Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-08-01
WHARTON GOES OUT,
TANNING COMES IN
Impressive Ceremonies Mark
Farewell to Old Postmaster
and Welcome to New One.
EMPLOYEES COMPLIMENTED

Charles Z. flaming, Senator Hitch,
cocks appointee to the postmaster.
ship, took over the Omaha postoffice
from John c. Wharton yesterday
afternoon at 5 o'clock. The cere.
mony took place in the south court
room in the federal building before
an audience of mail carriers, clerks
and other employees that filled the
room to capacity.
1t was strenuous hour for the new
postmaster. First, photographers
posed him and Colonel Wharton i'll
friendly attitude with a big ring full
of keys, borrowed for Photographic
purposes from the janitor. Three or
four fash lights were taken, which
is enough to startle any man.
Then, when the incoming and out
going postmasters were seated on
the judges bench in the court room,
the post office band, without prelim-
mary warning burst thunderously
into Hail to the Chief" which was
startling too.
Employees Present Flowers.
An immense backet of flowers stood
on the judges desk. 1t was the EN-
ployes' gift to Postmaster Tanning.
An umbrella and cane in a leather
case constituted the gift of the EN-
ployes to ex-Postmaster Wharton.
These were ordered specially from
New York, and have handles of a
rare material
George J. Kleffner, assistant super
intendent of mails, presided and in
troduced Colonel Wharton first.
Colonel Wharton delivered an address
in his most eloquent style. He re-
viewed his four and a half years of
service as postmaster He paid high
tribute to the employees.
God never created a finer lot of
men and women than these who have
done such splendid, efficient service
i'll maintaining the high standard of
the Omaha post office during my ad-
ministration," he declared.
I'VE have borne our burdens to-
gether. In sickness and in health we
have stood shoulder to shoulder. I
have stood by the graves of nineteen
who have passed on to their reward
in these years.
Happiest Years of Life.
~ want to say that, of the twenty
six years of my business life in
Omaha the happiest have been the
last four and half years, while l
was postmaster of Omaha"
Tremendous applause greeted the
-postmasters valedictery. And when
he turned and shook hands with
Colonel Tanning and asked the post
office people to give the incoming
postmaster the same support that
they had always given the outgoing,
the applause was given with will.
Colonel Fanning's remarks were
very short.
"In taking the position of post
master, l have no friends to reward,
no enemies to punish" he said.
Neither politics, religion OF personal
friendship will have anything to do
with my work here. Seniority and
service will be the governing things.
And | hope to equal the high stan
dard which | understand Mr.. Whar-
ton has set, and to have your CO.
operation"
More Harmony.
The post office band retired again
to the corridor and doomed into an
other melodious serenade while the
employees filed in line past Colonel
Wharton on one side of the room and
Colonel Tanning on the other, bid
ding farewell" and "hail" to the re-
firing Nasby and the new one.
Colonel Wharton received from
First Assistant Postmaster General
Daniel c. Roper, the following COM
mendation of his administration of
the Omaha post Office:
THE department has always felt
that you were at your post of duty
at all times and responding faithfully
to the demand that postmasters
should earn their salaries. Your at
tention has been prompt, constant,
and satisfactory. 1t should be
source of qualification to you to have
been postmaster at Omaha during the
period of such marked development
in your city and country as that
shown during your incumbency. The
receipts of the Omaha post Office
have increased about half-milion
doI1,rs ar aooroxtp, tply AZ nor eept