The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-10-21
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON Oct. I6, 1856.

All the Executive departments were
represented at the cabinet meeting on
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 i'll an uncon-
scious condition. About noon on
Thursday last he went to the depart
ment and again took charge of his
office. He is quite active, has an ex-
cellent 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 cheerful and
"OlIt at DclHS dulc W IdhC
up again the work he desires to make
perfect. 1t was thought advisable that
he should not be disturbed, and no
visitors were permitted to see him,
even the chiefs of the divisions refrain.
ing from calling. He comes back to
work with the determination of stay.
ing at the head of the department un-
til the end of Mr.. Cleveland's term.
The temptation to retire to his home
in Albany and to perfect rest was
great but, he said, his work at 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 sees many things he can do
! for the good of the administration and
of the public. The country will not
be entirely loser by his sickness.
During his confinement he has de-
voted much thought to the department.
and sketched out many things he in
tends to accomplish. In fact he has
thought out nearly all his plans for
the future management of the depart.
ment and is eager to put them into
execution. His assistants and friends
in the department are determined,
however, that in his eagerness he shall
not again overtaX his strength if they
can prevent it. He has been kept con-
stantly informed as to department
matters, and of late has been occupied
with his annual report. He has given
much thought to this, and it is said
that his absence from the department
is amply compensated for 10y the at
tention it has enabled him to bestOw
able state paper, 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 SS,OO0,O0 the
Treasury surplus continues to increase
in a remarkable manner. The state
ment of receipts and expenditures for
the last four months shows that the
revenues are conslderat ly larger than
they were year ago. With the care.
full and economical management in
sured by Observation-Disclosures
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.
PresidentCleveland yesterday issued
formal proclamation restoring the
discriminating duties levied upon pro-
duets of Cuba and Porto Rico brought
under the Spanish flag which were
suspended by the proclamation oi
President Arthur on the 14th of Feb
ruary, 1854 The suspension is revOk.
ed, to take effect on the 25th of Octo.
Der. This proclamation is made nee,
essary by tue fact that evidence has
been presented to the President con
vincing him that the discriminating
duties in Cuba and Porto Rico on the
products of the United States under
the American flag are still collected
in violation of the commercial agree
ment of February Is, 1884, made al
Madrid This is the formal annOusce.
ment ofa policy WHICH was determin.
ed on some time since.
Public Printer Benedict made an.
other discharge of twenty three EN-
pioyes 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 tiv,
hundred people the office was turning
out more work even than when he
first took charge. in every depart
ment there were by far too many EN-.
ployes, and hall of the time there was
nothing for them to do. He says il
will be necessary to yet reduce the
) force, though not to any great extent
He can, he believes, reduce the ex.
penses without injury to the public
business to the extent of sixty or sew.
enty five thousand dollars per month