders that the oftice-holder
likes Washington, that he constantly
schemes or an extension of the term !;
that, if finally deposed from power, he
so often prefers the most humble position
here to residence elsewhere.
AUGUST.