San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-07-01
NO. 20.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, June IA. 1886.

month OF the first session OF the Tor
ty-ninth congress, the lower house
proposes to make an effort to crowd
the work through within the time
consumed by the session ending July
18th, 1884. This prospect to the
outside observer, is not very promis-
ing; but those supposed to direct the
majority Of the upper and lower
Houses, say that it can and probably
will be accomplished. There is al
ready talk of introducing aresolution
in tho house fixing 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 tour Of the
northern lakes with a select party Of
friends in chartered steamer, dur
ing the summer. 1t is probable that
they will spend 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. According TO the program
they will leave Buffalo some time ia
August and make trip which will
include Lake Erie. Horon and Michi-
gan making stops at points of inter
est. The program may be varied or
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. II
Congress does not adjourn before
The President will of course
be detained in Washington, and his
summer outing, as now proposed,
will be abandoned. It 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 q tour of the lakes.
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 q
great saving to the government has
been the result. During Judge
Gresham's term as Postmaster Gen.
eral, this business became greatly
mixed, and certain contracts were let
WHICH subsequently proved not 10
have been entire business-like trans
actions. Postmaster General Villas
is giving special attention to this
class of work under him, and to-
gether with third Assistant Post
master General Hazen, after much
careful labor, now have binding con-
tracts which, while they will doubt
less yield fair profits to the contrac-
tors, will. at the same time, be OF
great advantage and benefit to the :
public at large. Take for instance
the contract for stamped envelopes
Iast made by the Postmaster General
Tor the four coming years, commenc
ng July 1st Before advertising for
for these envelopes the
Department had a great deal Of pre-
work to transact, consisting
chiefly of getting the most suitable
paper for the various styles Of enve-
opes, changing the styles of the old
)nes, and other work of q similar
nature. It ia estimated that there
will be ordered by the department
Turing the coming year S3,250,000
worth of stamped envelopes: If it
should pay for them on the basis of
he present contract a disbursement
,f over $3.50, 900 over and above that
sum would be requiIed The result
will therefore be saving Of upward
,f million dollars or about 25 per
,ent.
Take, again, the contract for sup
,lying the Department with postal
ards, stamps, tags, registered pack
lges and dead letter and official en-
'elopes. This contract was entered
nto on the 30th of June last, and is
% run four years. The first year is
lear enough its close 10 enable a
Tery correct idea being formed as to
row it has worked so far and how it
will work for the remaining three
years. By the last Of this month il
is estimated that the books will show
riders by the Department for sup
plies under the contract referred to
to S1.932.253.5Ss; and
he amount paid for them viii show
/ decrease Of about 25 per cent in
.be outlay for postage stamps, about
y per cent IN postal cards. md IS
per cent IN other articles dunng the
Drevious 6scal year. Altogether the
PostOfice Department under The
.nnerrlsinn Of Pnsfrnasflr Gennral