Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-02-13

PoRT DISCOVERY, Feb. 11.-Sailed-
brig Levi Stevens.
SPECIAL MEETING OF TINE CHAN
BER OF COMMERCE.
A called, or special, meeting of the
Chamber Of Commerce was held las,
evening to consider what action should
be taken in the matter presented by
Captain j. NJ. Selden in the communi.
cation following:
SEATTLE, Feb. 10, 1888.
MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER OF Con-
MERCE-GentlemeD: Recently bill has
been introduced in Congress by the
Hon. w. b. Harris, ''to transfer the
Rcvenue-C Cutter Service to the Navy" l,
is undoubtedly the intention of the
young officers of the Navy to make a
strong effort in Congress to transfer the
Revenue Marine Service to them. Such
transfer simply means injury and de
graduation to US. The Revenue Marine
Service has q history which is coeval
with the history of the country. For a
hundred years it has been An independ-
Oht oIGdulLdLlOl, duo lto SCCVlu Id OIlt
of honor and duty. Its services in the
protection of the national revenue, and
in aid of distressed and imperiled ship
ping are known and admitted every
where; and equally known and admit
ted are its services in great number of
miscellaneous enterprises and missions.
The singular skill and knowledge shown
by its officers in navigating our difficult
and dangerous coasts IN winter and
rough weather are also known, and are
advanced in the very report of the Sec
rotary of the Navy, which advocates this
transfer, as reasons which would make
the acquisition of the Revenue Marine
valuable to this Department. Ny opin-
ion is that such legislation on the part
of Congress would be very unwise to-
wards the country, and certainly unjust
and shameful to US. There can be no
good reason assigned for making such a
change. and, if such law passes, il will
certainly result to the injury of the
country and disastrously to Us.
The officers of the Revenue Marine,
knowing how unequally and how I'M
Justly they will share in the Navy, with
naval officers proper, if they are trans
ferred to that department, have agreed
to unite and oppose the passage of this
bill with all their power. l, therefore,
feel SOLICITORS to do what can to help
defeat this bill, and preserve our honor
able and useful service in its present
state. l have written to several friends
in the Z. s. Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives, and requested their help in
our interest. l, with others, have sue
ceeded in getting the Chamber of Com
mercs at San Francisco to request SEN
atOrs and Representatives from Califor-
mia to use their efforts to defeat this
bill. am informed that protests have
been sent to Congress from different
Chambers of Commerce in the East,
against the transfer of the Revenue
Marine Service to the Navy Depart
meut. take the liberty to address you
and beg that your honorable body will
follow the example of others, and peti-
ton Congress, through your Delegate,
Hon. Thos. X. Brents, not to transfer
the Revenue Marine Service to the Ma
w as proposed, but let it remain as it is.
assure you. by SO doing, you will bene-
fit the country and help large number
of honorable gentlemen and useful pub
lie servants, who will ever feel grateful
to YOU and others for assistance at this
time of their need.
With great respect and esteem, re-
main, Your Obedient servant,
j. M. SELDEN,
Captain, Z. s. Il. M.
Resolutions as follows, presented by
Judge Jacobs, were unanimously adopt
ordered telsgraphed tn our Delegate in
Congress-:
Resolrsd, That it is the sense of this
Chamber that the transfer of the Reeve
nue. Marine Service from the Treasury
to the NAVY Department. as proposed by
the bill now pending in the Congress of
the United States of America, is unwisa
and impolitic-unjust to the men, the
better portion of whose lives have been
spent in the Revenue Service and whose
knowledge of its duties generally and
in detail, emineutly fit them for said
service. The beneficent record of
the Revenue Marine in the past in
saving life and property ought to secure
its continuance under its present head.
We know what it has done under its
present control; we are fearful of the re-
suit of a change, and, therefore, respect
fully protest against the proposed
cnango.
Resslred, That copy of the above
resolution be forwarded to the Hon.
Thos. II. Brents our Delegate in Con-
gress, with the request that he present
the same to the proper committee IN
Congress.
The thanks of the Chamber were ex-
tended to f. II. Whitworth for a map
showing the Green river coal fields, and
the road leading from Puyallup Valley
to this city. Thanks we're also given
other persons for maps presented to the
Chamber.
A resolution relative to the proposed
land grant 70 the Puget Sound i Canad-
ian Railway and Navigation Company
was made the subject for the next regu-
lar meeting.