Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-10-29
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 1886.

1
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 1886.
The executive departments were
represented at the cabinent meeting
Thursday. Secretary Manning was
the only absent member, and Mr..
Fairchild appeared in his stead.
1t was nearly seven months ago
that Secretary Manning was carried
out OF the Treasury Department in an
unconscious condition. About noon
on Thursday last he went to the de-
partment, and again took charge Of
his office. He is quite active, has an
excellent color, and says he feels better
than he has for long time. Those
who saw him a week or two ago are
astonished at the improvement in his
appearance since then. He seemed
glad to get back and was pleased with
the care that had been taken to insure
his comfort. Mr.. Youmans has had
his rooms put in perfect order, and
the plumbing in his private office
fixed so that everything was clean and
pure. He began work on the mail
that lay on his desk and looked cheer
full and well contented at being able
to take up again the work he desires
to make perfect. 1t was thought ad-
yisable that he should not be disturbed,
and no visiters were permitted to see
him, even the chiefs of the divisions
rcfraining from calling. He comes
back to work with the determination
of staying at the head of the depart
ment until the end OF Mr.. Cleveland's
term. The temptation to retire to lis
home in Albany and to perfect rest,
was great; but he said his work mt the
department was not yet finished, and
there We're many plans that he was
ambitious to carry out. He takes up
the burden of official duty because
he thinks he secs many things he can
do for the good of the Administration
and of the public. The country will
not be entirely a loser by his sickness.
During his confinement he has devoted
much thought to the department and
sketched out many things he intends
to accomplish. In fact he has thought
out nearly all his plans for the future
! management of the department and is
eager to pat them into execution. His
assistants and friends in the depart
ment are determined, however, that in
his eagerness he shall not again over
tax his strength if they can prevent it.
He has been constantly informed as
to department matters, and Of late
has been occupied with his annual re-
port. He has given much thought to
this, and it is said that his absence
from the department is amply COM
pensated for by the attention it has
enabled him to bestow on this docu-
ment 1t will be valuable state pa
per, it is said, and will contain many
important suggestions to Congress.
The report OF the Secretary of the
Treasury will show that in spite of an
increased expenditure for pensions,
amounting to over $S,OOO,OOO, the
treasury surplus continues to increase
in remarkable manner. The state
ment of receipts and expenditures for
the last four months shows that the
revenues are considerably larger than
they were a year ago. With the care
full and economical management which
Democratic Administration insures,
and with the general improvement in
business throughout the country, the
financial condition of the country is
more encouraging than at any time in
its history.
President Cleveland yesterday issued
a formal proclamation restoring the
discriminating duties levied upon pro-
ducts of Cuba and Porto Rico brought
under the Spanish flag which were
suspended by the proclamation of
President Arthur OH the 14th of Feb
ruary, 1884. The suspension is re-
voked, to take effect on the 25th of
October. This proclamation is made
necessary by the fact that evidence
has been presented to the President
convincing him that the discriminat-
ing duties in Cuba and Porto Rico
on the products of the United States
under the American flag are still col
lected, in violation of the commercial
agreement OF February 13, 1884, made
at Madrid. This is the formal an
nouncement of policy which was de-
termined on some time since.
Public Printer Benedict made an
other discharge of twenty-three en-
lloyes this week In speaking of the
matter he said he found it absolutely
necessary to make removals. He
found that with the discharge of about
five hundred people the Office was
turning out more work even than
when he first took charge. In every
department there were by far too many
employees, and half of the time there
was nothing for them to do. He says
it will be necessary to yet reduce the
force, though not to any great extent.