The Washington times., 1902-03-30
The Measure Opposed on
Ground That 1t Doubles
Retired Officers Pay.
ON EQUALITY WITH NAVY
Mr. Sherman Explained the Bill-An In
stance of Unjust Discrimination-Mr
Little Denounced the Principle and
System of Retired Pay.

Under the rule making 1t special or
der. the House yesterday began the con-
| sderation of the bill to improve the
Revenue Cutter Service.
The measure fixes the rank and pay Of
| officers OF the service to correspond with
! officers of the navy. 1t provides that cap
tains shall rank with majors in the army
and lieutenant commanders in the navy.
1t further provides for a retiring board.
and allows the retirement of officers upon
reaching the age OF sixty-four years os
10 per cent of active pay. 1t also fixes
the order and manner of promotion.
Principal Cause of Objection.
The bill has already passed the Senate.
One of the principal objections named
against the measure is that it would dou-
BILE the pay of officers who are already
on the retired list.
Mr.. Sherman (Rep.. n. " explained
the purpose of the bill, which was, briefly.
he said. to regulate the relations and
rank of the officers of the service with
those of the navy. when they shall be
thrown together. and to establish re-
tired list for them. There were now in
the service about 205 officers and 900 en-
listed men. Officers are trained on ships
and a scholastic training similar to that
of naval cadets. and are appointed by the
President with confirmation by the Sem
ate.
He gave notice of an amendment that
the committee would ask to have passed
which specifically provided that under no
conditions should a revenue cutter cf-
Ecpr have charya of nd
that no naval officer should have charge
of a cutter, except by direct order of the
President.
On Equality With Navy.
He said that the purpose of the bill was
simply to place the officers of this serv-
ice on an equality with the officers no
more worthy or efficient in another
branch of Government employ.
Speaking of the injustice done to many
gallant officers of the Revenue Cutter
Service by the lack of retired list, Mr..
Sherman iIstanoed the case of Lieut..
Frank II. Newcomb. who commanded the
cutter Hudson in the war with Spain. The
heroic rescue of the torpedo boat VIM
slow by the Hudson, off Cardenas, May
II, 1898 was one of the most striking
events of the war.
LleulsHdut NeWcOfHD served IN the
navy during the civil war and yet is only
lieutenant. receiving a salary of sl,s0a
a year, while there are twenty-one cap
tains in the Marine Corps who were not
born until after his service in the navy.
Would Double Retired Pay.
Mr.. Richardson (Dem-, Ala.), a member
of the committee which reported the bill,
opposed the measure.
He called attention to the fact that
there already exists under the law a per-
manent waiting orders list. A captain
placed on that list received $3.50 year;
the pending bill would give him 2,s25
year.
He did not believe the House or the
country would approve the exercise of
such generosity. He warned the House
against establishing this precedent. 1t
the efforts making for the retirement of
many classes of Government employees.
Mr.. Minor tRep., Wis., presented reso-
lutions passed by the National Associa-
tion of Shipmasters, urging the passage
OF the bill. This, he said, completed the
list of every marine organization in the
country. all endorsing the bill.
Difficulties of the Service.
The bill was advocated by Mr.. E. C.
Smith (Rep., Mich). who compared the
difficulties and dangers of the work of the
Revenue Cutter Service with that of the
navy The safest place man could have.
he said, was high office in the navy; it
had always been so, and would continue
to be indefinitely, for after our last
brush 1 do not think any people will ever
again get within gunshot OF the navy"
Mr. Little (Dem., Ark.), opposing the
BILL attacked the whole principle and
system of retired pay. saying that II it
were within his power he would abolish
Il altogether.
Along the same line the bill was op-
posed by Mr.. Cochran tDem., MOI. Pub
ic servants, he declared. were better paid
han persons in private life for the same
lass of work, yet the impression pre-
rallied that as soon as a man enters Goy
srnmelt service he must be supported
md maintained the remainder of his life
,ven though he ceases to return any SER
Tice.
Mr.. Mann (Rep.. Ill.), who prepared the
iiews of the minority. said that the bill
should not be passed. He devoted him
elf largely to showing that the statute
equiring a detailed statement of expen-
litures on account of the Revenue Cutter
service to be made annually to Congress
lad not been complied with. For this
eason. he said there was not sufficient
Information before the House TO enable
TO act intelligently on the pending bill.