Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-12-10
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondent.


although there was no public demon
stration. 1t was characterized, as Us.
ual, hy the quiet family gatherings and
services were held in the variou.
churches where congregations listened
to sermons Of patriotic kind. All ot
the departments were closed, as they
were also on Monday, the day Of the
Arthur funeral, making two days OF
this week that the Government en-.
ployes have enjoyed holiday
Secretary Manning shut down on
the Treasury clerks the day before
Thanksgiving, and changed time
hOnored custom Heretofore, the
Treasury Department has been closed
at noon on the day before Thanksgiv-
ing ostensibly for the purpose of Civ
ing the clerks a chance to buy their
turkeys. This was merely an excuse
for an extra half holiday, and as there
is great deal of work on hand that
must be done before Congress meets,
the Secretary decided that two days in
one week was as much as his depart
ment could stand, and he ordered that
it should not he closed until the usual
hour.
Although you continue to hear all
manner of dire things predicted con-
ccrning Secretary Manning's physical
condition, he has dictated his forth
coming annual report with freedom
that has kept his stcnographcr and
the typewriters busy, and it is said the
| portions of the document already fin
iShcd lack none of the force and vigor
which characterized his initial report
last year. The most important an
nouncement yet in connection with
the report is that the Secretary takes
even stronger ground on the subject of
tariff reform than he did year ago.
In the report Of Postmaster General
Villas, which was made public several
days ago, it is shown that the United
! States leads all the world in its mail
facilities and in the number of letters
sent. The letters mailed in this coun-
try during the year were more than
were mailed in France, Germany and
Austria combined. The number of
postoffices in this country now is 3d.
GA. The report also shows great
deal in the line of reform. Owing to
the reduction of the rate of postage
on second-class matter and the en-
largcment of the unit of weight for
tirst-class matter, the expenses of the
Postal Department were expected to
exceed its revenue for the fiscal year
of 1856 at least S9,OO0,OOO. A de-
crease of expenditures, however, has
made the actual deficit about $3,OO0,-
600 less than that, and the deficit for
the current year will be still less.
Figures show that the net increase of
revenue in this department was 80
per cent, and that the volume of bust
ness by which it was gained increased
over Z per cent. That is another
proof which commercial and other
statistics establish that there has
been Il steady return of business
prosperity during the past year and Il
half. That is the way in which the
country goes to ruin under Democratic
rule, which must be very depressing
to the Republican prophets of evil.
Secretary Whitney was very gener-
Gus with Thanksgiving turkeys. He
made arrangements to give each Off
Ger and employe of the Navy Depart
ment fowl of such weight as each
preferred, and three hundred of the
clerks availed themselves of the cour-
tesy. On similar occasion last year
the Secretary dispensed about the
same number of turkeys to Navy De,
partment employees.
Nor vas Mrs. Whitney behind the
Secretary in the donation of good
cheer. She sent word to the home of
the Little Sisters of the Poor and to
the Colored Women's home, that she
would like to provide Thanksgiving
dinners for those institutions. A list
OF articles wanted were sent and the
order was promptly honored by Mrs.
Whitney, who made some suitable adj
ditions to the bill of fare for the old
ladies and old men of the Home.
Up at the Capitol they have already
gotten down to work. There have
been preliminary meetings of certain
committees-or rather of quorums of
certain committees, and the prcpara-
ton OF bills has begun so that the ne
cessary business may be reached with
as little delay as possible after the as
semhling OF Congress. As usual il is
predicted that very little beyond the
money bills, which are necessary for
the expenses of the Government, will
receive much attention this winter.
Many earnest, conscientious legisla-
tors intend to do more if possible, but
up to the present time Congress had
found itself too lazy in the long scs-
sions and too busy in the short, to ac-
complish anything. Dem.
1HE official count of the votes cast
tor the Idaho Delegate to Congress, on
November Cd, gives Dubois 7,S42 votes
HALEY, 7,416. Dubois majority, 1926
Total vote, 1928