The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-02
THE REVENUE CUTTER SERVICE.
A Method OF B-n-n'in= II without Trans
fer TO tho Navy.

WASHINGTON Jan. 1T has been noticed tn at
neither Secretary Herbert nor Secretary Car
Isle makes any allusion in his current annual
report to the proposed transfer OF the revenue
marine to the navy. This omission is not nee
essarily fatal to tho project, but It certainly
i'm plies n lack OF intense interest In II on the
part OF the heads OF the departments con-
cerned. Secretary Tracy regularly advo-
Gated the transfer. and even took the trouble
TO make an argument on the subject before
the House Naval Committee. At one time. also
Secretary Window approved the bill drawn
for the purpose. thus giving 1t the strong en-
dorsement OF the Treasury Department which
would thereby lose the exclusive control IL
now has over the revenue service IL under
such circumstances the measure did not sue
coed. 1t probably has little chance OF enact
ment now. with the current Indifference al
ready noted. Perhaps the climax OF its effort
may be considered as the period when a bill
for transfer. after obtaining the approval OF
Secretaries Window and Tracy. passed the
House by the remarkably strong vote Of ia
against 10, and was reported favorably by the
opposed however. at that time 10y number OF
Senators led by Mr.; sherman and Mr. tockrelL
Assuming that the PROJECT OF transfer will
have little chance OF enactment AZ tho present
session. the question arises whether there 10
not some other way OF securing To the revenue
marine officers the thief benefits which they
hoped to obtain under that measure. As has
frequently been eNpnlnbU, Inc ulSitlA alta8eB
under which they now labor are that they have
no retired list such as the army, tho navy, and
the marine corps possess that they also nave
no longevity pay that they do not enjoy the
regular leGvrs OF absence allowed TO those
kindred services without the cutting down OF
iecte d to having their wages locked. The rea-
son why there IL no retired list or Longevity pay
for them is that, being under tho control OF
civil department, the revenue marine IL treated
asa civilian service. As Is well under stood.
nFlVilauaa of civilians tlB ReFNica OF fl6
Government. and to introduce them generally
would not only create prodigious expense;
but would be opposed upon other grounds. and
in fact is out OF the question. Perhaps II has
been feared that tho granting OF these PTiyi-
the entering wedge for similar demands from
the civil service. or at least would be followed
al ali events. they have never been conceded,
However. 1t Is now recalled that when sena.
the revenue marine, he brought in a bill as
substitute. This measure authorized the Sec
retarT OF the Treasury to place on waiting
marine officer who Is totally disabled. or who
is 80 years OF age, or who has served 40 years;
officers service he might either be placed on
halt pay, or dropped with a years full pay.
crease on their current pay after each term Of
five years OF service, until that increase should
reach 40 per centum. when 1t should remain
there And this was not the lrst appearances
OF such measures senator GOngeF, Ia 70
previous Congress haH IatT@IGesd III Tor
had introduced one Tor a regular retired list. IL
would seem, therefore, that, IN one form or
another measure 10 secure the How OF pro-
motion debRrrod under the present system and
also longevity pay might he hoped for.
The revenue cutter service certainly has the
Characteristic marks Of a military service. lite
officers and men are organized In a method
analogous to the navy; they are uniformed.
armed drilled the officers ara regularly edu-
Gated for their calling; they make the service
q life occupattan Just as naval officers do thPi-
cutters are armed vessels. To put them 90
the footing OF Government Officers who are
not specially educated for their duties AMI
who are turned out OF office with political
changes. Is hardly fair. They incur psrils OF
the sea ike the naval officers, and they do
great deal Of hard work In cruising and in
executing the laws relating to navigation and
commerce and kindred subjects. As a fact.
they do not now snIoy some Of the privileges
granted to sundTy civil officers while on the
other hand they are far worse on than the
army and the navy