The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-06-26
From Washington.
Iron our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, June Ia, 1885,

Having entered upon the seventh month
Of the Arst session Of the forty ninth Con
gress, the lower house proposes to make an
effort to crowd the work through within the
time consumed by the session ending July
10Th, 1884 This prospect to the outside
observer 10 not very promising; but those
supposed to direct the majority of the upper
and lower houses say that it can and proba-
bly, will be accomplished. There is already
talk of introducing resolution in the House
fixing June 26th for adjournment, with the
expectation that the date will not be set
more than ten or twelve days beyond that
time.
The president and his wife have under
contemplation tsur Of the northern lakes
with a select party of friends in a chartered
steamer during the summer. 1t is probable
that they will spend some time on the sea-
coast and in the mountain regions after the
adjournment Of Congress, and then 60 to
their old home in Buffalo. According to the
programme they will leave Buffalo some
time in August and make trip which will
include IAhe Erie, hursn and Michigan,
making steps at points Of interest. The
programme NAY be varied or abandoned,
but it is under serious consideration at the
White House and will probably be carried
out. Much will depend upon the date of
the adjournment of Congress. If Congress
does not adjourn before August the President
will, Of course, be detained in Washington,
and his summon cutting, as new proposed,
will be abandoned. 1t is said that the Pres
ident and his wife have never been farther
west than sAs city Of Buffalo. Mr. Cleveland
is quite anxious to make tour of the lakes,
and if he does so the Chicago Iroquois Club,
to which he has standing invitation, will
doubtless entertain him.
There seems to have been very good man
agement displayed in the matter of making
contracts fer psxStfiss supplies during the
eighteen months past, and consequently a
great saving to the Government has been the
result During Judge Gresham's term as
Postmaster General this business became
let which Subsequently proved not to have
been entire business-like transactions. Post
master General Villas is giving special atten-
ton to this class Of work under him, and
together with Third Assistant Postmaster
General Hazen, after much careful labor,
now have binding contracts which, while
they will doubtless yield fair profits to the
contractors, Will al tire same time BE of great
advantage aad benefit to the public at large.
Fake, fer Instance, the contract for stamped
envelopes Just nads by the Postmaster Gen.
eral for the four coming years, commencing
July lst Before advertising for proposals
for these ENVELOPES the Department had a
great deal Of preparatory work to transact,
consisting chiefly Of getting the most ssita-
bic paper for the various styles Of envelopes,
changing the styles of the old ones, and
other work Of similar nature 1t is esti-
mated that there will be ordered by the De-
partment during the coming year 81, 100000
worth of stamped envelopes. If it should
pay for them on the basis of the present
contract . disbursement Of over $780, 600
over and aho~e that sum would be required
The result will therefore be q saving of up.
ward Of million of dollars, or about %
per cent.
Take, ssAia, the contract for supplying
the Department Win postal cards, stamps,
tags, registered packages and dead letter
and official envelopes. This contract was
entered into on the Goth Of June last, and is
to run four years. The first year is near
enough to ~ slsss to enable a very correct
idea being Termed as TO how it has worked
so far and how it Will work for the remain.
ing three years. By the last of this month
it is estimated that the books win show or.
ders by the Department for supplies under
the contract referred to amounting to
81 ,932, 253, $50; and the amount paid for
them will show a decrease Of about % per
cent. in the outlay for postage stamps, about
II per cent. in postal cards, and As per cent.