Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-13
OFFICIALS SUSPENDED.
COLLECTOR JOHNSON AND POST
MASTER WILSON TO GO.

The news of the suspension Of ?ostmas-
Ter W ilson and Collector johnson and the
appointment of Capt George W. Lamar
and Capt. John f. Wheaton in their
places was received in Savannah about !
O'Clock Yesterday. The report wac sur
prise all around. II was foreshadoN ed by
the News 10 the morning, but there had
been SO much talk aud SO many reports
that the incumbtuts We're not much
alarmed and the friends OF the cahdi-
dates for the places were not
much elated by what they read. The
Damocleau sword OF removal had been
dangling over the heads Of the officials so
long that they had about concluded that
either the President did not have map
with The savannah post Office and custom
house on it or that I've rarely Looked at 1t.
Collector Tomlus0u +. johnson said to
NEWS reporter yesterday afternoon that
he would not have been surprised at being
suspended three months hence He had
thought President Cleveland would not
make any changes here until the Con-
gressional campaign was about over.
Postmaster Wilson was talking with
NEWS man about ten minutes before the
first telegram announcing the suspensions
thought that the President was not going
10 disturb Savannah for awhile yet. When
he learned that be had been suspended he
remarked that he had no pangs.
Neither the Postmaster nor the
Collector gave any intimatlOn of
deep disappointment, il they telt any, at
not being allowed to serve out their terms.
Both. however, spoke sarcastlcallY of
civil service reform and the ike. POST
MI tod -
might expect letter at an early date
from the President to the Civil Service
Commissioners on the beauty OF civil SER
vice reform. The clerks and deputies in
both Offices were not in a hopeful mood
over the prospect, althou n they will stay
longer tban their sUperiors. Capt. Lamar
was sitting in his office receiving the con-
gratulatlOns OF friends when a NEWS
representative called. Capt. Lamar VIII
take charge OF the post Office pretty soon
after he receives his commission. He
stated that he mad nothing to say at pres
Pnt about the appointments. Capt.
Wheaton is In New York. but is expected
back in few DAYS. Several congratula-
tory kilograms were sent to him during
the afternoon.
The salary OF the Collector of the Port
is made up OF fees aud runs from $4,000
10 $4,000 a year. IL cannot exceed the
1atter sum, and il the fees amount to more
than $4,000 in one year the surplus must
he turned into the Treasury. The bond
is sl20 0OO.
The other offices at the Savannah GUS
tom house are "A peCial deputy collector,
salary 81 900 per year; an entry clerk,
$1,000; marine clerk, $1,000; an account
clerk. $1,000; two inspectors at 81 a day
and two at So a day; one night inspector
at 81 a day; three bOatmen at $50
month, ami one at $50 per month; mes
senger at S720 wear; stOrekeeper at
So a day ana il janitOr at 500 year, with
an assistant during the winter at $50
month.
The PostmasJer's salary Is $4,000 a year,
and his bond is $4,000. He has under
him an assistant at 81, 100 a year, money
order clerk at $1,000 an assistant money
order clerk at $500, a registry clerk at
$500, a stamp clerk at $72O, a superintend-
ent of carriers at $500 general delivery
clerk al 500, cEIef mailing clerk at
$ 600, two assistant mailing clerks at
$3.50 each, "A stamp canceliOr at 5000,
porter at 800. nine carriers at $3.50 each,
and a special delivery messenger, VINO
gets Sc. Tor each letter delivered. There
are three SUBJ titule carriers WHO do not
receive any pay except W hen they take
The places Of the regular carriers. There
are about ten cOlOred employees In
the post Office and two in
The custom house. The oldest incumbent
IS MIR. William Mccormick, one OF the
assistant mailing clerks, who has been in
the post office for tbirty-six years. The
Isuties OF he mailing clerks are the hard
tst to learn OF any in the post office. and
they Will no doubt be the last TO be re-
moved. In the custom house Mr.. Paul
johnson, the entry clerk and assistant
deputy collector, is the oldest incumbent,
be having held that position eleven years.
oil 4
by President Hayes, I'm 1880, and he was
reappointed by President Arthur In De-
cember, 1884. Postmaster Wilson was
appointed by President Arthur in Janu-
AIRY, 1885. Mr.. Wilson mad been Collector
OF Internal Revenue for TWO terms and
was appraiser of customs when that office
was abolished.
1t is stated as rather curious fact that
Mr.. johnson is the only collector at this
port for century who has never had en-
ployed IN the collectors office, since he
has been at the head Of it, a relative in
any capacity; never had relative for u
bondsman; never had in his employ a
relative OF a bondsman. nor an emplOye
recommended by boudsman.
CAPT. GEO. w. LAMAR.
Capt. George w. Lamar, the new APP
pointee to the Savannah post office,
vice Mr.. A. n. Wilson, sus-
VehuSu, Is wen known IN TINS
city, where he has resided for the
past twenty years. lie is IA son of the late
Geo. W. Lamar, prominent citizen OF
Augusta. He was for several years one
OF the firm of Lamar q King, brokers and
Heal estate dealers, who, during the
Existence of the firm, probably did the
largest real estate business ever done in
Savannah.
This has been fully demonstrated since
by the growth OF savannah. and what was
then waste lands is now city lots. Had
he been so fortunate as to have
been able to hold to his invest
ments he would to-day have
been one of the wealthiest men in the
State. lie is gentleman Of excellent
executive ability, ana will, doubtless,
make "A good officer. Capt. Lamar was
the personal friend OF Congressman Nor
wood, and probably IL is owing 10 that
Tact that he was the successful applicant.
Capt. Lamar served throughout the late
war in the Com ederate army, first IN the
Sixth Georgia battalion, aud afterwards
IN the oiXty-tirst Georgia regiment.
CAPT. j. L. WHEATON.
Capt. John f. Wheaton. the new Col
lectOr OF the Port 70 succeed Hon. 4. f.
johnson, suspended, il so well known I'm
Savannah that he needs no extended
sketch Of his lite. He is "A native Of one
o: the New England States, from whence
be came to this city when quite a Young
man Before tina late war ha ,vas