New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-13
THE CONVERSATION WITH MR.. cox.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDUNI

senate is very Ike II. have for dozen years been
identified with this kind of legislation. il is about
the only solaco in this busy and wrangng legisia-
tive service. The record Of the service since got
the first &c., 900 for the patrol system the Jersey
coast has been a marve! Of goodness It counts as
among its benefacions over 10000 lives and over
| 81 900, COO saved"
is the service failing that you ask for more legs
| laiion ~
| mo; we have been lucky. There has been no
| conspicuous disaster this winter, but much good
work. There is seeming lack in the service. But
/ never went to bed this fall and winter in the
stormy nights, that did not trenblc for some mis-
adventure in the organization. because the amour
propye of the service has been endangered or de-
moralizcd by the mean pay of the crews and keep
ors. aud the service is really kept alive in many
| places by the hope of better treatment from the
| Government"
| What is your bill1 What are the reasons for
| its enactment"
al will give you the matter Ly sections. The first
section provides for certain new stations in danger
| ous places on sea and lake coasts. There may he
some amendments to this section for additional SER
vice, hut the places named are demanded by fresh
| commerce and new claims on or hnranities. Tho
| second section provides for changes discontinu
| ance of stations. 1t is the same as in the light
house law The matter ought to he left in the dis
| cretion of the superintendent"
The third section provides only for the transfer
! of eGuiprnepts The fourh section is intended to
| increase the duty and accountability of supcrn-
| tnnicnts. They are made disbursing officers They
give bonds The bill increases and adjusts their
pay. The compensation is now utterly inadeXuate.
| They give large bond uow-from $4,000 to
$50 OO0 Other officers of the and less RESPONSE
| bility are paid more. These men might bo made
customs inspectors. They can then help protect the
! rcvenne when goods are wrecked on which dntcs
ought to be paid.
"The fifth section gives TO the Secretary of tine
Treasury authority tx the pay of station keepers
Discretion should thus he given the dutics OF
| keepers are unequal. CONSIDERING tho nrrilors
naturc OF the serS ice 1t is no wonder that the corps
is in danger of dishanding and that the press and
| people are camorous for added recompense. Watch
men in onr pablo Offices and cities, policemen ana
anitors get better pay for less work aud risk Of
lie and limb. The men in this service Nust be cx-
perts in the surf The bill of 1879 reorgtnizing tho
service became law, because we recognized the
Fishermen and others OF the coast for their dearly
bought ex xpcricnce. These meu are trained in the
| breakers. The of the service is owing to
| their skill and courage. These proud of
their work. and the chivaric pride of the service has
| much TO do with its success. Other work, such as
the care Of stations. wrecks and revenue, is part
| If their duty. They lnswerable for mperillcd
| property, as well as life. They protect well
| rescue"
"Yon rank our service. | suppose. at the head Of
all such systems throughout the worlds"
at has no parallel. There is comparison 70 he
| made. | went last summer among the stations on
the I,le of Wight and can vonch that the best of
them may learn of us both to the paraphernalia
and the modus opcrandi. was surprised at their
inadeGuacy. We set example for the world.
1t is almost divine work. The results show what
say TO be true. Loss of life has increased every
where except on our coasts Our loss has decreased
wear after year This dimnuton will surprise, as
it ought to gratifv, people. 1t is - per cent,
although the disasters have rot decreased. The
number Of persons mperilled has greatly increased
but the rcscues have been growing larger in
number The keepers have done we'll Mr.
Kiuball and his aids have enertfzed the
organization. but the keepers and crews are
the heroes They are paid the tiny pttaucc of 1913
a month They have to pay for their own support
out of it, What is left for rainy day or for their
folks after they are drowned lostf They will not
and ought not to stay in the servcc-Inuch they
pr themselves onit-if we do not appreciate hem.
designations of some OF the best men have come ill.,
Others are c0aved TO Stay-in the hope of fair pay.
Some stations will be utterly unnamed next season
on account of poor pay Some stations have already
been broken up. Some without head-Only
crew. Congress could not do better thing than to
provide for these emergencies Of the present and
future"
What of the crewsl Are they paid enough9'
"TlIcy were restricted TO $40 a month. That re- |
s,rction was removed by the law of 1873. and the
supcrmtendent has discretion to pay proper rate
All he wants is the money. am on the Appropra- |
tions Committee and shall try to make that pro-
hose mem vptl
outside of the Government service
..Wond you give extra pay for extra peril and !
service ~
"My bin does not Originally had pension |
clause but have separated that, rs there are pre-
inditts Just now about pensions. | sent that part
of the bill as a separate matter TO the Pensions Com
miltee 1 like Mr. COngers idea best. It is |
IN his bill 1t gives the salaries to the families for
a wear or more after heads of the families are lost in
the service | got 81 900 for the families of the
crews lost in the terrible storm two years ago on
Lake Huron gotitat the tail end OF an apprcpria-
ton bill 1t was given grudgngly then and ont
of order We wall try and make system for the
families of those lost in rescuing hfe-a general
law"
Mr.. Cox continued: "The sixth section relieves
the Pacific coast from tho limitation Of the Act of
1878. That act allows he head OF the office to fix
IN, period of the manning Of the Pacific stations.
Section provides for some insignia of merit
a!dirional TO the medal for accumulated instances
of life saving. II il copied from tie law for awards
to masters and crews OF foreign vessels in rescuing
American crews. The eighth section provides
civil service qualification. Fitness, not partisan
shin. is the criterion. nus l3 the chaplrJ
ON The brow of tins service. Here. in this
heroic service is the place for experts and not poll
irr,fragahly When this rule j. departed from, the
srryic. viii die, and it ought t. die. No one wants
10 knaw-whle Struggling IN the breakers-the
politics of his savior What he wants Is stalWart
man not Stalwart otherwise,
{" Az a legislator want 10 know only worth and