The Washington herald., 1909-05-12

The public career Of Montgomery
Blair, particularly with reference 10 his
services as Postmaster General vas
the subject Of an address last night in the
Shoreham Hotel, before the Columbia
Historical Society. by Madison Davis.
The speaker referred 10 the man who
reorganized the postal service as being
next 20 BENJAMIN Franklin the most re-
Hlarksble man who ever held the Office Of
Postmaster General" 1Ir- Davis gave a
faithful description Of the distraught con
ditlon Of the department when Mr.. Blair
took hold Of il, Of its growing deficits
from year 10 year. its crude methods. and
its lack Of any promise OF Improvement
When AIr. Blair took the Office in 1851
the rates Of postage 10 foreign countries
were exorbitant and variable The bur
den Of the civil war made the situation
more than ever disorga anized-
Praised His Efficiency.
Mr. Davis then spoke in the highest
terms OF the efficiency and keen knowl-
edge Of business administration shown
by the new Postmaster General he told
how he cut down the defcit until finally
the department vas self-supportlng. with
. surplus 70 show az the end Of the year
Il was during Mr. Blsir's administra-
ton that the first of the international
postal conventions was held. through the
agency of which the postal rates be-
tween the United States and foreign
countries have been decreased and made
equitable.
John "A. Kasson. former Minister 20
Austria and Germany. 20 whom 8Ir
Blair. IN q report 70 Congress. gave the
credit for the idea which bore fruit n
the International postal conventions. was
present. and spoke after M Davis he
told Of the beginning q his acquaintance
with 3iT. Blair, and gave anecdotes illus
trsting his executive ability and his keen
sense Of Justice
Justice Job Barnard. Of the District Su-
prene Court. followed with a testimonial
20 the efficient administration OF the mail
service 20 the Union army during the
civil wsr. Under TIE direction CT the new
Postmaster General HIS stories were
taken frSt hand from his personal eXpe-
rienCes IS a wearer OF the blue Uniform
By motion ft was decided 10 incorporate
the addresses Of NIr. kasson and Justice
Barnard IN the records Of the society
with that Of Mr. Davis
ReburisI of L'Enfant.
How the Colum5ia. Historical Society
gave backbone 70 the invertebrste idea
OF digging Up the remains Of Maj Pierre
Charles rEHfant. and giving them a TT
ting resting place, vas told by the presi-
dent, Dr. James Dudley Morgan He is
a grandson OF William Dudley Digges,
who hefriended Mat. TEnfant. and on
whose farm the man who laid out the
National Capital was buried
Dr. Morgan told Of the movement
launched by the society 10 put into op-
Grafton the clause In the sundry civil bill
Of ISlS. providing for the rsinternent Of
the Frenchman's remains. and declared
that # Il had not been for the society
the remains would not now be resting n
Arlington Cemetery. He described graph
ically the expedition OF the party 20 the
farm 20 exhUme the cssket. and gave in
Cidents Of the ceremonies attending the
reburial
To Mrs. Madison a Bauinger and Mrs.
LIarleS w RICHARDSON llr- Morgan gave
credit for the inception OF the plan 20
hold the principal ceremonies n the 70
tunda Of the Capitol As being promt-
nently connected with the movement 20
honor the memory Of the engineer, he
mentioned s. c. Neale. ". Y. Abel. N
". Parker, Representative Samuel W
Smith. Senator Isidor Rayner. and Sena-
tor A c. Bacon.
\ communication from the National
Washington Memorial Association was
read, and referred 70 the building commit
tee. OF which Justi-e Barnard IS chair
man.
Tribute 10 Washington.
L announced the plan of the assooia-
ton 70 build a handsome hail and audi
torium IN Washington to the memory of
George Washington. bearing his name, 20
be used as a home for literary, scientific,
and historical societies. As planned. It
viii be provided with lecture and commit
tee rooms. and viii have al the facilities
Ot a permanent meeting place The COM
munication said the building fund would
be raised by 81 subscriptions. and that
$4,000 was already on hand.
Last nights meeting of the Columbia
Historical Society closes the winter sea-
son The next gathering will be on
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