The Portland daily press., 1881-12-07
BOARD OF TRADE.
discussion of the Life-saying Service.

10 LEeaL Will LILO .1OFtlduQ boaAo VI ohNS@
writers in the matter of renting the Board OF
Trade room for the purpose of holding their
meetings.
A communication was received from the ex-
ecutive council of the National Board OF
Trade in reference to the next meeting of that
board, which will be held In Washington,
January IS, 1882. The communication was
ordered on file.
In the meeting of the full board an applica-
ton for membership was received from Sewall
b. Haskell By suspension of the rules he
was unanimously elected member.
The main object of the meeting was then
stated by President Anderson. He read
communication from j. NJ. Richardson, Super
intendent of the FIRST Life Saving District.
The paper stated that movement is on foot
for the increase of the compensation OF the
keepers of life saving stations, and called at
tention to few facts in relation to the service
performed by these keepers. The keepers
throughout the country receive yearly salary
of $500. They are Obliged to go to the several
stations the first of September and remain I'M
til the first of May. They are obliged to
furnish their own food and clothing. They
have absolute charge of the crew of surf men
and all the government property amounting
sometimes to $1,000, for which they are held
accountable to the government. They have
to keep their men drilled SO as to be able to
perform efficient duty. They must report
once week to Washington strict account of
all receipts and expenditures. In time of disas'
ter, if boats are used, they must take charge,
or If working ashore, have charge there. ANY
blunder or loss of GOODNESS on the part OF the
keeper would endanger the lives of all con-
cerned If goods are saved the keeper must
do his best to preserve them for the owners,
and II they are liable to duty must make a
complete list of them. He must obtain full
particulars of the disaster and forward the
same to Washington. During the four sum-
mer months, while the stations are closed, the
surfmen can go away, but the keeper must re-
main at home ready to answer any call o the
distressed. If he needs a crew he must muster
volunteers. The keepers have determined,
individually, not collectively, that at the close
of the present year they must resign. This
action has been rendered necessary from the
fact that they cannot support their families or
themselves at their present rate of wages.
These men are first class, and If they leave,
second rate men must take their places. In
view of these facts the request was made that
the Portland board of trade recommend to the
Maine members of Congress that they vote
and work for the raising of these salaries to
fair amount.
President Anderson agreed with the state
ments of the paper and said that he thought
the present pay niggardly. He strongly urged
the necessity of raising the salaries to reason
able sum.
Mr.. T. G.. Hersey stated that short time
ago he had application from one of the station
keepers for employment, which led him to in
vestigate the need in which the man stood of
the same He met Mr.. Richardson, of the
service in this district, who detailed to him the
exact facts in the case, and so reused his feel
ings that he asked him to prepare the commu-
nication mentioned above and send it to the
Board of Trade Mr.. Hersey then gave some
statistics of the work of the life saving service
last year. The service was organized as at
present in 1878. There are twelve districts in
the country, comprising 179 stations. The re-
port of 1880 gives the number Of disasters at
800. The number of passeng ers in danger dur
ing the year was 1885, of whom 1880 were
saved. The value of endangered vessels and
cargoes was $3,S11, 70S, of which $2,619,S07 was
saved. In 12S instances vessels were hove off
when wrecked. Other statistics were also CIV
en- Of less general interest to the public. Mr..
Jersey said that the coast is inadequately sup
piled with life saving stations, Maine espec-
tally. In the first district which includes the
coast of Name and New Hampshire, there are
only seven stations. There were Is disasters last
year. On the coast of Massachusetts, there are
Is stations with the same number of disasters.
On the coast of Rhode Island and Long Is
land there are So stations, and last year there
were but % disasters Now in view of the ne
cessity of these stations we should look out for
the men who have them in charge. They have
the small sum of $500 to support themselves and
families for year, and they have consented to
remain at that rate only until the last OF April.
There is no doubt that their places could be
filled with cheaper men, but we do not want
them.
Hon. Israel Washburn spoke briefly, agree
ing in every point with what Mr.. Hersey had
said.
Mr.. A. L. Hobson thought the present rate
of salary disgrace to the country.
Capt. Washington Ryan suggested that the
present pay is about half what it ought to be.
Mr.. j. W. Waterhouse concurred fully in
all that had been said, and agreed with the
preceding speaker that the pay is too small by
half.
Capt. Charles Deering of the steamer Lew
iston, said that he knew something of the men
employed as station keepers, and asserted that
they are all first class Sometimes they lose
their lives and leave their families without
means of support Congress ought to provide
for pensioning the widows and orphans of the
men who lose their lives in the Government
service. The present salary is altogether too
small. He thought that it would be wise to
increase the pay to 5000 year and rations fur
nished. Afterwards it might be still further
increased, but it would be better not to be too
large at first
J. j. Gerrish, Esq, endorsed the opinions of
the previous speakers.
Capt J. B. Coyle said that he was in full
accord with the idea of increasing the pay of
these men, and said that he knew that they
could not live on $500 year.
OudTlc5 IuCAduSuilii, AIcq.y oanOc l. OdA-
ter, Esq, Capt G. W. Ford, Capt. Balm, NJ. M
Rich, Esq, and others endorsed the opinions
already advanced.
The following resolutions, presented by T.
G. Hersey, Esq, were then unanimously
passed:
Resolved, That in the opinion of this Board
the life saving service of the United States,
under its efficient management, in rescuing
shipwrecked passengers and crews and saving
property deserves the thanks of all and should
receive the favorable consideration of Con-
gress.
RESOLVED, That the service should be further
extended and increased pay given to keepers
to secure or retain the best men for this re-
sponsible and dangerous position.
1t was voted that the Secretary forward to
the members of Congress from Maine copy
of the above resolutions and the report Of the
meeting as published in the daily papers.
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE HUTCHINSON FAMILY.
Tonight the Hutchinson Family, assisted by
NJ T;ttiofa1d tenor and Miss Florence