New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-06

ysury Board 10 meet once three mont instead OF
once week now and TO consider only snch questions
IA may DO submitted 10 it In writing by the Secretary Of
the Treasury instead of as taking original ursc-
ton and directory power the da business o. tho
lighthouse establishment It may DO constituted as 20
personnel as Is now except that the Chief OF tho Bureau
OF Navigation OF the Navy Department 10 be or oVco
one Of its members The head OF tho lgnthOus service
IL 20 be superintendent " DO appointed by the Prcs
dent and ~ have salary OF $4,000 year. In his hands
is to be placed all the power lodged In Tho prescn
Board on his shoulders Is TO DO laid all tho responsibility
now resting on those Of the above mentioned. and
from him aoae Is 20 be expected all that IL done by
them.
Upon nanring 90 to the spooino objections the pro-
posed PLAN the reporter Informed that II would
duco tine Lighthouse Board which IL now body OF pro-
fossionai experts sitting weekly to decide upon plans OF
active operations nullity, by making its meetings in
frequent by deprvne It ol power to direct and giving 1t
only advisory power aud that only questions submit
ted "a it by the Treasury Department II viii make tho
appointed by the President, instead ~ chairman to he
elected from aincng The members Of TIE Board by Tho
members of the Board, thereby making ~ possDio n not
probable, that he may he person who has connendoi
himself to the President for his poltca! rather Chan his
scientific attanmcntsin fact making Of this position a
$4,000 place." to be fought for by plAco-luntcIs.
The lighthouse service costs the Government between
two and three millions por year wille administered ~
these army navy, ana vii Officers OF experience; aad
thus far IN the quarter OF century when has elapsed
s establishment Tho BREATH OF soanal has mover
touched H. IL bas meyer been oh0lgc wits CCr1I ton,
never even with oXtfavagance though II has been VIII
fled for what has been called iis pnSinony. All this
might be changed II tho administration of the service
passed from scientific to political lands Commerce aud
navigation would bo tubrc I'd 10 great danger the
service passed nom experienced ia unuS rcncnrod hands
The Lighthouse Board lac charge Of to imam ouauoe
OF all tho Lighthouses on tho laAe riytr, and ocean
coasts-neaTly LOCO large and smal-and Of placing
and keeping m place a thestesm tho hot air thp bell
fog sigma all the thOsdJs OF buBJs, ana toe light
vessels II has 20 build al the lighthouses aud lght.vus-
sells ordered by Congress u has TO receive hHd instruct
all she pOlit caly appointed hghkeepefs and TO maze
and kogp them trustworthy aud elcint II has TO buy
all S5OO,OOO worth Of Oil and Vlcf supplies used by
the establishment, and IL has 10 Keep abr act with the
world OF discovery III sciencb.
Wien the reporter asked how tho lighthouses OF other
countries were managed, he told that the present
system OF this country was adopted after study Of the
management OF lighthouses throughout the evil ned
world by c0mDissIOn OF naval and army officers APP
pointed by order OF Congress at the earnest request
those who represented tue eoniefce OF this country
England Scotland Ireland, France, Russia, spain, Hot
landall the great commercial power s-nanagp their
lighthouses by mixed UomnisslOh posed maritime
engineer, and scientific officers Of tAs Governments 10