Evening star., 1915-01-28
COAST GUARD BILL
SIGNED BY WILSON
Revenue Cutter and Life-Say'
ina Services Combined Un-
der New Name.

| President Wilson today signed the
coast guard bill. which combines the
revenue cutter service and the life
saving service.
| The pen with which the President
signed the cpast guaIS bill today is
now the proud possession of Sumner l.
| Kimball, the octogenarian superintend-
| ent of the life-saving service. now re-
| tired on three quarters pay as reward
of his lifelong task of bringing the
| life-saving service up to its present ef-
\ fciency. The pen is for him not only
bill by the President. but is a symbol
! of his own efforts to effect this legis-
| lation to provide for the life savers
and the accomplishment of his aspira-
| tions.
| Reorganization Board Appointed.
! Reorganization of the former rev.
enue cutter and life-saving services, to
| merge them into the coast guard, will
proceed at once. Byron R. Newton, as
sistant secretary of the Treasury, in
| charge of the coast guard. has appoint
ed board, which will consider the
subject and make recommendations.
| Members of the board are S. l. Kim
| ball, who was general superintendent
! of the life saving service; E. p. Bert
Off commandant Of the former revenue
! cutter service, Capt. d. p. Foley, in
spector of the former revenue cutter
service: Edwin c. Chapman, in charge
of former district 10 of the life saving
service; Capt. A. j. Henderson, in COM
| mand of the coast guard cutter Yama-
craw and former assistant inspector
Of the life saving service.
Supt. Kimball and Capt. f. p. Bert
] holt, now commanding the coast guard
and formerly captain commandant Of
| the revenue cutter service, will un-
| doubtedly be two members of this
| committee. 1t is probable that Capt.
4 u. ~ tof
of what was the revenue cutter serv-
| ice, and Oliver NJ. Maxam. assistant
superintendent Of the expired life-sav-
| ing service, may also be designated.
both services may be called upon to
lend their experience and wisdom to
| the council.
! Every man in either service is as
sured of place with the coast guard.
Supt. Kimball, retired on three-quar-
| ters pay, and such life savers as are
placed on the retired list for age by
operation of the law will be the only
men legislated from duty. All civilian
employees and all enlisted men and Of
fcers of both service will stay put.
Radical Changes Not Expected.
Probably there will be rot a radical
change, except in the amalgamation Of
organization plan as finally adopted
Assistant Supt. Maxam will undoubted-
ly become chief of division. with turis-
diction of that branch of the Coast
Guard which was formerly the life
saving service. The division which
will have direction of the former rev
enue cutter activities will be given in
charge of Assistant Commandant g. III
Slaybaugh.
This is the first time in the worlds
history that there has been created
a military establishment with the duty
of conservation and humanity, in con-
trast with the destructive purposes of
the regular establishments of the
army and navy" commented Byron
r. Newton, assistant secretary of the
Treasury. The coast guard has its
land and sea force. enrolled like SOL
diers and sailors, under like discipline,
with parallel emoluments for service
and rewards for distinguished deeds,
but charged with saving human life
and property. not with killing men and
leveling the work Of man."
The situation attending the merger of
the two services is likened by Assistant
Secretary Newton Is to a household
preparing for a wedding. The two
services are under contract to be
merged. and the ceremony is to be ac-
complished with the preparation of a
reorga nization plan and the proclama-
ton Of the President, which will pro-
nounce them one. In the meantime
there Is Joy and melancholy, with the
severing or transformation Of intimate
relations that have existed for years,