The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-08

Washington officials Hold the
worlds Record for signing Their
Names.

From the Washington Star.
Cabinet and bureau officers" said q
private secretary of one of the former.
lose a lot of valuable time in signing
their names TO official documents which,
are given life by the scrawl traced so hur-
redy upon them.
Ancient official documents show that
when George Washington signed his name
during the early part of his first admin
astration he frequently wrote 1t George
Washington although his favorite sig
nature and the one he commonly used
was Go. Washington II has also been
round on documents written g. Washing
tom Doubts may be entertained as 20 the
accuracy OF this statement, as the almost
universal signature known to the pubIIo
is with his first name abbreviated, Co.
but the facts are as l state them.
When Mr.. Lincoln first entered tho
White House he always signed his name
In full. Abraham Lincoln" Subsequently
ne abbreviated his official signature 10 the
A. Lincoln, of familiar sight.
Mr.. Cleveland eided one of his Chris
tlan names before be came 10 Washington
ana ne always wrote Grover Cleveland
in fun.
Inc President devotes a specified tims
daily to affixing his signature to paners
OF state and the commissions Of army.
navy and other officers bearing presiden--
tal appointments, and presidential most
masters, of whom there are about 960o
changing with each administration, or re-
commissioned, If appointed. Mr. Lincoln
evidently found that IL consumed too much
time 10 write his name in full aud this ia
the reason no doubt, why he abbreviated
II.
1T cannot be said with exactness which,
OF the cabinet officers signs his name the
otnst frequently. / believe, however, thai
1t Is the Postmaster General Not only
does he afhx his signature to the count
less official papers Of the department in
common with his confreres. but he SIGNS
the commissions OF all of the postnnasters
or the fourth class, and they approxi-
mate 10000. Sometimes one postoffice will
be commissioned several times during the
term OF the incumbent Postmaster Cen
eral and il would not be far out of tha
way to say that he signs from 5000 to
10000 foruth-class postmasters' commis-
sions during his term.
cabinet officers acquire rapiditv su
making these formal signatures and they
hurry through with It, as It is a task and.
blocks other more important work. Mes
sengers stand by the side of the chief
presenting the commissions or papers with
one hand while they quickly blot each siR-
nature as made with the other
The record in the United States. ana
PROBABLY In the world, of the rapid sign
ing or the name consecutively many times
is probably held in this city, and the dis
JUNCTION belongs TO Col. J. G. Berret. for
meriy Mayor of this city and an old ana
respected resident Of the capital.
During President Folks atiminitra tior
Col. Berret was connected with the treas
ury department. Bonds to the amount of
$l50CoOOO We're issued. and it was neces-
sary Tor either the Secretary of the Treas
ury' X. J. Walker, to sign them, or for
some one In his stead. He delegated Col.
Berret to affix his signature to each one
OF the forty coupons on each bond. l20Ooo
coupons In oil. Col. Berret signed his
name 1900 times the first day of the work
ana kept this average up every day. COM
pleting his task in thirty days"