The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-12-07
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WlSHIKGT8N LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

w ASHlNGfoN, " W., INON. ~, IcOO.
The holiday of Thanksgiving was
observed throughout this city yes
terday although there was no pub
lie demonstration. 1t was charac-
terized, as usual, by the quiet fami
ly gatherings and services were held
in the various churches where con-
gregations listened to sermons of a
patriotic kind. All of the Depart
ments were closed, as they were also
on Monday, the day of the Arthur
funeral, making two days of this
week that the Government employees
have enjoyed a holiday.
But Secretary Manning shut
down on the Treasury clerks the day
before Thanksgiving and changed
a time hopored custom. Heretofore
the Treasury Department has been
closed at noon on the day before
Thanksgiving ostensibly for pur-
pose of giving the clerks a chance to
to buy their turkeys. This was
merely an excuse for an extra half
holiday, and as there is a great deal
of work on hand that must be done
before Congress meets, the Secretary
decided that two days in one week
was as much as his department
could stand, and he ordered that it
should not be closed until the usual
hour.
Although You continue to hear all
manner of dire things predicted con-
cerning Secretary Manning's phys
ical condition, he has dictated his
Forthcoming annual report with a
freedom that has kept his steno-
grapher and two type-writers busy
and it is said the portions of the
document already finished lack none
Of the force and vigor which char
acterized his initial report last year.
The most important announcement
yet in connection with the report, is
that the Secretary takes even stron-
ger ground on the subject of Tariff
reform than he did year ago.
In the report of Postmaster Cen
eral Villas which was made public
several days ago, it is shown that
the United States leads all the
world in its mail facilities, and in
the number of letters sent. The let
ters mailed in this country during
the year were more than were mail
ed in France, Germany and Austria
combined. The number of post of
fees in this country now is 53,6l4.
The report also shows great deal
in the line of reform. Owing to
the reduction of the rate of postage
ON second class matter and the en-
largement of the unit of weight for
first class matter, the expenses Of
the Postal Department were expect
ed to exceed its revenue for the fis-
cal year of 1886 at least SO, 600, 900.
A decrease of expenditures, however,
has made the actual deficit about
$3,000,000 less than that and the
deficit for the current year will be
still less.
Figures show that the netincrcase
of revenue in this Department was
3.2 per cent, and that the volume of
business by which it was gained, in
creased over per cent. That is
another proof which commercial and
other statistics establish, that there
has been steady return of business
prosperity during the past year and
a half That is the way in which
the country goes to ruin under Dem
ocratic rule, which must be very de-
pressing to the Republican prophets
of evil.
Secretary Whitney was very gen.
erous with Thanksgiving turkeys.
He made arrangements to give each
officer and cmploye of the Navy de-
partment, a fowl of such weight as
each preferred, and three hundred of
the clerks availed themselves of the
courtesy. On similar occasion
last year the Secretary dispensed
about the same number of turkeys
to Navy Department employees.
Nor was Mrs. Whitney behind the
Secretary in the donation Of good
cheer. She sent word to the home
of the Little Sisters of the Poor and
to the Colored Woman's home that
she would like to provide Thanks
giving dinners for those institutions
A list of articles wanted were sent
and the order was promptly honore6
by Mrs. Whitney who made some
suitable additions to the bill of fare
| for the old ladies and old men oftht
Home.
Up at the Capitol they have al
ready gotten down to work. There