New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-03

IT IS SUFFERING FROM SOMETHING LIKE
~ Il0iMANISM.


IN SPITE OF CONGRESSIONAL SiGeAEULIYrss.
HOWEVER. IT l. THE BEST IN THE WORLD
NEED or ITS FURTHER EXTENSION.
Washington Sept I'm public debate the crti-
csn is often made that the Government conducts
,,s business In way that would bring ruin ana
disgrace upon any private enterprise The late
accident at Ford's Theatre has been pointed to az
an instance OF this sort. Now members OF Congress
have taken up n later case of neglect, and point 10
the great loss of life In the recent hurricane az
party the result OF the niggardlness Of Congress IN
failing to make proper appropriations for the lfe-
saving service.
A great point of weakness of this admirable sys-
tom is the short term OF service of many Of the
crows The term Is fixed by Treasury regulation,
and that regulation is based upon the appropria-
ton made by Congress. In many places now the
term of service OF the crews begins on September
1 and ends May /. Senator Frye has at var'-
ous times sought to have the term of service made
permanent. and maintained the year around
believing that the lives and property saved from
sbipwreck would more than repay the money ex-
nended for the extension of the service. Especiai
efforts were made In this direction during the
XIJXth Lth and LIst Congresses.
The real reason why the service has not peeh
oxtended is charged by its friends against the
Treasury Department. which controls the work.
and which Is, they say. governed by the old-lash-
ioup
false ideas about economy. The August storms
along the coast have been causing serious loss
during the last five years. The fact that twenty
four men have been drowned or the Ne"-Je'Ses
shore alone, within line OF ten miles, uui"s
the recent storm which preceded the hurricane
and that there were four unoccupied iie-sa'ihs
stations within warning distance. has aroused con-
siderable comment on the Incompetence ol '"e
service The trouble seems to be that 'he i"e'.
ore not tept on duty long enough There are ABOUT
seven men to each station. and OF the to.a' Vi
1sil comprising the service. only luz remain VI,
duty during the entire year or the othefs' Do
work eight and a half months, lo2' eight moh'"s
and 80 five months ,,,
With the exception of the insignificant hahui -
wbo work the whole year, none OF these men woik
between the 1st of May and the LIST OF Septempe''
while the records of the Department sho" '""'
there have been almost as many wrecks uu'"e "
period of intermission during the stormy pe'iou
The Department. it appears. still chngs 10 ''i, '
that seutenber IL the proper month TO look ioi
storms and crippled vessels. because In former
wears the sutumna storms began during the hrs'
week of September. Investigation ana meteor o'os
cal records have proved however that theSe SUI
now come earlier. and are now que any o'e
tween August 20 and September l. ana each year year
the wind appears to blow harder ann 'ie ~
Atlantic shore front Is strewn with wrecks.
The only legislation resulting in the Improvement
of the lfe-saving service was the Increase vi 90
aries of the men. which was granted by the a''
Congress and which increased the approPiiauoN
annually for that purpose by about sz'"""' nc
oxnerso of this service has grown year by year as
il has been extended but the extension mas been
in The number of stations. and not IN the terms
Of service The appropriations have been az tod-
lows: 1856 s926 900: 1881 ss5! 500 ssS ~ , ~ ~
sg: si3iiG0: 1894 Uhe current Year, sl.SIo''
some Senators have received letters from , M
constituents along the coast urging them 70 the
some action that will still further improve the nie,
ca wing service which even as II IL. IL ackno"ieoeer
10 he the finest and most complete in the world
II Is not unlikely that bill with that ena IN y,e~
xrill soon be inti oduced In the Senate by Mr hun
ION of Virginia. The recent storm also drects AZ
teniion TO an important bill introduced early tns
session by MIR Frye. which appropriates *nWo lor
the purpose of making experiments az 70 tne pes'
means OF communication between lighthouse s,a-
tions and Ightboats and the shore, 80 as TO give
warning OF vessels in distress.