Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-14
United States
Lighthouse Service


4 Acts of heroism and instances of
casualties yin the line of duty among
| the faithful army of mea--and women
too, for. the late IdaLewis, America s
| Grace Darling" was one of thenl-who
| keep the Government lights and bea-
/ cons burning along the shores of the
i oceans, lakes, and larger rivers, are
4 cited in the report for the fiscal year
ended June 80 last. which Commits
| sioner George r. Putnams@of the Blu
1 reau of Lighthouses, has submitted to
! Secretary Nagel, of the Department of
Commerce and Labor
] These show the hazardous nature of
the daily duties of fully three-feurths
| Of the $500 present employees of the
| service, which is more extensive than
any other lighthouse organization in
the world. Notwithstanding this con-
| tinual importing of limb and life, the
average. annual salary of lighthouse
/ keeper is but $780, although some of
i them earn more, while others make
! considerably less. These. sturdy, brave,
/ and loyal guardians of navigation are
| drawn generally from among the
! hardy people who have been brought
I,up by the. sea and have taken up this
| dangerous work. as it seems to appeal
to them SPECIALLY
The Aged and the Disabled Must Be
Discharged.
| notwithstanding the small pay
| given. as the letter of the present law
| stands those who are unable to per
| form their duties must be discharged.
| IL does not matter whether the en-
| ployee, advancing in years, is racked
| and twisted with rheumatism from ex
| posure to the furious gales of summer
| and winter, or whether/h still in the
prime of youth, is incurably crippled
| from daring rescue of human lives
| from the waters of the sea,
| The Reorganization of the Service.
TheNaet of Congress of June H. 1910,
providing for Il more direct admins
tration of the service by placing il un
der a simple bureau form or organiza-
ton. in the Department of Commerce
and Labor. went into effect July l. 1910,
and the report. therefore. covers the
first year Of the new arrangement.
There has been, as consequence of
the reorganization, a saving in person.
mel, amounting to about 200 POSITIONS;
III itIltS VI ol1Ntn anu h'NINSJ anu pa
ticularly in the use of lighthouse tend
ers; and Yet the service has been
steadily extended.
In carrying out the changes in the
personnel an effort was made TO avoid
causing hardship to persons long in
the service. When ii was necessary to
reduce the number of positions in any
district the employees so discontinued
were transferred to other places in the
service. or, when practicable, TO other
branches of the Government. To pro-
mote the efficiency of the service in
general and TO secure the best results
in technical lines of work a plan has
been formed To have young men with
suitable preliminary technical educa-
ton enter the lower grades to be
trained for the higher positions. In
pursuance of this plan steps have been
taken for the appointment of aids,
cadet officers, and caGet engineers.
Commissioner Putnam earnestly
| states, therefore. that there is great
| need for provision by law for the re-
| tirement of employees who, after long
| Service have lost their ability for ac-
| tive duty by reason of age or disable
| ty incident to their work. He con-
siders it is not only matter of hui
mainly but a business proposition and
| in the best interests of the service. In
England the lighthouse organization
| has a retirement system in the form OF
a life assurance policy. After three
wears of service each employee is given
| one and in case of disability or super
animation the proceeds of ii provide a
means of maintenance for life. Ger
many, France, Denmark. Holland.
Norway, and Sweden have straight
pension funds.
Provision should be made. the COM
| missioner adds, for compensation to
| persons injured while engaged in
| hazardous employment in the Light
| house Service, by extending to them
the benefits of the act of May 80. 1908,
granting to certain employees OF the
| United States the right TO receive from
il compensation for injuries sustained
in the course of their employment.
The only persons in the service now
entitled TO the benefits of this law are
the artisans or labofers employed al
the General Lighthouse Depot al
Tompkinsville y. Y, which has been
construed To be manufacturing
plant" under the terms of this act
| Much of the work of the service is OF
! a hazardous nature such as the con
struction and repair of lighthouses and
beacons, sometimes in very difficult
locations. the handling of gas buoys
and gas tanks. and of other heavy
weights on vessels, 1t is believed that
there is no class of Government en-
ployees more justly entitled to eonsd-
GRAFTON in case of injury While engaged
| on hazardous duty.
The Past Years Work.
! The, Lighthouse Service is charged
with the lighting and maintenance OF
lighthouses, light vessels, buoys. and
other aids to navigation, along all the
coasts and the principal interior rivers
under the jurisdiction of the United
States with the exception of the Phillip
pine Islands and Panama. There are Is
lighthouse districts. each in charge OF
an Inspector, During the year three
new districts We're created, one nclud-
Van