The Washington times., 1902-07-11
Silver Loving Cup Pre-
Sented to Naval Chief
of Engineers,
A SYMBOL OF FRIENDSHIP
rendered by Officers of United States
Revenue Cutter Service in Recogni-
ton of His Espousal of Their Cause
Championed New Law.

In recognition OF his services in be-
half of the Revenue Cutter Service, the
associates of Admiral George w. Mel
Vile, Engineer-in-chief of the Navy,
have presented him with a beautiful and
massive silver loving cup.
The officers of the service are en-
phatic in their fondness for Admiral
Melville, who appeared before the com
mittee of Congress and fearlessly cham
pioned their cause for the last two
years, arguing for the legislation as
simple justice to those on whom rested
such responsibilities. The presentation
was quietly made yesterday. The loving
cup is of five pints capacity. and bears
this inscription on one of its panels:
Presented to Rear Admiral George
Wallace Melville. L. S. ", by the Of
ficers of the United States Revenue Cut
ter Service, as a symbol of their friend
ship and a slight token of their admirs-
tion for one who fearlessly espoused
their cause in time of need, and whose
testimony in their behalf commanded
the respectful attention of all
On the other panels are his monogram
and the date of the new law, April u,
1902. The cup is eight inches high, and
is elaborately decorated with conven-
tional devices typical of the sea.
Recognition Received.
For thirty years the Revenue Cutter
Service has been operated under great
disadvantages, imposed by antiquated
this valuable auxiliary. insufficient pay,
hard work until death, with no pension
for age or infirmity under the law, has
discouraged the entrance OF ambitious
and intelligent young men into the serv-
ice. But the creditable manner in which
the personnel acquitted itself in 1898
attracted the favorable attention OF
Congress, and, despite the antagonism
from the navy, the service has at last
received full recognition.
The new legislation gives the revenue
officers positive rank in peace as well as
in war, and assimilable with the various
grades CT the navy. 1t increases the pay
to that of the army, making no differ
ence between sea and shore pay, and it
tiers pay for all who reach sixty-four
years or who are incapscitated for ac-
tive duty by disabilities incident to the
service.
Rank of Officers.
Hereafter in the cutter service the
captains will rank with army majors and
rayy lieutenant commanders; the first
Iieutenants with army captains and
navy lieutenants; the second lieutenants
with army first lieutenants and navy
lieutenants, Junior grade, and the third
lieutenents with army second lieuten-
ants and navy ensigns. The revenue cut
er captains have received 81, 500 afioat
and $500 ashore. but hereafter they
will have $500, and the compensations
of tie lower grades are proportionally
increased. In time of war, when CO.
operating with the navy, the revenue
cutter officers will take rank imme-
diately below naval officers of the
statutory assimilable grade.
Retired List Started.
few years ago officers as old as
ninety and several who had passed sew
enty were still on active duty, and last
year there were captains afoat seventy
years Of age, although in the regular
navy officers are forced into retirement
at sixty-two. Under the new order a
retired list of forty-six old officers has
already been established including sew
en- captains and four chief engineers
who, although over sixty-four years old.
were still performing sea service. The
new law makes no change in the person
mel of the engineer corps of the ser
vice, except TO make the rank positive
and the emoluments the same as those
of the line officers.
New Blood Infused.
AS notable result of the improved
condition and prospects of the service,
it is announced that forty-eight young
men have already taken the examination
before the Civil Service Commission for
the twenty vacancies at the bottom of
the list. Those who pass the entrance
requirements make a two years prac-
tice cruise as cadets and are examined
on professional subjects before receiving
commissions as third lleutenants or sec
ond assistant engineers.