The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-10-22
WASHINGTON LETTER

WAsHiNeToN. D. c., Oct. 10, 1886.
The events of the week in Washing
ton have not been of momentous or
sensational character, but TO those
who follow the daily details of national
history they are significant and not un-
important. The work OF publication,
of ofredistribution, of change, of improve
ment, daily goes on in the Departments
under the new Administration. The
history of a single day would fill vol
ume, and would furnish interesting
reading to political philosophers and
economists. But to epitomize the his
tory of week in simple letter would
be remarkable feat of selection and
condensation.
The members cf the Cabinet are at
work on their yearly reports. These
when completed, will be the simplest
as we'll as the ablest argument for the
continuation of Democratic Admins
tration ever issued. They will show
that great step has been taken in the
direction of cleanliness and honesty OF
government 1t may strike some with
surprise that the Government Printing
Office, after having discharged FIVE
hundred employees and reducing ex-
peuses about $4,000 per month, is
now doing more and better work than
before. But this is a state of things
that cause no surprise in Washington,
where it is known that the Republican
party has, for years, crowded the Gov
ernment offices like omnibuses with
political friends, favorites, and relatives.
1t cannot be claimed, of course, that at
the end of twenty months of Demo
cratic rule everything is just as it
should be. 1t will require twenty years
to complete the work of publication
and reform so well begun and tnen it
is more than probable that the march
of progress will be characterized by
slips of retrogression. Democrats are
not all wise and all powerful. Human
weakness, sel6shness, and cupidity will
assert themselves. Nepotism and cor
ruption will show occasional outcrop-
ping. But it is the belief of patriots,
and, may say, of politicians that we
have entered upon higher and more
healthful plane of political life and
morals.
The estimates of the Department of
Justice are already on the Presidents
table, and the estimates of other De-
partments are pretty well advanced.
The reports circulated by Republicans
that the clerks in the various Depart
ments have been actively engaged in
preparing campaign documents for the
Democratic party, are said authorta.
lively to be not entirely inaccurate.
The annual reports of the various De
partments, and the estimates for the
coming year taken together, it is be-
lieved, will constitute a series of mag
nificent campaign documents for the
Democratic party. The present status
and the proper fate of Geronimo have
thus far been only casually spoken of
at Cabinet meetings. The subject is
in the hands of the President and the
Secretaries of War and of the Interior.
Their conclusion, when they reach one,
will be considered in Cabinet council.
The annual report of First Assistant
Postmaster General Stevenson for the
fiscal year ending June 80 shows net
increase Of post-offices OF 1862 mum
Der filed by Presidential appointment,
II filed by Postmaster General, 1880
total number of appointments during
the year, 22,747, of which 9,566 were
on removals and suspensions, an in
crease in total appointments is 13,200.
There are 53,614 post-offices, of which
Is are first class.
Secretary Manning's health is SO
nearly restored that he has returned to
his official duties. Soon after Mr..
Manning was appointed Secretary of
the Treasury, the late VicePresident
Hendricks observed that Mr.. Manning
was most remarkable man, and ap-
peared to him to be as firm and solid
as gate post. This tribute to the
physical and mental strength of the
new Cabinet officer was but the reflect
ion of public opinion, with constitu-
ton, will-power, and industry seldom
united, with great organizing mind,
Mr.. Manning, not allowing himself
reasonable time for rest and diversion,
attempted to master the details and
machinery of the great department of
which he was the head. No man knew
better than he the Importance to the
country and to his party that the re-
forms or changes expected must be
made, after an intelligent and careful
examination and deliberate consider
alton of their practical effect. In dis
charging these arduous duties, exposed
as he was to the poisonous influences
Of sewer gas, his health became i'm
paired. A few months of rest, CON-
| hined with the best medical treatment.