The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-06-18
WASHINGTON LETTER
[From our Regular Correspondent.l -.
WASHINGTON, ID. G., June Ia, 1St

ASHlN6ION. ~ VI, Ouut lCCbs
Having entered upon The seventh
month of the first session of the forty
ninth Congress the lower House pro-
poses to make an effort to crowd the
work through within the time consum-
ed by the session ending July 18th.
1884. This prospect to the outside
observer, is not very promising but
those supposed to direct the majority
of the upper and lower Houses say
that it can and probably will be accom-
plished There is already talk of in
Producing resolution in the House fix
ing 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 n tour of the
northern lakes with select party of
friends in chartered steamer, during
the summer. 1t is probable that they
will speud some time on the sea-coast
and in the mountain regions after the
adjournment of Congress, and then go
to their old home in Buffalo. Accord
ing to the program they will leave
Buffalo some time in August and make
trip which will include Lake Erie,
Huron and Michigan making stops at
points of interest. The program may
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 curse
be detained in Washington and his
summer outing, as now proposed, will
be abandoned. 1t is said that the
President and his wife have never
been farther west than the city of
Buffalo. Mr.. Cleveland is quite anx
ious to make a 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
management displayed in the matter
of making contracts for post office sup
plies during the eighteen months past
and consequently great saving to the
Government has been the result. Dur
ing Judge Gresham's term as Post
master General, the business became
greatly mixed and certain contracts
were let which subsequently proved
not to have been entire business-like
transactions. Postmaster General Villas
is giving special attention 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, at the same time
be of great advantage and benefit to
the public at large. Take for instance
the contract for stamped envelopes
just made by the Postmaster General
for the four coming years, commencing
July 1st. Before advertising for pro
posals for these envelopes the Depart.
ment had great deal of preparatory
work to transact consisting chiefly Of
getting the most suitable paper for the
various styles of the old ones, and othel
work of a similar nature. 1t is estimat
ed that there will be ordered by the
Department during the coming year.
S3,250,000 worth of stamped envelopes
| If it should pay for them on the basis
of the present contract disbursement
of over $950,000 over and above tha
sum would be required. The result
will therefore be saving of upward o.
million of dollars or about 25 per cent
Take, again, the contract for supply
ing the Department with postal cards
stamps, tags, registered packages an(
dead letter and official envelopes. This
contract was entered into on the 3Otl
of June last and is to run four years
The first year is near enough its clos'
to enable very correct idea being
,, formed as to how it has worked 80 ia
and how it will work for the remainin.
; three years. By the last of this montl
: it is estimated that the books will shoy
|. orders by the Department for supple
under the contract referred to amour,
ing to 1882, ,253, $50 and the amour
paid for them will show decrease O
D about 25 per cent in the outlay fo
postage stamps, about ~ per cent i
postal cards, and As per cent in othe
! ! articles during the previous fiscal yeai
1 Altogether the Postofiice Department
9 under the supervision of Postmaste
General Villas is making an exceller
J; record in purchasing its supplies.
The report that ex' Senator Davis {
w. Va, might possibly be appointe
u Secretary of the Treasury, has cause
L much amusement during the past weel
a for it is well known that the Presider
i has no intention of appointing a su
oessor to Secretary Manning-at lea
e until the coming October. 1t is pro
J able, if the truth were known, that tn
g. presence of Stephen Elkins, son-in-la
. of Mr. Davis, and Blaine's lieutenaI
u in the last campaign, was the onl
lc drawback which the President four
IL in spending the first of his married Ii
e at Deer Park. 1t was really laughab
So to see with what alacrity the fat witt'
Elkins reached the latter place fro
New York in order to have his arriv
announced during the Presidents s
iourn there. Mr.. Elkins is by
IF means a close mouthed person al
therefore, only arriving at Deer Pa
on the morning of Mr.. Cleveland's d
parture he managed to interview hi
al and parade his views of the Preside
e. in the press dispatches the followi
MT dav