The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-26
DEVEAUX BACK IN SAVANNAH.
is READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF
THE CUSTOM HOUSE.

is READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF
THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
His Commission Expected From
Washington Within the Next Ten
Days-The New Collector Says His
Application Was Based Upon Merit
onIy-This and His standing as II
Republican Secured Him the Place,
He Says-HaS Served Twenty Years
in the Government Customs SerV-
ice, sixteen at savannah and Four
at Brunswick.
Col. John II. Deveaux, who has receiv-
ed the appointment as collector of customs
at Saveunah for the next four years, ar
rived yesterday morning from Washington,
where he has been for the last ten weeks
or more. He has not yet received his com
mission, and does not expect it for several
days, as he estimates that between FIVE
and ten days viii be required for the com
mission to pass through the usual course
and receive the necessary signatures in
GLIDING those of the President and the Sec
rotary of the Treasury before being for
warded to Savannah.
Il was confident from the first of my ap-
pointment," he said last night. Il relied
on my standing as a Republican and my
past record. / had the Endorsement of
practically the entire Republican organiza-
ton in Georgia for the first and for the
second l had the Endorsement of promi-
nont business men here and throughout
the state. In my application l made no
reference to political services, but asked
for the appointment on the score of merit
alone, as shown by my record in office,
for which had ample evidence. l had no
assurance from Mr.. Mckinley or Mr.. Han
ma when 1 made my application. but felt
confident nevertheless, that l would secure
the appointment. Mr.. Hanna is an organ
izatlon man, and favors those who are
preferred by the party organization.
Il expected some opposition from Savan-
nah, of course said Col. Deveaux. II do
not think. however that the business men
who protested so strongly against my ap-
pontment could have been familiar with
my past record. l am a native of Savan-
nah. For that matter, my family has
been here for five generations. l first en-
tered the customs service in 1870 as a clerk
or the lowest grade. l progressed 10 the
position of clerk of the third grade, or cor
respondence clerk and afterwards served
as auditor for two terms under Collectors
Atkins and Johnson. l went out in 1886
during Mr.. Cleveand's administration,
after a continuous service of sixteen
years. During The yellow fever epidemic
of 1876 the collector was authorized to give
leaves of absence to all of the employees
desiring them. OF the thirty employees of
the custom house all took advantage of
this with the exception of. the collector
and six others, of whom | was one. Three
of these six employees died of the fever.
Collector James Atkins and two others
were stricken with the fever at the same
time, and l was left alone as the only
employe of the customs service on duty in
Savannah 1 discharged all the duties
of the office as collector and custodian of
the building for some time. On the day
that Collector Atkins and the present dep
uty collector Mr.. j. Paul Johnson, who
was then a clerk in the service reported
for duty l was stricken with the fever
In 1889 / was appointed collector of the
port of Brunswick by President Harrison,
over the opposition of the people of Bruns-
WICK. who feared my appointment would
injure the business of the port Instead
of this being the case the commerce of
the port steadily increased during my
term of Office, until the yellow fever epi-
appointed by Secretary Carlisle of Mr.
Cleveland's cabinet the special disbursing
agent for the fund provided by the gov
eminent for preventing The spread of epi-
demic diseases, being required to give a
$4,000 bond. During the epidemic l dis.
bursed in the neighborhood of $4,000 for
the pay of nurses, the hire of guards and
for other purposes. The money was dis
bursed to the entire satisfaction of the
government aud the people of Brunswick.
When left Brunswick / received a writ
ten testimonial to my character and the
eff1ciency with which had discharged my
duties signed by every business man and
the leading citizens of Brunswick general
ly. including the city and county officials.
This testimony was of value of course. as
evidence of my fitness for the collectorship
at Savannah"
4 apprehend no trouble whatever" said
Col. DeveauX, I'm answer to a question.
i have sufficient confidence in the peo-
pie of Savannah to believe that I will he
allowed TO discharge my duties without
Interference of any kind. 1 shall endeavor
TO upoulid and advance the interests of the
port ana TO increase its commerce so far
as Is possible for me to do as collector.
The collector is required to give n bond
OF $4,000. II thought the bond was $50
Co., Col. DeveauX said, land arranged for
that amount before going to Washington.
had not the slightes. trouble to do that. -
Judson Lyons, who came very near be-
ing postmaster at Augusta, accompanied
Col. Deveaux from Washington
Lyons Will undoubtedly be aDpointed n
some good position In a very few DAYS Z,
said Col Deveaux. What it will be nei-
tier he nor l know, but l am certain that
he will be given a good appointment. I.y-
ons is the most unselhsh man in politics
that 1 know of. His entire time has been
devoted to looking after his friends"