The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-06
FEW CHANGES IN CLERKSHIPS.
CIVIL SERVICE RULES IN CUSTOM
HOUSE AND POsTOFFICE.

Mr.. Blum Expects His Nomination as
Postmaster to BE Confirmed With
out DeIay-Deveaux's Nomination
Hanging Fire-OppOsitiOn of the
Georgia Senator's Supposed to Have
Something to Do with It-His Con-
frmatiOn May he Held Up.
There seems to be every evidence now
that the federal appointments for Savan-
nah are fixed. OF the appointment of Mr..
Henry Blum, Jr., as postmaster, there ap-
pears to be no further room for doubt, and
the Senate's conirma ton is expected to
follow shortly.
Since the announcement two weeks aGo
that Mr.. Blum had been decided upon for
postmaster, there has been some
work going on looking to the undoing of
that decision, If possible. 1t Is well known
that Mr.. T. F. Johnson has been putting
in some hard work on the postoffice mat
ter, In the hope that the President could
see his way clear to changing his mind.
Mr. Johnsons friends believed until yes
terday that the chances were against Mr.
Bun, and that ultimately there would be
some change in the situation, with the
wind in Mr.. Johnson's favor. But the an
nouncement from Washington caused their
hopes to vanish into thin air
IL IS known that in the contest against
Mr. Blum, an interview from Capt Henry
BLUM published in the Morning News of
NOV r. 1892, just after Cleveland's second
election was sought out with view to
changing the minds of some of
those IN authority. In this in
terview Capt. Blum, speaking of
Cleveland's election, was quoted
as saying that protection did it, that the
country mad had too much of protection,
and that that was the reason for the
change in the administrations.
me hauling out of this old interview
however, seems to have had little effect
FOR though it was supposed to be in
washington and in the hands of the Pres
ldent, the appointment of Mr. Blum was
nevertheless sent TO the Senate. 1t may
be taken for granted, therefore, that the
production of this interview had little eff
feet.
Mr.. Joseph F. Doyle's trip to Washing
ton also seems to have produced small
effect upon the powers that be. The in
dications are, and the prevailing opinion
seems to be, that DeVeauX's appointment
will go to the Senate in spite of the fact
that it has been delayed somewhat When
it is sent there Senators Clay and Bacon
1t Is understood, will offer violent opposi-
ton to his confirma ton. 1t is reported
that they have already been doing a good
deal of quiet work against it, but with
what results it remains to be SEEN
Some attribute to their work to a great
extent the delay that has already taken
place As Collector Beckwith's term ex-
PRED on Jan. 20 il is expected that definite
action will be taken very soon.
Mr. BUNS appointment as postmaster,
and the probability of Deveaux's appoint
ment as collector have naturally brought
up the question of probable changes in the
custom house and postoffice. The last ex-
tens on of the civil service laws included
pract ically every body in the custom house.
This leaves the cole ctor in practically the
same position as the postmaster. Deputy
Collector Paul Johnson and AS
sistant Postmaster p Aston War
ing have each held their respec-
tive positions for years, and each has held
his position under DO Democratic and Re-
publican administrations. The experience
of each to new official will be almost in
valuable. The prosre ct of any change in
the customs office is about one in ninety
nine. Mr.. Johnson has bsen in the custom
| house about twenty-five years and knows
every detail of he service.
There are those who think if the new
postmaster should decide to dispense with
the services of Assistant Postmaster War
ing that Registry Clerk H. B. Lemcke
would be promoted to the position and this
would leave a good Cpaning for some other
aspirant Mr. Lamcke has been In the SER
vice of the Dostoffice fer a number of
years, chiefly in the money order and reg
stry departments and has q number of
friends. If Mr.. Lem Ike is an asDirant fer
the assistant postmastershiD, however. he
has not as yet made any announcement of
the fact.
Mr.. Blum said yesterday he had not as
yet given these matters any consideration
and did not propose to assume any of the
burdens or responsibilities of his position
until he was actually installed in office.
clerical employee in the custom house
said yesterday: "Deveaux's appointment
is practically certain and the clerks in the
custom house have about made up their
minds to accept the situation. Deveaux
is prudent and sensible man and l do
not anticipate that there will be any fric-
ton. The collector rarely comes in con-
tact with the clerks, the work of the Of
flee being directed by the deputy collector.
The collectors office is at the other end
of the building from ours and he transacts
his business there. There is practically
little else for the collector to do. but to
sign his name to papers, as all the details
are attended to by the deputy collector.
Being under the civil service we cannot be
put out of our jobs except for good and
sufficient reasons, and as our Jobs are
pretty satisfactory ones we can hardly
afford to surrender them for a matter of
sentimentv