The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-02-09
Our Washington Letter.

Ine6icjcncy Of the Lite-Saving Service Who
is to Blame 2-A Chance for Anoitcr In
vestigating Committec-LoJ5yists Excluded
from the Floor Of CoagcSS-Thc Temper
ance Rcuiral-Socicty, dc.
WASHINGTON, DC, Feb. ?, 1878.
The loss of the steamship Metropolis, and
Of SO many valuable lives, has renewed the
discussion in official circles here, which arose
Immediately aftertho loss of the US. steamer
Huron, as to the efficiency or inciliciency of
the Life-saving Service. This service is a
branch of the Treasury Department, and not
Of the Navy Department as many suppose !;
and is, moreover, a service which costs the
government annually a large amount of
money. There is probably no purpose for
which our oyertaXed taxpayers would more
cheerfully pay out money than that of saw
ing life; but when we hear of vessels going
down-twice in succession-at almost the
same identical spot, and within few miles
of a life-saving station, and when the rescu-
cd in both cases are loud in their denuncia-
tions of the apathy of those in charge of this
station, it would appear that an investigation
would not be out of order. In neither of
these two cases did the men of the lile-sav-
ing station put in an appearance until near
ly eight hours after the vessel had struck
eight long hours, during which nearly all of
the frenzed passengers might have been
brought safely on shore by the aid of the
mortar and life car of the station, if the crew
had done its duty 1t has even been charg-
cd in some quarters tha. our Lite-saving
Service is a mere political machine, but this
should be 10th to believe. Yet when we
consider this noted and repeated ineficiency,
and also the fact that the English service,
which numbers three times as many stations,
costs less than one-half of what our govern
ment pays, it would, l repeat, seem that one
Of the numerous investigation committees
recently appointed might proftably look in
to this subject.
The recent action of the House of Repre-
sentatives in excluding all cx-members from
the privileges of the floor of the House, un-
less they sign statement to tho effect
that they are not personally interested in
any legislation pending before Congress, has
had the effect Of creating considerable bad
feeling. Quite number of eX- members had
been enlisted by those who "run the mach
inc" for the Texas Pacific Railroad to lobby
in their favor, and the floor of the House of
Representatives has been fairly beseged by
them, to the great chagrin and discomfort of
those who are opposed to this scheme. As
no oath is required TO this statement, how
ever, it is doubtful if it will ultimately have
the desired effect; for the interest Il lobbyist
has in pending legislation need not of neccs-
sity be personal" He might first assign
his contingent interest TO third party, and
then disclaim that he has any personal in
terest Lobbyist, as a class, are a sharp set
and there can be little doubt that they will
find some escape from the present dilemma.
Murphy, the temperance revivalist, is still
here, and is making converts at u very sat
istactory rate. The Lincoln Hall meetings
are crowded every night, and among those
who have encouraged the revival by their
presence may be mentioned the President
and Mrs. Hayes. A bill has been introduc-
ed in Congress to prohibit the manufacture
and sale of liquor within the boundaries OF
the District Of Columbia, but it is extremely
doubtful If it will pass.
The bad weather prevalent during the past
week has seriously interterred with society
the usual receptions were held, but of grand
parties we have had none. The coming
week, however, promises to be one of unus-
ual interest-both in Congress and in society
hence, accept as an apology for the dullness
of this present epistlc the promise of better
one next time. B.