The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-14


Activity in tho Scrvice-List OF Revenue
vessels-The Bill for the Increase OF ON
cers' Salaries, Ssc.-List OF Revenue Cut
ters, &C., &c.
Within the past few weeks q very material alteration
has been made Of the location armament and general de-
tails Of the revenue service. Most Of the vessels have
been thoroughly overhauled and reHed both to COM
fort, speed and their Of defence In fact they
have been placed a footing hitherto unknown in
this branch of the service Most Of these vessels carried
but one gun placed amdshps These have been replaced
by those Of larger calibre and Of the rGed pattern
with 24pounder brass howitzer, shifting. The crow
lists have been enlarged and marine corps established
In this change in the material much GOOD has been
done, and within the past month Board Of Examiners
has been formed, with view to examine the quaN6ca
tions Of the officers in the service, well the
large number who have applied for berths The Board
meets daily, and already large number Of officers have
passed the rigid examinations to which they are sub
ected which consists OF the various details Of the SCI
ence Of navigation and seamanshp The list Of vessels
has been considerably augmented by the transfer Of
vessels lately attached to the United States Coast Survey
service.
The head Of the Revenue service is Captain How
ard who has the entire charge Of the material and per-
sonael Of the service. Aeperntends the fitting out Of
the vessels, appoints the commanders regulates the
lists and dispatches the vessels to their various
stations and in fact is to the feet what commodore is
in the navy.
The Board Of Examiners authorized by the Treasury
Department consists OF the following gentlcmenCapain
Ottinger Revenue service; Lieutenant Blake U. 8. NJ
and Jefferson Maury formerly Of the United States Navy
but lately commander Of the steamer Adriatc. Thus
composed the Board represents three distinct depart
meuts viz-the revenue service, the navy and the
camille marine service The bill creating the Board was
enacted several years ago. and has remained in atu quo
from that time until few weeks since The personnel Of
the service has recruited mostly from officers Of
merchant service-good practical seamen-and many Of
them not and above pleased to think that they
are now to be examined without having been notified
sufficiently to have prepared themselves for the examna
ton The that the Board has been chosen from
the several departments Of service is that each
class Of who shall before It will have the benefit
Of having least Of the who intimately
acquainted with the detail Of their various organiza
tons.
The following the lis. Of studies 10 which candidates
ore examined for the various grades
FIRST LrIUrKNASTs.
Ndpi0ae0n.
Latitude by polar star.
Latitude by meridian altitude Of star.
Latitude by ctrcum medium Of altitude.
Application Of local deviation Of compasaes.
Position by Summers method.
Seam0nship.
In addition to examination for Second and Third eute
knowledge Of principal lights on the American coast
Rigging shears and shipping mast.
Getting heavy weights on board OF ship
Getting heavy weights from on board Of ships
Knowledge papers necessary to clear vessels from the
Custom House.
SECOND LnurxNANm.
Navigation.
Variation Of compass by attitudes.
State methods Of determining the errors Of compasses
supposed to DO incorrect.
Various evolu.ions Of a vessel and what 70 do IN bad
weather.
THIRD LnunSAsn.
NAVIGATION.
Multiplication and division by logarithms.
Days work.
Course and distance by Mercators sailing
Latitude by meridian altitudes. (Sun.)
Distance given to Ind difference Of longitude.
Use Of Mercator's charts
Adjusting and use Of aextant and quadrant
Seamonship.
Bending and Ynbending sails.
General management Of ship under ordinary crcun.
Marking and use Of band and deep sea lead line.
Use Of do and second glass.
Approved.
8. r. CHASE, Secretary Of Treasury.
All Of these examples In navigation In daily use,
and officers being examined are permitted to work by
any method they choose.
The examination Of third leutenants is not for promo
ton.
One Of the great drawbacks in tho revenue service
the small pay All grades receive salaries just onehaf
those received by officers Of the rank in tho navy
and less, because they not allowed any ratons by
the Department, but are obliged to pay their mess
bills out Of their scanty pittance The clothing Of
rine government officer costs about double that Of pri
vate citizen and Of course with rank appearances must
be kept up.
Just now the revenue service s doing very active duty
and in o few weeks these duties will be increased At
the present time least three vessels required to
guard our harbor and the most ceaseess vigilance
quired Of them. officers continually on boat duty
exposed to more than ordinary hardship In view Of
these circumstances bill has been drawn up by compe
tent persons for the increase Of the Of oers Of the
United States Revenue Cutter Service 1t will be pre-
scented to Congress in few days. and 1t is hoped that
Congress will take prompt action in the matter and give
them their merited dues.
The following is q copy Of the bill referred to-
BILL CONCERNING OF OFFICERS OF TIE REVENUE
CUTTER SERVICE OF TIE UNITED STATES.
Be enacted by the Senate and House Of Representa-
tves Of the United States Of America Congress assem-
bed that compensation Of the officers the revenue
cutter service be at the following rates, to witt
Captains In the cutter service shall receive the
same compensations commanders in the navy.
First eutenans the lieutenants In the navy.
Second iieutenants the masters in the navy
Third lieutenants the same passed midshpmen Ia
the navy.
Article e. All officers in the cutter service be-
low the rank of captain to be examined by board Of
officers appointed by the President and Secretary Of the
Treasury for that purpose and officer shall be pro-
noted until such examination has been had aud ia.
vorabe report made
Art g. No person shall hereafter be appointed as
lieutenant in the cutter service until he has been
examined by board Of competent officers appointed by
the President and Secretary Of the Treasury as his
qualifications; and before appointment produce
certificate from said board Of officers Of his competency
and navigator, and also proper evidence Of
| moral character.
Art a. All officers TO be appointed by the President Of
tue United States by and with the consent Of the Senate
| OF the United States.
Art s. Hereafter all officers Of the cutter
Of the United States shall be promoted according 70
| seniority.
The revenue squadron consists OF three steamers and
steam tender. fourteen schooners. two schooner
yachts generously rendered 10 the government for ser
vice during the pyesent troubles aud Eve scoones which
stolen from tue federal government by Southern
pirates, making grand total Of twenty-five vessels, in.
cluve Of TIC stolen The vessels undeC The inme