The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-20
A MERITORIOUs SERVICE,


The Journals Washington dispatches re-
Gently referred at length to the regular annual
appropriation by Congress of five thousand
dollars to provide suitable rewards for foreign
subjects who rescue from wreck or death any
citizens Of this country. 1t is noble pur-
pose, and nobly executed, to which the only
possible objection is that the appropriation
had better be ten thousand than
five, as the latter sum 'is nearly
always exhausted" said an official
of the State Department to the Journals cor
respondent. We allude to the matter now to
preface few suggestions on a subject of the
same character Our coast-guard or life-sav-
ing service, maintained along the greater part
of the Atlantic coast, is altogether the most
dangerous, laborious and exacting service in
any department of the government. A life
boat is rarely launched to wreck in the
breakers, or beating on the rocks, that does
not bear more peril to its crew than a soldier
usually meets in battle. "Wild winds and
mad waves" are more terrible enemies than
can army with banners. No storm of shot
is so sweeping danger as the 'breakers' that
toss the heaviest boat like bubble and never
spare life that happens to be thrown out
into the foam. And the danger of carrying
boat to wreck and taking it back, with its
freight of frightened and helpless beings till
all alive are saved, is not the only danger of
this hard service or the only hardship that
makes it so exacting and exhausting. The
life OF the coast guard is lonely, for he must
live where his work belongs, and wrecks don't
happen in easy reach of comfortable settle
ments. The exposure and the violence con-
to health The mode of life is
rough and wearing, even when freed from the
requirements of duty. And the pay is poor
1t ought to be the best given to any employ
ment under the government; better than that
of any soldier or sailor of the naval service
Tor its perils are greater and its duties more
constant. Here should be an amendment
Congress wastes money by millions in appro-
priations to help the chances of reelection of
members. 1t pays thousands for the expenses
of contests and salaries of contesting cand-
dates, with which the people are mo more
fairly chargeable than with the expenses of
their family food and lodging. 1t sends
junketing committees all over the continent
for nothing but to make big picnic in return
for some clog rolling concession in one house
or the other. But it is niggardly to mean
ness in its appropriations for service wholly
beneficial in which there can be no SAVIOR of
political advantage. The Signal Service is
given only just so much as will keep it alive
The Coast Guard Service, as the last report of
the superintendent shows, is not given half
Of what could be benefcaly used And
while pensions are lavished on wealthy gen.
erals with big incomes or salaries, not dollar
of pension is allowed to the coast guard, or to
his family, if his duty costs him his life. No
man in any public service so we'll earns the
provision of pension, but Congress can waste
five months in quarreling over impossible or
mischievous changes of the tariff, while it
won't give five minutes to providing for the
needs of the most meritorious service in the
government