The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-27
Reconstruct the Life Saving Service.

hin to reform and organize the Life
Saving Service was introduced in Congress
by Nj. Cox just before the recess. 1t should
be passed. but not without amendments
which may enable 1t to make a clean sweep
of partisan and Incompetent officials.
The people Of this country will not tolerate
the prostitution 10 political ends Of the
fund assigned to the rescue OF human life
They have been made too familiar with the
facts TO bee put of with halfway measures
or to acccpt mock reform. The events of
the last six weeks have demonstrated that
the root Of the evil must he sought, not in
this or that local district, but at head
quarters in Washington.
The failure of General Superintendent
kIMBALL to remove his subordinate, HA-
VEINS from the Fourth District, seems to in
dcatc that the latter's acknowledgement Of
his office for political gain was dictated or
countonanced by his superior. The facts in
the case were brought out in THE Sun, and
had been previously attested 10y petitions
subscribed by hundreds OF the most rcputa-
bic residents on the Jersey coast. 1t was
shown that this man, HAVENs, has persist
emily sighted or discharged the most eff
cicnt and Jealous officers. provided they de-
clined to further his small political machi-
nations. II was shown that weakness and
Incompetence Were promoted over the head
of merit, and that In n crucial Instance one
Of the most accomplished surlmen ON the
Atlantic scabUard-RUssEL WHITE, whose
gallant action Of last winter is still fresh In
public rcmcmbrance-had been expelled al
| together from the service. 1t was further
shown that this proceeding, for which no
avcwablc prctcxt could be found, had fol-
| lowed with reasonable promptitude a re-
| fusal on the part Of the Jersey surfman to
| vote for Mr.. HAYES. We may add that, al
| though the official investigation was con
| Quoted behind closed doors and with picked
| witnesses, yet the main facts could not be
suppressed. and they were reported 10y Lieut..
De HART to the General Superintendent.
| Now, what IL the latter officer for, and
how does he earn the handsome salary sub
tractcd from fund made sacred to the res
cue If human life: We nccd not say that a
General Superintendent never fires mortar
| or enters lifcboat. But it Is his business
to sre to IL that the men who receive the
Government money can do both the one ard
the other. Does Superintendent KIMBALL
evince II clear perception OF his duties, and
| a loyal resolve to carry them out, in his an
nual report just published? What does he
say about the grievous state Of things which
exists in District 1. and which has been re-
| p,atedly exposed in the columns OF THE
Sun? He does not attempt to deny that
this district, which covers the coast line of
New Jersey, Is the most important In the
service. But he deilantly asserts, In the
teeth Of evidence, that the conduct Of the
crews on all occasions Of disaster has been
creditable; and with this extraordinary
statement he hastens to dismiss the subject
Now Superintendent KIMBALL knows that
when the bark RIukam was wrecked of
Ocean Grove, the paid crews Of Stations q
and positively refused to board the vessel
He knows that russell WHITE alolie OF the
paid employees insisted on making the st.
tempt, and with the aid OF voluntee~s con.
triyed to rescue no fewer tina. o,ghteer
lives. He knows further. for "a truth roul,
not be wholly hidden f. ,,a fsrcicsl oc,,cls
investigation, thu ,ta ros,,s.,. -,
| that occas' ,.,.I ,,,.o,
WHIT .o' n"s - o,.,i..,
- head to be keeper OF station
I'D that the latter as a reward Of merit ma
been expelled altogether from the service
In tho face of these aud kindred facts whicl
are Of record In his office, and are known L
! the whole community, Superintendent kIM
BALL has the assurance to talk about III
necessity Of securing accomplished surf
men and to lament the interference OF loca
politicians Notwithstanding its smoot
| pretcnsons and sly omissions. this repoI
, has made IL clear that the person mainl
[ | responsible for the incficiency OF the LII