The evening times., 1900-02-14
RELIEF OF OLD OFFICERS
Provisions in the Pending Revenue
Cutter Service Bill.
Retirement with Seventy-fiye Per
Cent of Active Duty Pay-History of
an Important Department of the
GOyernment-HOw Ii Became At
tached to the Treasury in 100.

fached to the Treasury in 15oD.
| Not a little interest is manifested in
| many official circles in the pending bill in
troduced in both houses of Congress under
the title "A bill to promote the efficiency
of the Revenue Cutter Service" 1t has
already been reported without amendment
in the Senate
The bill provides retirement for the aged
and disabl officers who have served faith
fully for many years. 1t is proposed that
officers when retired from active service
shall be paid 70 per cent of the duty
pay of the rank held at the time of such
retirement The bill has the unqualified
approval of Secretary Gage.
The Revenue Cutter Service was organ
lied in 1890 and has always been regarded
as military in character. There being no
Navy Department in existence at that time,
nor, in fact, until 1898, the service was at
tached to the Treasury Department as a
matter of convenience, where it has ever
since remained.
The act of Congress July /. 1893, author
lied the President to cause the revenue
cutters TO be employed to defend the sea-
coast and repel hostilities to vessels and
commerce within their jurisdiction. About
this time the President placed the revenue
cutters at the disposal OF the Secretary OF
the Navy. and seven of them were accord
ingly employed in the West Indies during
the quasi French war and afterward in
suppressing piracy.
In the war of 1872 cutters were employed
as dispatch boats and for coast defence. On
several occasions they engaged the enemy
and fought with great bravery and skill,
notably in the case of the revenue cutter
Surveyor. which was captured by an over
whelming force from the British frigate
Narcissus after defence so desperately
brave as to cause the British captain TO re-
turn the sword of Captain Travis of Mary
land who was in command of the Surveyor,
thus bearing admring testimony to his
gallant conduct
In 1915 and for a number of years after
ward many of the most active and gallant
officers of the Navy sought and obtained
commissions in the cutter service and
found excellent scope for the seamanship
aud gallantry which distinguished them
Lieutenant Paine. in command OF a rev
enue cutter on the Northwestern frontier
during the fishery trouble after the treaty /
of 1918 discharged his duty in the most |
commendabIe manner. In 1886 several !
revenue cutters participated in the Semi |
mole war and maintained their high repu |
tation.
In 1897 the President assigned the cutter |
service to the relief of storm driven vessels |
Of commerce after the Navy vessels were |
considered too large for this duty. They |
have continued this service since. Witness |
the saving Of twentyfour men OF the |
British steamer Sutton. but few days |
ago on FenWicks Island shoals, the sutton
proving a total loss,
In the war with Mexico several cutters
served and in the Paraguayan expedition
the revenue cutter Harriet Lane was pro-
nouneed by the commodore as the most
efficient vessel in the fleet.
During the civil war the cutters were
actively engaged. and Capt. Thomas NJ
DUNCAN. OF Baltimore, was killed in action
near the Virginia shore.
During the war with Spain the service
took an active and conspicuous part. Thir-
teen revenue cutters, carrying 81 guns,
Is officers and j62 men. co-operated with
the Navy in the West Indies.
At Manila one cutter was with Admiral
Dewey's fleet and four cutters co-operated
with the Navy on the Pacific Coast. 1t
was the revenue cutter Hugh McCulloch
that carried to HongkOng the dispatches
announcing 10 the Government and the
world the news Of the victory at Manila.
In all the Revenue Cutter Service had
in active cooperation with the Army and
Navy throughout the Spanish war 20 yes
sells. carrying Il guns 13l officers. and 12J
men.
Three other cutters with - officers and
210 men. were ordered to be transferred TO
he Navy but. because of unavoidable de-
avs by contractors in finishing their work,
he vessels could not be sent TO the front
before peace was declared.
Secretary Gage. in recommending the
passage of the bill to Chairman Frye. of i
he Senate Committee on Commerce,
aid:
Il have the honor TO acknowledge the
'eceipt of your letter OF the 18th instant ,
'eferring to me the bill 5. 72S Fifty-sixth
congress. first session. to promote the eff
iciency of the Revenue Cutter Service,
md requesting me to furnish your COM
nittee with such suggestions as | deem
roper touching the merits of the bill and
he propriety of its passage.
Il respectfully return the bill referred |
o with my earnest recommendation for its
arly enactment without amendment and
or the following, among many, reasons: I
Because, in order that the efficiency of |
he service may be not only maintained l
ut promoted. it is absolutely imperative ,
hat the bill should pass. {
Because aside from all grOupds of ex-
it will be an act of Simple JUS 6
ice to a service which has distinguished /
tself in every field of usefulness in peace
nd war from 1870 TO 1899. and has earned
IS place in the history of the Republic
overing period of 109 years, alongside .
he Army and Navy as an arm of the ma .
onal service offensive and defensive. .
Because in my judgment, no arm OF :
he public service has more fairly earned :
r is better entitled to the proposed leg
Station than is the Revenue Cutter Ser .
ice" L.