The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-13
IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE.
The Cutter Officers Are Called
Upon for Campaign
Funds.
RETIRING BILL COST $4,000
Many of the Men Are Very Indignant
But Dare Not Say
Word.

Nine hours before the last Congress adj
iourned Senator Frye succeeded in having
law enacted pertaining to the revenue
cutter service, which is known to materi
ally affect twenty-four officers, and pos
sibly as many more the moment the law
becomes operative. Senator Frye's bill IN
its amended form reads as follows:
The President of the United States is hereby
authorized to convene board, to be composed
of three surgeons of Marine Hospital service,
to examine and report upon all officers now IN
the revenue cutter service who, through no
vicious habits of their own, are incapacitated
by reason of the intirmities of age or physical
or mental disability to efficiently perform
the respective duties of their offices. And
such officers as, under the terms OF this act,
may be reported by said board to be so perma-
nently incapacitated shall be placed on walt
ing orders out OF the line of promotion, with
one-half actual duty pay, and the vacancies
already created in the active list OF officers
shall be filed by promotion in the order OF
seniority, now provided by law; provided,
however, that no such promotion shall be
made until the professional qualities of the
candidates shall be determined by written eX-
animation before board of officers OF the
revenue cutter service, convened by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury for that purpose; pro-
vided, further, that the number OF officers upon
the actual list now authorized by law shall not
be increased by this act.
This bill was passed through the instru-
mentality of an organization composed OF
revenue-cutter officers, known as the
alexander Hamilton Club The main
object of this organization, which sprang
into existence in 1886, was the general bet
terment of the service and the passage of a
law of Congress retiring officers on a pen
sion after certain age, or after they had
been in active service a given time. In
this bill the Hamilton Club has accom-
plished a part of its mission, though now
that the thing has been done some are in
clined to be dissatisfied. Those who have
been on waiting orders" for the past ten
or fifteen years, drawing three-quarter
pay, are naturally displeased with a reduc-
ton to half pay. Those who can exclaim
with pride, 1--WE are promoted, are will
ing to embrace the bill fore and aft, but
lust at that point their enthusiasm comes
to a sudden halt.
About two weeks ago Lieutenant Wads
worth of the Rush received a long type
written document from G. 7. Shoemaker,
chief of the bureau and treasurer of the
Hamilton Club, informing him that the
expense of securing the passage of the bill
was great and in order TO meet this outlay
every member of the club was expected to
pay the small sum of SIP. When this de-
mand was made on the officers a genuine
howl of dismay and a chorus OF protests
went up. But for all that every man ex-
cept one in the cutter service with head
quarters in San Francisco either denies the
story in toto or announces that he has
nothing to say.
Some of the officers have fatty refused to
contribute one cent for the purpose asked,
while others have put up the coin OF the
realm to the amount asked for. A lieu
tenant in the cutter service and a mem Der
of the Alexander Hamilton Club stated
positively that such demand has been
made, but that the men are afraid to enter
any very vigorous protest for fear that
their superior officers will make things so
unpleasant for them that retirement from
the service or open rupture would be
bound to follow. In speaking of the mat
ter yesterday he said:
Members of the Alexander Hamilton Club on
the Pacific Coast have been asked TO pay SIP
each, presumably for the expenses attached TO
the passage OF the retiring bill. A paper was
sent here two weeks ago 10 q Lieutenant OF one
OF the revenue-cutters for various officers to
sign, agreeing to pay this amount. This money
is asked for over the signature of Captain Shoe
maker Many OF us strenuously object TO being
mulcted, but hardly see what we can dc
about it.
would mean at least $4,000, and possibly
$4,000, for the passage of bill that is only
operative for the one time, and which must
necessarily be passed at every session of Con-
members OF the Hamilton Club. cannot see
where Mr.. Shoemaker can bring in an expense
account of that amount and ii certainly is
against the rules of the Hamilton Club to spend
one dollar without the authority of its mem
bers.
The officers of the revenue cutters Bear
and Rush are very reticent concerning the
matter They will neither affirm nor deny
the truth of the alleged demand Lieuten-
ant Wordsworth of the Rush said:
hardly think that this is a matter in which
the public is in any way interested. The
Hamilton Club has been fighting for the pass
age OF this bill for the past six or eight years,
and naturally ii has lost lot OF money
Lawyers fees in Washington are high, and
there are a thousand other incidentals never
thought of when the fight is begun. Captain
Shoemaker is an honorable gentleman, and
am sure that any demand he has made on the
officers is perfectly legitimate and honest
A CALL reporter then asked Lieutenant
Wordsworth the direct question: if it was
true that he had received from Captain
Shoemaker a typewriter letter requesting
him to demand SIP from every officer IN
his division?
81 must respectfully decline to answer
that question, as / consider it of no i'm
portance to the public.
Lieutenant BalIinger of the Rush
heartily agreed with all that was said by
his fellow -officer, and when it came to at
hrming or denying the truth OF the story,
followed the example set by the first
named gentleman and declined to make
definite statement.
The officers of the Bear were very much
inclined to joke about the matter, repeat
eddy asserting that such sum of money
could not be found in the entire ship.
They, too, sought refuge in a simple de
cline to answer" when pressed to the point
of direct reply.
Captain Coson of the Life Savings De-
partment and Lieutenant Mcconnell of
the revenue tug Hartley were equally I'M
communicative, though the last-named
gentleman did say that he had personally
received an item of expense amounting to
$67, which was to be divided among about
$50 members.
Altogether there is considerable mystery
surrounding the demand on the part of
Captain Shoemaker for SIP from each
officer interested.
The lieutenant, who is authority for the
statement that this sum has been de-
handed of the members, cannot see how
$4,000 could be spent in securing the pas
sage of so unimportant bill, and says
that only fear of the powers that be- pre-
vents other officers from openly rebelling.
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A BEAM 0F LIGHT.
Professor Bell Thinks 1t Can Be Used to
Telephone with.