The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-05
sAvANNAH's NEW POSTMASTER.
Henry Blum. Jr.. to Succeed MIR.
George s. Hafnes.


George s. Hafnes.
Henry Blum, Jr is to be the next post
master of Savannah. The appointment is
announced from Washington in the Morn
ing News dispatches this morning The
same dispatch is contained the informa-
ton that the President has definitely stat
ed that he will not appoint Joseph F.
Doyle collector of customs at this port.
This apparently indicates that ]. H. De-
veaux is to be the next collector.
MIR. Blum was notified yesterday of his
appointment. 1t was no surprise to him.
He had expected it for some time. He
is said to have practically had
the postmastership I'm his pocket
before he was ever known to be
in the race by the older politicians here.
As early as last July he had assurances
which practically guaranteed him the APP
pointment Since last October he has had
the personal assurance of the friendship
of the Postmaster General
After the recent conference of the Geor-
gia politicians in Washington with Pres
ident Mckinley" said Mr.. Blum. II re-
garded my appointment as a fact. 1 was
ilIAOlhlCA ny MY AlicAiAS NAAelN AliN 4 AN9A-
dent had intimated that he would APP
point me-"
Mr.. Blum was asked who his friends at
the conference were
'They were all my friends" he replied.
81 do not think there was man present
who was opposed to my appointment"
Mr.. Blum will be the youngest man that
has ever held the postmastership of Sa-
vannah, being just "a years of age. He is
so we'll known in Savannah that it is hard
ly necessary to go into his history. He is
a native of the city and the son of Capt
Henry Blum, president of the Germania
Bank. He is graduate of the Savannah
High School. For the last three years he
has been bookkeeper for A. Ehrlich &
Bro. and has discharged his duties to the
entire satisfaction of his employers. He
is one of the most popular young men in
the city, He is the first sergeant of Com
pany d of the Savannah Volunteer
Guards and a member of the indoor ball
team of the Guards. He is also MEM
Der of the Catholic Library Association.
Since a change was to be made and Re-
publican was to be appointed. 1t is safe to
say that no one could have been selected
by the President whose selection would
have given more general satisfaction than
that of Mr.. Blum.
Where Mr. Blum got his pull from is
something that the older politicians can
not exactly figure out. Maj. J. +. Han
son of Macon was his strong friend, and
Senator Hanna was also very friendly to
him and favored his appointment
Mr.. Blum said that he supposed the ap-
pointment would be sent to the Senate at
once. He has no doubt about its
naAx Arm ton in Nubi ph nlcD
he expects his commission to arrive
in time for him to take charge of the Of
flee by Feb. 10. Anyway, he expects to
be in charge by March l. 1t may be,
MIR. Blum said, that the department de-
sires that Mr.. Hafnes should complete
his term. Mr.. Haines' commission as
postmaster is dated April IL, 1894, but he
did not take charge until May / follow
ing
The bond required of the postmaster is
$75 900, but the sureties are required to
qualify for double the amount. If Mr.
Blum has no greater difficulty ahead OF
him than that of securing bondsmen, he
will have an easy time.
The new postmaster will have a COM
Portable salary, 50, 300 but he will not have
much patronage 10 dispose of. Every
position in the postoffice, with the excep.
ton of assistant postmaster, two special
delivery clerks and the porter is under
the civil service. The position of assist
ant postmaster pays 81 $50 per annum, por-
ter 800 and special delivery clerk not over
$50 per month, according to number of
letters delivered, There are now two
clerks doing special delivery work. The
new postmaster will have forty-seven en-
ployes under his direction, including let
ter carriers. The expenditure of the office
for clerk hire is $14, 400 per annum and for
carriers $17,250
Postmaster Haines has rendered the Sa-
Vannah public very sa satisfactory service
Under his administration the service, es-
pecially in the way of mail delivery has
been greatly improved. Any complaint
as to unsatisfactory handling of the mails
has been given prompt attention, and Mr..
Haines has shown in every way that he
felt it was his duty as postmaster to serve
! the public to the best of his ability. When
! he turns over his office to Mr.. Blum. Mr..
| Haines will devote his attention to the fire
| and life insurance business, which he sue
cessfully followed for number of years
| previous to his appointment to office.