The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1886-12-17
w asll1ngton.
tFrsn eur regular ssussp.aasatj
WAanIssrox, Nov. 2olh, 1850.

day, although there was no public
demonstration. II was schaFacterIzed.
- usual, by tho quiet family gather
ings and services were held In tho
various churches where congregations
listened to sermons Of q patriotic
kind. All Of the Departments were
closed, as they we're aIao on Monday,
the day Of the Arthur funeral, max
ing tive days OF this week that the
Government employees have enjoyed
. holiday.
But Secretary Manning shut down
on The Treasury clerks the day before
Thanksgiving aud changed a time
Is8sered custom. Heretofore the
Treasury Department has been closed
at neon on the day before Thanks
giving ostsnslbIy for purpose Of CIV
Ing the clerks q chance to buy their
turkeys. This was merely an excuse
for an extra half holiday, and as there
Is g great deal Of work on hand that
must be done before Congress meets,
the Secretary decided that two days
In ene week was ~ much rs his de.
partment could stand, and ho ordered
that It should not be closed until the
usual hour.
Although you continue to hear all
manner Of things predicted concern.
Ing Secretary MannIng's physical
couditien, he has dictated his forth
coming annual report with freedom
that has kept his stenographer ana
TIVE writer's busy and II Is said
the portIoEs Of the document already
finished lack none Of tho force and
vigor which characterized his irilIal
report last year. The most Impor-
sant announcement yet in connection
With the report, 10 that the Secretary
takes even stronger groands on the
subject ef Tariff reform than he did
year ago.
In the report Of Postmaster Goner-
al Villas, which was made public sew
eral days ago, IL Il shewn that the
United States leads al the world In
Its mail facilities, and In the number
Of letters sent The letters mailed 10
this country during The year were
more than were mailed In France,
Germany aud Austria combined. The
number Of post Offices 10 this country
now Il s,6iA. The report also shows
great deal in ths line of reform.
Owing TO the reduction Of the rate Of
postage IN second class matter and
the enlargement Of The unit of weight
for first class matter. the expenses OF
the Postal Department were expect
ca o exceed is revenue for the fiscal
year OF 1886 at least $50, ,0Oe, 900 A
decrease Of expenditures, however,
has made the actual deficit about
ss. .O0O,0 900 less than that and the de.
neIt for the current year will be st:ii
LEES.
Figures show that the net Increase
Of revenue In this Department was
3,2 per cent, AID that tha volume Of
busIness by which Il was gained, In
creased over Z per cent. That Is an-
ether proof which commercial aud
other statistics establish, that there
has been . steady return OF business
prosperity during the past year and 9
half. That Is the way IN which the
country gees TO ruin under Demo.
cratic rule, which must be very de-
pressing TO the Republican prophets
lof owl.
| Secretary Whitney was very gen.
| orous with Thanksgiving turkeys.
he made arrangements TO give each
officer and enploye OF the Navy de
partment q fowl of such weight a
each preferred, and three hundred .
the clerks availed themselves Of th.
courtesy. On a similar occasion las
year the Secretary dispensed. abou
che same number of turkeys to Nav.
Department employees.
Ner wss Mrs. Whitney behind th'
, Secretary In the donation OF goo'
cheer. She sent word to the hona
, OF the Little Sisters Of the Poor an
!. | to the CoIored Woman's homo tha
she would like TO provide Thanks
giving dinners for those institution
A list OF articles wanted were ser
and the order was promptly hon6re
by Mrs. Whitney who made som
suitable additions to the bill Of fal
! for the old ladies and the old men
the Home.
I'll Upat the Capitol they have alread
gotten down TO work. There ha,
been preliminary meetings Of certal
committees--or rather Of quorums
certain committees, and the prepar
!. tIon of bills has begun 50 that Il