The Nevada picayune., 1885-07-23
THE DEPARTMENTS.
Signalizing Themselves in Making
 Much Needed Reforms.
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 17, 'S5

The president, Secretaries Man. ming. Lamar, and Postmaster Gen. eral Villas left the city on Saturday afternoon to spend Sunday at the club house of the Woodmont Rod and Gun Club. The distinguished party spent the Sabbath very qui- etly in a wild sylvan retreat of 5000 acres owned by the club, and returned much refreshed on Mon day.
 The president has been working too many hours. He has been sit ting up too late at night in order to dispose of the vast number of applications for office that await his attention. He is not exhaust ed, but is very tired. Last week he saw visitors only on three days Monday, Wednesday and Fri day-and experienced consldera- ble relief from the pressure that had been put upon him.
 The appointment of Mir. Steven son of Illinois first assistant post master general is one of the most fortunate selections that the pres ent administration has made. He has attacked the large arrears of business with such energy that in the short space of week over 2000 new appointments has been made. To dispatch such bulk of details with such general approval, and absence of ground for cavil, in dicatcs executive ability of a high order. The position of first assls- tant postmaster general has be- come, owing to the immense growth of the service. one of the most i'm portant under the government, and it is pleasure to know that it is not filled by a Hatton or a Tyner, but in way to reflect credit on the country and the Democratic party.
 Postmaster General Villas met Mir. Stevenson at the Chicago con- yention. Each was strongly i'm pressed in favor of the other, and they have been warm friends ever since. Mir. Stevenson represented his district in the Forty-fourtll and Forty sixth Congresses. He has since been practicing law in Bloom ington, Iii. He is forty-eight years of age, vigorous and able. Many pubhc men have been made his friends by his genial and at tractive disposition as well as by his solid worth.
 The ex.First Assistant P0stmas- ter General HalcOlm Hay has gone to Colorado in nope that his feeble frame may be strengthened by the climate. It is well known that after he was appointed four months ago he went South for his health. i When he returned here to under take hls official duties the disburs- ! ing clerk handed him his salary 1 for two months. MT. Hay declin- l ed to receive the'money, saying he had not earned it, and by his di- rection the amount Of his salary for these two months of absense from his desk was covered into the treasury.
 Secretary Whitney's idea Of re- form is to reform. He does not rest content with one good deed we'll done. He recently brought from New York an expert account ant who has devised a new method of book keeping for the bureaus of the navy department. Hereafter each item of the naval appropria- ton will have its separate account and by this means the balance re- maining to each specific appropria' | ton can be seen at glance. The displaced system is no system at all, but an nnwieldy accumulation of different methods to which each change of regime has added it's l quota of confusion.
 Secretasy Whitney is giving tho enemies of good government a great deal of annoyance. He re- fuses to except without question the worthless ship contracts Of his Republican predecessors. When he wishes to go to sea on the rag ing Potomac he hires his boat, and does not use government ship, He has abrogatcd the rule fcrdid- ding officers to allow their wives to follow them to distant ports. lie ra,con Cor, ohrnootin IF this rui a