The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-16
OUR REVENUE MARINE.

OUR REVENUE MARINE.
Revised Regulations for the Government Of
the Service-A Rigid Observance OF the
Rules 10 be Enforced.
WASHINGTON, August IL, 1871.
The revised regulations for the government OF the
Revenue Marine OF the United States were to-day
tent TO the Secretary Of tine Treasury from the gov
ernment printing Office. All orders or regulations
from the Treasury Department In conflict with the
new regulations are revoked and a rigid observance
br them is required from all persons belonging
OF this branch Of the United States service.
Under the head OF organization" the grades OF
officers in this service are captains first. second
and third eutenants, chief engineers and first
and second assistant engineers. No person Will be
originally appointed to higher grade than third
lieutenant, second assistant engineer until
he snail have passed physical and professional
Examination, and promotions Will in all cases be
made according to merit and professional quali6ca
lions. without regard 10 seniority. Heretofore
position IN the revenue marine was regarded as
snecure, accessible to those who had the mos: in
nuence, without regard to merit. Secretary Bout
we'll will be seen by the above requires the strict
est examination for entry Into the lowest grade
OF the service, and upon merit alone Will promotions
hereafter be made. Under the head OF "Dutes OF
Officers" the following sections incorpora-
ted
Omcers, upon the receipt OF orders from the de-
partment are expected to obey them with alacritv.
Any attempt to procure their revocation Qualiti
cation through political or other influence, being
will incur the serious dspeasure OF the department,
and note OF the fact will be made
s opoo the name of s ns
party, and Will stand 10 his discredit All appllCa-
tons for leaves OF absence on account OF sickness
must be accompanied by he certificate prescribed
In the foregoing regulation. together with cert1f
cate OF Board OF Survey provided for In the Follow
Ing Section and the officer snail state how long he
has been absent already on that account and by
whose permission. No departure from the fore
going regulation VIII be at the solicitation OF
an oiicer except In case OF Sickness aud hen only
upon the production TO the department VI certificate
the effect that the nature OF The disease absolutely
requires change OF climate, made by "A Board OF
Survey consisting OF surgeon IN the army or the
navy ana me surgeon OF marine hospital VINO
leoIor OF Customs, upon the written application OF
the officer. II these medical officers are not within
reach the Collector will select two pm ySiclans OF
good standing, TO make SAID survey, at the expense
OF tue oGicor concerned. Leaves o. absence other
year. may be granted TO officers In the discre.
ton OF the department, when the exigences OF the
public service viii permit.
The following section Is OF particular interest to
underwriters and owners OF ships, and Is specially
important as being new rule enacted by Secretary
Boutwell, for the protection OF the government
In all cases where revenue vessels employed In
assisting vessels In distress may incur any neces-
assisted may be required 10 indemnify the United
States for the and 10 this end the commanding
officer shall forward to the Collector oil the port
under whose superintendence he may be an accurate
estimate of expenses Incurred and damages sus-
taned which the Collector Will transmit to the de-
parment, with full statement Of all the facts. to-
gether with the name OF the vessel the master and
consignee at the port to which she may be bound.
Under the head OF general Instructions the
new regulations contain the foowing:-
The practice OF presenting swords plate or other
things OF value by inferior officers or crews TO their
superior or commanding officer, in the way OF COM
pment, and all woes, resolutions or testimonials,
whether OF praise or censure. from interiors to SUI
perors, injurious to discipline, aud are there
fore strictly forbidden
The next important addition Is the requirement
on the part OF the commanding oficer OF revenue
vessels 60 make their weekly report in duplicate.
one copy of which viii be forwarded 10 the Treasury
Department. Heretofore but one report was made
out anu that forwarded 10 The Collector OF Customs
In the port where the revenue vessel was stationed.
These reports all the seizures and deten-
tons made every fact connected with any rregu-
larity discovered in the ships papers, &c. Under
the old regulations the Collector alone held this
Information, and was at Liberty to ACT make such
recommendations as he deemed proper TO The Secre-
tary OF the Treasury IN the compromise OF cases or
the exaction Of fines. The new rule VIII make the
Treasury Department the Judge, and whenever cases
are reported the same Information that should guide
the Collector Will be before tue Department, by
which the correctness OF the Collectors proposition
NAV be examined. 1t frequently happens that reve.
nue. officers who are entitled under the law to
one-fourtn the amount OF The case reported
deprived Of 1t b. the Irregularities prac-
used by customs officials mis- too, VIII be pre-
vented by the information fled IN the weekly re-
port and transmitted 10 tle Treasury Department
giving the Treasury officials the privilege OF decid-
Ing WAC are parties entitled 10 the iniormer's
share. Another Important section requires the
commanding officer 10 take complete inventory
oT all property belonging to the vessel and OH
being relieved to require his successor to receipt for
wardcd to the treasury Department Such acconn.
liability has not hitherto been required, and the
government was without an inventory OF the pro-
perty on the revenue veSse,S.
Under the head OF ''Onicers Commanding Steam
Vessels the new regulations require that when
officer shall be appointed 10 the command OF a
steam vessel he Is TO use all possible diligence to
make himself acquainted with the principles and
construction OF the engines, the intention eject
OF the various parts OF the machinery, the time the
engines constructed, the repairs they may have
undergone, the period when the last repairs
made ana when the vessel last received new boilers
Thirteen other rules have been added, specifying
III detail the pains The commanding oncer must
take To prevent and avoid accdents, particularly
with regard TO the duties Of engineers, one Of which
prescnoes that the senior engineer on board shall
and an parts OF the vessel which are occupied Oy
them Il by stores for tGelr use, ana TO report
them TO the executive officer Tor inspection, to'nake
immediate report should any defect or Danger De
discovered. me rules for the government or the
executive officer, ohcers OF the watch the second
and third lieutenapts. have all been changed ana
important additions made, looking to the increase
OF the efficiency OF the service. AN entire new SET
OF rules has been inserted iof the government OF
Inspecting ofcer OF the rank OF captain
viii hereafter be detailed by the department 70
thoroughly inspect the condition OF the huls. spars
rigging sails, boats, machinery and all the equip.
mens Of the revenue vessels IN service to ascertain
II the regulations prescribed have been fully carried
ont, and whether the officers In the performance OF
tier duties have conducted themselves gener-
ally with credit 10 the government. Rules TO
prevent collisions, as prescribed by the Board OF
supervising Inspectors, Will hereafter govern
vessels In the Revenue Marine Service. The above
are some OF the more Important changes and addi-
lions made, and as VIII be seen by the appointment
OF an Inspecting Oilcer 1t Is The determination OF
lv anfor