Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-04-17
THE REVENUE MARINE.

The attention of our Chamber Of Com
merce has been recently given to the bill
before Congress, providing for retiring
list in the revenue marine service. The
House Committee on Commerce last year
reported unanimously in favor Of similar
bill, but it was not reached upon the calen-
dar before adjournment. There can be no
doubt of the propriety of the proposed legis-
lation.
Comparatively few persons are aware Of
the magnitude ofthe duties developing upon
this branch of the public service The fol-
lowing obligations are required in time Of
peace The security of the customs reve
nue., the assistance OF vessels in distress,
the enforcement of the neutrality laws, the
enforcement of quarantine, the enforcement
of the laws governing merchant vessels, the
protection of merchant vessels from piratical
attacks, the protection Of wrecked property
and the prevention of depredations by yes
sells upon the timber reserves of the United
States. It's officers are compelled to be
proficient in military discipline and the art
of war. In time of war; the revenue cutters
an important auxiliary Of the navy. In
every war Of the United States, since our
trouble with France in 1898 to the present
time, with the sole exception Of the conflict
with Algeria, these vessels have borne q
fighting part. The revenue marine was or
ganized by Hamilton, in 1890, and such men
AS David Porter, ST., John Foster Williams,
of Massachusetts Richard Taylor, of Vir-
ginia, and Hugh George Campbell, of South
Carolina, received Washington's commits.
sions as officers therein. Since then the re-
cord of the service has been splendid one,
and its faithful and continuous discharge OF
duty has merited the appreciation and graft
tude of the country. While the navy in
time Of peace is almost an ornamental
branch of the public service, the revenue
marine, which shares the work of the navy
in war times, is constantly in arduous EN-.
ployment
According to the last report of the chief
of the revenue marine, it appears that the
IS vessels of the force cruised 1000 miles
during the year, that more than %, 900 yes
sells were boarded and examined, of which
number 1900 were seized or reported for
violations of law; 224 vessels in distress
were assisted, whose cargoes were worth
nearly $5,OOO,000, and on board of which
were $500 people. Sixty persons were &C.
tualIy picked up out Of the water and saved
from drowning. The coast has been guard
ed against smuggling; the Alaska fisheries
have been protected; the quarantine has
been aided The navy has had no such
work to do.
Now, the purpose of Gov. Longs bill is to
give the officers of this force the right to be
retired on reduced pay after sufficient length
of service, and when incapacitated by reason
of incidents of service and it seems nothing
but Just that they should be put on similar
footing with the officers of the navy. The
weight of the reasons justifying this treat
ment of naval officers has never been uues.
toned, and that the revenue marine is en-
titled to at least equally good treatment,
can not be doubted for an instant. Some
decent and adequate provision is due by the
country to these gallant and faithful public
servants when age or infirmities earned in
the discharge of duty incapacitate them
from active service.-New Orleans State
LBy the passage of the bill the young officers Of
the revenue service will have chance of promo
ton by the retirement Of the old ones who are
now put on waiting orders at full pay but with
out duty and would be an act of justice to them
without az additional expense tothe Government