The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-30
THE REVENUE CUTTER SERVICE.
Bill to Retire Officers to Be Urged to
Its Passage

a measure designed 10 afford the Rev
| enue Cutter Service all the advantages Of
the naval retirement list will be pressed
before this session of Congress. after q
contest Of thirty years. in which the
Treasury Department and strong CONNER
ciaI bodies of the leading seaports have
been interested.
While this service is older than The
navy, and since the foundation of military
and naval establishments has maintained
high record in peace and war times for
most efficient work it has not enjoyed
many Of the emOluments and advantages
allowed both the other Establishments.
The new measure proposes not only 10
give a retired list and retirement after
thirty years service. but provides assini-
lated rank With the navy for all officers
OF the corps. It's effect viii be TO relegate
10 the inactive list a large number OF old
officers WHO have because Of advanced
age. performed 10 duty for years. and who
block the way Of promotion Of their Jun
iors. Several of these old officers are
eighty years and upward of age, and still
carried on the list as captains in the act
i've service vet few have had command
duty for some years. They are incapable
Of work and draw the full pay and allow
ances of their grade This condition OF
affairs has prevailed since the civil war,
when q large body of officers became nee
essary TO assist in the work of the navy
By the proposed bill all officers Of the
service on reaching the age Of sizty-t#o
years are to be retired with three-fourths
pay, and after thirty years service may
be retired on application with the rank
and pay of the grade they then hold
In this respect the law differs from the
naval act. which gives all officers the
rank aad pay Of the next higher grade On
their being retired voluntarily after
specified period Of service. a result OF
the bills adoption would be the lmIne-
date retirement of ten captains and The
consequent promotion of as many other
officers in the other grades, beginning
with third lieutenant.
A number of engineer officers could
also retire shortly. 4 large npcaDer VIII
also seek to be retired under the service
clause. so that the vacancies IN the
lowest grade are expected to be consider
able and cause number of appointments
to the cadet service. from which all off,
GERS are commissioned. An order has
been secured from the Rules Committee
of the House providing for the consider
alton OF the bill soon after the PcstOfice
Appropriation bill is disposed Of The
bill was reported from the Commerce
Committee unanimously, and the same
yorably on it, and il stands At the head
of the Senate calendar
All appointments 10 commissioned ranz
under the bill must be made from the
cadet graduates Of the schooIship Chase,
which makes her headquarters at Balti-
more and spends the greater part Of the
winter cruising IN Southern waters On
this vessel The cadets are given practical
instruction IN the art OF navigation and
in ordu4r.-1 crrnnarv NJ besides
have course Of studies covering about
the first TWO years course at the Naval
Academy Quite a number Of cadets are
now on the ship and. with the passage
OF the bill the classes viii be materially
increased. The course embraces two
years study. after which the cadets are
commissioned third IIeutenants.