New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-06
sFcRErARY CHANDELIERS RECOMMENDA
TIONS,
tIIs PROPOSAL TO TRANSFER CERTAIN BUREAUS
FROM THE TREASURY TO THE NAVAL DEPART
MENT SHARPLY CRITICISED.
nY TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRIBUNE

ms PROPOSAL TO TRANSFER CERTAIN BUREAUS
from TIE TREASURY TO THE NAVAL DEPART
MENT SHARPLY CRITICISED.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Dec 6-Secretary Chambers TO-
Communications for the transfer of a number OF
n.anchos .of the Treasury service to the Navy De-
nartpent are strenuously opposed in all OF them.
Tbev are the Revenue Marine. the Lille Saving
servicc the Coast Service, the Light House
service the Marine Hospital service, ana
the Steamboat Inspection Service. These are
important not only because of their tuncuons
lint because of the number of their employees. Inc
officers and those grades of employees recorded III
the Government Blue Book alone number respect
ively. 2O4, ZIG, 1872, 1904. 49, and 1ll-or about
1000 Secretary Chambers reasons Tor laVollhg
The transfer are substantially that these bureaus
Rre naturally allied with the Navy.in the character
AZ their service and that several OF them are
sIsod,. oaBcered 10 n certain extent from the Navy
Secretary Foger when asked for his view of the
recommen ations this morning, said that he saw
no reason for a change. The bureaus were doing
gel, where thew were and he thought it was good
plan TO let well enough alone. He SAID ne could
not sec for example, what woud be gained by
transferring the Revenue Marine, which naturally
belonRed to the Treasury. just as many Olncers
xxould be needed after the transfer as before. III
naval officers were brought IN, the men who had
given their lives TO the service would have TO go
and that was a fact to be considered. lie added
smiiingly that they might take away all the bu-
reaus and he would still have good deal more than
NE could do.
Minor officials in the Treasury characterize tho
sxhols plan as one to provide several
hundred naval officers with places where
,bsv can draw sea pay and be
in less danger of being recognized out OF the sery
ice altogether and generally to aggrandize the
Navy. They argue that every one OF the branches
named properly belongs to the Treasury Depart
.ment because 1t is connected with the protection
of commerce. a purely civil duty whereas the Navy
Is simply for purposes of defence and warfare.
This was the view aken by Admiral Shubrick on
former proposition b. transfer the Light House
service 10 the Navy Department. He was the first
chairman of the Light House Board, and held that
position many years Admiral Porter is understood
20 be also opposed to Secretary Chambers recon-
menda;ions. and Admiral Wyman. who has jus
died. ami who was chairman of the Light House
BOARD. expressed himself as opposed TO the change
Ina, before his death. Treasury officials go even
further and say that not only would there be moth
ing gained by the transfer, but that 1t would not be
possible for the Navy TO administer some OF these
bureaus as efficiently a. they are managed at pres
Ont II naval officers should replace those now II
command If the Revenue Marine. for example. the
ordinary detail would be- three wears. no. long
enough II Is said, TO begin TO learn the du les
There arc 50 many delicate questions regarding the
eni,rceuent of the customs and navigation la VS. 10
Ie mastered that il Is said 10 take ten or fifteen
wears OF even longer for an obcer TO become prop
erly yeived in them. 1t Is also argued that the
duties of officers of the Revenue Marine
arc 80 far out of the hne of the naval
profession that the prospect of Doing = SORT OF
police duty would n bo pleasant 10 the more
alnbitl,sIs mon in he Navy; and any minglIng OF
the two services would lead 10 Jealousy and
trouble. -, -, o.
The mere rumOr that atransfer OF the Lille Saving
Service was proposed has aroused general pro-
test throughout The ry. TINS IL prOb5D y she
least likely 10 be made OF the proposed changes.
Euperintendrnt Kimbal calls attention to the fact
flIi The relationship between this service and the
Navy is only apparent. aud not real. Both officers
End men IN tue Navy are reilly used only 10 deep
water service, whereas the work OF the Life
Saving Service is along the snoro and lew
Saidred wards ont Ia the wa,er. The
S.IfInen of the Life Saving Service are
uermen who have been all their lives IN the sur
slIere many sailors are as helpless as landSmen
mperinienden. Kmball says the attempt Oh sailors
u ct Lore In their own boats " greater cause
If loss Of life than any other that comes nndeI the
observation of the service IL the service should 10