The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-02
The KeYenna Murine.

To TUE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: In your
issue OF the 18th inst is an article with the
above caption. and the subtitle How ii
could he improved without transfer to the
navy" which begins by recitinR what has been
done to assimilnte the revenue marine to the
navy. by filling vacancies with Annapolis
graduates. placing rapid-nre guns on the YES
sells. closely initiating the naval uniform. intro
ducing naval drill. discipline. &c. until. as the
article has 1t. when the two services are
compared. they will be found In detail after
detail. from the six years education OF the
younger officers. in the Annapolis course. to
tho routine discipline Of the vessels and the
rations OF the men. to be alike" At the same
time the natural suggestion that the adoption
o. naval methods BIZ the revenue marine may
have q tendency to bring both services under
one administrative department Is eagerly
combatted on the ground that " the dstinc-
ton between the duties Of tho two services re-
mains now where 1t did tsic) when they were
respectively founded and placed under differ
ent departments"
But such Is not the fact Tho Introduction Of
steam. the vast increase OF our commerce. and
the variety OF our interests have not only
changed the method OF performing revenue
duty but have greatly altered the duties them
selves. and vastly increased their scope.
Originally the principal duties OF a revenue
officer were those Of an inspector OF customs.
TO board and examine incoming vessels ard
their papers. and to prevent smuggling. while
the cutters cruised mainly" for the protec-
ton OF the revenue and incidentally for tho re-
lief OF vessels In distress the enforcement Of
the neutrality laws. and those against tho slave
trade. At present inspection and boarding
duly" is performed by officer in small steam
ers. which do not go outside the ports q. which
they are stationed.
But the relief Of distressed vessels. the
rescue OF vessels which have gone ashore. the
saving Of life endangered by shipwreck. the
capture OF smugGiers. tho overhauling OF es-
Gaping vessels the supplying OF provisions to
starving crews and tackle to damaged vessels.
the patrolling OF tho coast. the protection OF
tho sea- fisheries. the policing OF tho Eehrin9
Sea and Arctic Ocean, the en- orcemsat OF The
neutrality laws. tho suppression OF mutinies.
the protection o: Government reservations
and multitude OF similar matters. some OF
which were entirely unknown to tie service a
few years ago, have now become tho regular
and recognized duties Of the cruising cutter"
a class Of vessels which has grown M in the
our navy always been equal to the demands
upon it. would never have fallen to the revenue
None Of these duties. either those pertaining
especially TO the protection Of the revenue. or
u
naval olhcer.. else why employ Anna polls grad
yates. amt why two nayies are necessary the
hs explain why the revenue marin. should be
a. eii;entia,iy military orEanza,iGn its drill
napol 49," il there is such u essential Infer.
enco between the lunctions wEi"h the two SER
all this drill. discipline. uniform. Nr. necessary
70 the pea Se functions ct Cns' ON House
liSaIkAntaQos ~
the revenue marine officer lanor: and TO con-
trast bis position with that OF his avail con.
frhrs and uraes that al this can DO obtained
through Cong slonal action without tho
nece. sity OF q Transfer. Certainly. but why
true that Tor years Congress- has been im p
tuned to give some small relief. and always
81 u soh pa eanH tsha
Of a retiring bill some years nco, received the
same answer from all, that the Senate would
Congressman, DinGIey. warm friend Of the
service. SAID In regard to ,he same matter, on
hs ns TO b
Is n wedge r the
Secretary Of the Treasury at the time. and lent
tho weight OF his position and high standing
that when Senator sherman iutroluced his
. ing"nions' measure lat ,sssion. he used it
merely as weapon h With wnicl' to a'ack ths
transfer has naturally been urged because
these various advantages could then he So
cured at one stroke. hut, with Tho desired
hmelioration effected in the r.senue marine
So thon. the proposed reforms and changes
are merely made 10 anticipate the necessity OF
he trnnsfay Why should We bo satisfied with
= email part OF the ADVANTAGES mentioned in
no service. when We can obtain the whole OF
hem by the transfer?
Revenue officers nre pot such fools as, to be- !
ieve that expensive informs. Increase duty. !
and aided severity 10 their already hard life is
Any ameioTation TO their condition.
They arc no. SO silly AS to be deceived BY |
OF relief through Congress after 1t |
las for years refused mere frAcii ion OF what |
he writer comedies 10 be iheir right.
Nett her are they so stupid that they cannot |
,erceiye that the inspiration OF the article In |
TIFF SUN and OF those headed Revenue Ma. |
inc in the ArnU and Nary Journal II .ha 4th. !
The WHO'S Of his ."eSii,d rs sne is nepIy
dodge, by which It is hoped n, show Con
.ress TINT no change l. needed. and % preserve
he pIesen state OF things so that those who
rave been On shore er duty for the last i!esn or
md those who have recently been assgno cd to