The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-21
The Lighthsuss Beard.

The Lighthsuss Beard.
Mr.. Sargent, of California, has introduced
In the Senate bill for the reconstruction Of
the Lighthouse Board It abolishes the posi-
tons In that body now held by naval officers
and creates others to be occupied by heads of
bureaus in the Navy Department. 1t re-
moves, in Short persons of special expert
their places by adding to the already onerous
duties of certain officials On enforced partici-
patton In service of which they have no
knowledge and in which they con feel no in
terest The effect of the measure, If carried,
will be to destroy the Board Is it now ex-
lists and put the lighthouse system in the
hands of the Engineer Department of the
army. It o>ght previously to establish in the
land service body analogous to that cele-
brated branch of the sea service known as tho
Horse Marines.
For our present lighthouse system in this
efficient in the world, with, perhaps, the ex-
ception of Great Britain, We are indebted to
the navy. Until 1845 the lighthouses were in
charge of the Fifth Auditor of the Treasury,
and were conducted on the rush and farthing
candle principle; but at that time two officers
of the navy, Lieutenants Jenkins and Bache,
were sent abroad to examine the European
system. In accordance with the elaborate
report of these officers the present Board was
established, consisting of several civilians,
two naval officers, two army engineer officers
and naval and military secretary. Up to
within year past the Board has worked bar
moniously, and our commercial marine has
been perfectly satisfied with the manner in
which our coasts were lighted, of which the
details have been mostly under tho direction
of the naval secretary, while contracts and
superintendent of construction of lighthouses
have been under the Constructing Army En-
gineer.
The mercantile community will, no doubt,
be startled at the proposed new arrangement,
for common sense will tell any one that naval
officer with his sea experience is much more
competent to manage lighthouse matters than
q soldier can possibly be. The former knows
better where lighthouses should be located,
and, having witnessed the systems adopted
throughout the world, he knows when the
lighthouses under his charge are properly con-
Quoted In the new plan, instigated by the
army engineers on the Board, the naval edu-
much satisfaction to our merchants and ship
masters are ignored, and, while the people ut
large will admit that our forts and arsenals
are beautiful and expensive works, they will
not consent that the lighthouse system shall
be changed simply to crafty certain engineer
officers. who. because they cannot have their
own way in all respects, are determined to
break up the present system.
Senator Sargent has hitherto been the
great champion of the navy. Can it be that
he has grudge against Secretary Robson,
with whom he has formerly worked in bar
ness? It would certainly appear so. But is
the country to suffer from this in-consjdered
bill in consequence There is, perhaps, no
subject on which Mr. Sargent is less
instructed than this lighthouse business,
and this will, no doubt DO taken into
consideration when the matter comes before
the committee. Senator Boutwell,, who had
the lighthouses under his control as Secretary
of the Treasury, is very familiar with this
whole subject and we recommend him to be
careful that no injustice is done to the mer-
camille interests of the country through the
ll-advised recommendations of captious
officer, with whom this bill originated.
If any change is made in the present sys-
tenn the entire lighthouse establishment ought
to be placed under the Secretary of the Navy,
where it properly belongs. All the inspectors
a1oat are naval officers, very many of our
lights are in vessels, and it requires an init
mate knowledge OF the soundipgs and ap-
proaches to locate q light properly, oil of
which belong to the naval element naval
officer could very well determine whether q
lighthouse was properly constructed but how
should on engineer know whether lightship
was properly located, built and equipped?
The present Board has given great satisfac-
ton to the country, and there should be no
change, unless to place the establishment in
the hands of the navy.
The MILITARY INTERFERENCE AT v1cxspuno
has an exceedingly ugly look after the apollo
getic disclaimers put forth in the President
Message After the President had attempted
to screen the Louisiana interference behind
the assertion that army officers are not law
yers, thereby making an implied admission
that they had overstepped legal limits, they
would naturally refrain from taking any
similar step on their own Judgment and await
commands from headquarters before ventur-
ing to sct 1t is therefore important to know
hy whose orders the troons acted at Yicksbnro