Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1886-06-25
WASHISGTON LETTER.
W AsHINGToS, Jnne IL. 1886.


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 con
sumed by the session ending July Is,
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 ac-
complished. There is already talk of
introducing resolution in the House
fixing July 10th. 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
contemplated a tour of the northern
lakes with select party of friends in
a chartered steamer, during the sum-
mer. 1t is probable that they will
spend some time on the sea coast and
in the mountain regions after the ad.
journment of Congress, and then 90
to their old home in Bnfalo. Accord
ing to the programme they will leave
Buffalo some time in August and
make trip which will include Lake
Erie, Huron and Michigan making
stops at all points of interest. The
programme may be varied or aban-
doned, but it is under serious consider
alton at the White House and will
probably he carried out. Much will
depend upon the date of the adjourn
ment of Congress. If Congress does
not adjourn before August, the presi-
dent Will of course 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 anxious to make a tour to the
lakes, and if he does SO, the Chicago
Iroquois Club, to which he has a stand
ing invitation, will doubtless entertain
him
There seems to have been very good
management displayed in the matter
of making contracts for post office
supplies during the eighteen months
past and consequently great saving
to the government has been the result.
During Judge Grashams term as Post
master General, this business became
greatly mixed and certain contracts
were let which subsequently proved
not to have been entire busiress-like
transactions. Postmaster General vi
las is giving special attention to this
class of work under him, and together
with third Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Hazen, after much careful lab or
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 lst. Before adver-
tising for proposals for these envelopes
the Department had great deal OF
preparatory work to transact consist,
ing chiefly of getting the most suita
able paper for the various styles of
envelopes, changing the styles of the
ones, and other work of similar ma
ture. 1t is estimated that there will
be ordered by the Department during
the coming year, So, 100000 worth of
stamped envelopes. If it should pay
OF them on the basis of the present
contract a disbursement of over $780,
900 over and above that sum would be
required. The result will therefore be
saving of upward of million of
dollars OF about 25 per cent.
Take, again, the contract fer sup
plying the Department with postal
cards, stamps, tags, registered packages
and dead letter and official envelopes,
This contract was entered into on the
Both of June last and is to run four
years. The first year is near enough
its close to enable very correct idea
being formed as to how it has worked
SO far and how it will work for the re-
naming three years BY the last of
this month it is estimated that the
books will show orders by the Depart
ment for supplies under the contract
referred to amounting to 81, ,932, 253, $50
and the amount paid for them will show
decrease of about % per cent in the
outlay for postage stamps, about IL
per cent in postal cards, and 45 per
cent in other articles during the pre-
vious fiscal year. Altogether the
Post Office Department under the
supervision of Postmaster General
Villas is making an excellent record
in purchasing its supplies.
! The report that ex-senator Davis of
West Virginia, might possibly be ap-
pointed Secretary of the Treasury, has
caused much amusement during the
past week, for it is we'll known that
Rbo President hoe nn Sn%a1Eia,, oe