The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-21
The Revenue Marine.

There 10 In the hands OF the Senate COM
mittee on naval affairs bill providing for
the transfer Of the United States revenue
marine to the navy department. IL was
formulated during the last session OF the
Fifty-frst congress upon the recommended
tons Of Secretary of the Treasury William
Window and Secretary Of the Navy B. F.
Tracy. The scheme had been suggested be-
fore. but was never so near contamination as
when both the treasury and the navy depart
ments were in favorable accord before Sec
rotary WINDOWS death. and it seemed then
that the transfer was question Of a very
short time.
| Since Secretary WINDOWS death and Sec
rotary Fosters accession 10 his portfolio,
however, the consolidation scheme has re-
ceiyed back-set, and will meet spirited Op-
position. Secretary Foster Is opposed 70
the change, and says that the revenue ma
rine, being an arm of the internal revenue
| service, cannot attain its highest efficiency
except under the direct control OF the treas
ury department. He objects TO one
branch of the government being de-
pendent upon another for the en-
forcement of its funcdonst and enu-
merates other strong reasons why, In his
opinion, the revenue cutter service should
remain as It is.
On the other hand. Secretary Tracy, Of
the navy, has grown more than ever ear
nest in urging prompt and favorable con-
sideration of the transfer on the part of
congress. Not that he desires to antago-
nize the views Of the Secretary Of the Treas
l. 81
the men and the country would be bene-
| hted by the change. He complies fgureI to
showssthat the transfer would greatly re-
duce the expenses of the two departments TO
the extent OF nearly $3.50. 900 per annum. be-
sides increasing by $50 to $50 the number of
line officers OF the navy doing sea duty and
gaining sea experience.
There is under the present arrangement
Of the revenue marine, no provision for the
retirement Of officers and seamen for age,
disability received in service, or other rea-
| sons. An officer, no matter how devoted
| and gallant, may remain in the service I'M
| til he is worn out, and is then laid aside like
an old coat. There is no opportunity to
| win promotion above the rank Of captain,
and that carries with it less pay than the
same rank in the navy, aud entails much
arder service. The officers are not
allowed leaves of absence with pay, as
is the case in the navy, where each
| officer is allowed thirty days leave
each year with full pay. In
travelling to and from assignments the naval
officer has his transportation paid by the
government; the revenue officer must pay
his own fare, even If it be across the con-
tinent. If the captain of cutter takes a
week of to visit a sick wife his pay is
'dooked." aud when be is on "shore duty
be gets only about half pay.
These are only few of the inequalities
! existing in the two marine forces of the gov
eminent, and which the bill before congress
is designed 20 correct. 1t proposes that the
lesser navy tine revenue marine be merged
into the greater. and all the men of like rank
in the service be put on the same footing,
allowing each the same privileges and OPP
portunities for promotion.
Against the advantages 60 be gained by
the consolidation, its opponents have urged,
and it is their strongest objection, that
naval officers will be forced into an occupa-
ton that is foreign to their professionalism
is, chasing smngglers and guarding the
revenues.