The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-01-10


prive "the natural seaport" of the Steam rev.
enue cutter "Mahoning." aud to give us in
place of it an incensIderable sailing vessel
an iniuuity tnat was seasonably prevented by
tksFigilance and energy of our Representa-
tive in Congress-has naturally made the rev.
enue service more than ever subject of in
terest to our people. 1t is with great pleas.
ure that we have read the exceedingly able
report of Mr. Devereux, Chief of the Revenue
Marine, Marine Hospitals and Life7Saving
Stations. 1t is surprising to most people to
find that the functions of the revenue marine
service are so various and so extensive
Those who have taste for practical reform
will be especially pleased with Mr.. Devereux's
report, for he gives therein an account of
some recent efforts to reorganize and reform
the service of which he is the leading official.
A board of experienced officers has been en-
gagged during the last year in examining the
subordinate officers of the bureau. So far,
1O1 lieutenants have been examined, and rs
were found incompetent and have been rec
commended for removal. The examination
of Captains and Chief Engineers has not vet
heen completed. The captains are examined
on the following points prescribed by C.P.
Patterson, President of the Board: Seaman
ship, stowage and trim of vessels, knowledge
OF tne general conditions and requirements to
make vessel seaworthy, the general princi-
PAoo - e.;s,a and nronar caro of
boilers, navigation, coasting, knowledge of the
principal lights of the United States and the
"rule Of the road" gunnery and revenue
laws.
Mr.. Devereux makes the following impor-
tant suggestion:
Impressed with the necessity of adopting
some method by which officers of the lower
grade may obtain preparatory training to fit
them for the peculiar duties they are called to
perform, measure is suggested calculated in
future to remove difficulties hitherto incident
to an officer new to the service on assuming
duties which embarrass because altogether in
experienced in them, capable and experienced
though he may be as seaman and navigator.
Prominent among these duties is that of
boarding and examining manifesfs OF vessels.
l would therefore recommend that the au-
thorIty of Congress be obtained for the crea-
ton OF another grade in the service below
third lieutenant, to be designated ensign;
this officer, after an examination into the
candidates physical condition, natural apti-
tude, education and character, to be appointed
by the Secretary for three years. At the ex-
piration of two years professional examina-
ton to be made as to the ensign's qualifca-
ton for promotion to third lieutenant -
should he fail in this examination to be grant
ed one year for preparation, at the expiration
OF which final examination for promotion
to be made, when, if again failing to pass, his
commission to be revoked.
He also renews his suggestion of last year
that Thoroughly. built, staunch, able and
fast sea-going propeller of at least 100 tons
burden, for relief and inspection ship, for
general supervising duty and winter cruising
along the Atlantic coast from Eastport, Me-,
southwark to Hatteras, or all over the coast
as exigencies may require, with a general rem
devious at New York." be added to the SER
vice. AS measure of very great Importance
he recommends "the assignment of five cap
tains as division commanders, one to reside
ON the Pacific, one for the lakes, and three on
the Atlantic coast, headquarters at Detroit,
Portland, New York, Savannah, and San
Francisco, respectively. These officers to be
invested with supervisory care of the cutters
in the districts assigned to them, and person.
al oversight and direction of the movements
Of the vessels, and to see that their duties
are properly performed, and the records of
their labors transmitted to the Department;
all acquisitions to be examined and approved
by them before their transmission, and their
reports to be made quarterly, showing in de-
tail what the vessels have DONE" he is of
the opinion that a few properly constructed
steam launches could be used with great ad-
vantage in preventing smuggling at certain
points on the Southern coast, where that bus
ness is now carried on with impunity be-
cause they run into rivers, creeks and bayous
unapproacheble by revenue cutter.
There are now twenty-four steamers and
ten sailing vessels in the revenue service. OF
these there are employed on the coast of |
Maine the "McCulloch" and 'Viglant' at this |
port, and the sailing vessel, 81. c. Dobbin" |
at Castine and Eastport respectively.