The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-03
The Iilr.Saying Coast Guard.

The choice between putting the liic-saving
service under the care of Ancient Mariner
THOMPSON and leaving it in the hands Of
Honest JONI SHERMAN affords Il good
chance for the balancing Of OWLS II is true
that the civil service Is entitled 10 the Kitty
Hawk laurcls. but it was naval officer that
ran the Huron ashore. On the principle Of
letting i'll enough alone IT would seem wiser
to leave the lifc-saving service where it is.
There j.. in fact. no reason yet apparent
why the liic-savmg service should not be-
long to the revenue marine. II concerns the
commerce Of the country far moro than the
naval establishment as much moro as the
merchant marine exceeds in number and
value the war ships. With exactly as good
reason the lighthouse service and the man
agemcnt Of revenue cutters could be taken
away from the Treasury Department. 80
far as can be seen. the proposed change is
only part Of the system of contemplated
transfers from the Interior and Treasury
Departments. in order 10 prevent reductions
in the military and naval establishments.
Tho dutic. Of coast patrols and surimen are
not specially naval duties. and their failures
In times past have not necessarily been due
t. want of super,ntendcncc 10y the Navy
Department.
Indeed. the Navy Department was once,
according to Mr.. Cox, offered the charge oi
the revenue marine. and declined il on the
express ground Of its being outside the lc-
Ultimate functions of the department. \
large part of the coast guard service is con-
nccted with the lakes. and there the navy is
almost entirely out OF it, sphere. and on
other grounds it was cnce held without dis
rutc that the lie--aving service was "a
Treasury Department function. But now we
are told that this service must bc turned
over to the navy. in order hat it may bee per-
formed 10y skilled seamcn under naval disci-
pline. senator SARGENT introduced bill
for the transfer. which the Senate Commit
tee reported the very next day, requiring
the turning over Of the present establish
mcnt, with it, property and records, to the
Secretary Of the Navy before the 1t day Of
July next Mr.. WHIrrHoRNE in the House
has iavorably reported a similar bill from
the House Naval COMMITTEES. Neither Of
these bills has received the sanction Of the
Committee ON Commerce.
The senate bill provides for the as IN
ment Of existing naval officers to the post.
paymaetor- for onhsjment- under the navy
regulations, oi coast guurdS, AMI Tor the
immediate direction of tine service 10y the
Secretary OF the Navy. But what the public
safety demands is not SO much Il shifting of
the property and records from one Cabinet
officers charge TO anothcr's a. the opening
Of the stations early in September, the III
crease in their number on special danger
spots like the North Carolina coast, the OBJ
tanning of more efficiency from keepers by
making their duties more important and
more lucrative, and an increase in the num-
hers Of the lifc-saving crews nj a few points
VIGOROUSLY dangerous. II the Naval Com
nitt""s of Congress can show that these
thing will he accunpl she'd more effectively
and moro economically under the Navy De-
partment, thcv will hrgn to build up an
argument for the transfer.