The Monticellonian., 1916-04-20


turned out without pensions and WIN
out any provision whatsoever for their
declining years.
Pay After Retirement.
All this has been changed now and
the lifesaving service has been MADE
part of the revenue cutter service
and the two together are called the
coast guard The men who dare all
to help others can retire after GER
tain length of service and then they
receive retired pay. For years at
tempts were made to induce congress
to render assistance to the service
which always was ready to give It's
help to others, but every attempt TO 90
anything for the men who fronted
wave and storm at the call of duty
failed until a short time ago, when
congress finally consented to act.
If an aero coast guard service is
sanctioned by congress it will mean
added dangers for the members OF the
coast guard When a vessel reports
by wireless that it is in distress some
where off the coast it is the instant
duty of a revenue cutter to put out
to the rescue. 1t frequently happens
that the cutter men cannot quickly To-
cate the distressed ship because wave
and wind and tide have changed It's
position. t is believed that by the
use of aeroplanes of the sea plane type
vessels in distress more quickly can
L, rtIiaIFIu
dered
1t is believed also to be a part OF the
plan to equip some Of the life-saying
stations on the coast with aeroplanes.
The thought is that an aeroplane put
ting seward can pass a line over q
stranded ship more accurately and
quickly than 1t can be done by means
of the mortars on shore which are
now used to throw a projectile with
line attached to ships on the rocks
or fast in the sand.
The coast guard as it is constituted
is Uncle Sans most recently organ
ICED service. OF course the revenue
cutter and the life-saving services as
distinct bodies have existed for years,
but now they have been welded.
State, War and Navy Club.
Officials and employees of the state,
war and navy departments have or.
ganized a social club which will have
membership reaching into the thou.
sands. The department of the interior
set club example two years ago, and
1t seems likely that it will be followed
by all the other departments of govern
ment. The Home club of Mr. Lanes
department has been huge success.
1t is said that Washington, in pro-
portion to its population. has more
social clubs than any other city In
the Union, but the organizations for
instruction and to promote soeiabil-
ity among the officials and clerks, are
a departure in club life. Through all
the years of Washington's existence
as the nations capital nothing of the
kind ever has been tried before, and
this is regarded as an amazing fact
by those who now see the possible
ties in the case.
The organization which the state
war and navy departments have set
out to form has not yet been named.
That it will take a definite name, fol-
partment's organization, which is
called the Home club, there is no
doubt. The state, war and navy work
ers are determined to put their club
on a firm basis from the start and to
make it a club after the manner OF
university clubs and other organiza-
lions which all the big cities contain.
Will Erect a Building.
A corporation has been formed, and
the employees of the three depart
ments have purchased stock at mod
est figure. The money will be used
to erect and equip a building to be
used as the home of the club, one
where the employees can gather for
purposes of entertainment and In
struction. The Home club of the In
terror department has leased a fine
residence on Lafayette square which
formerly was the Persian legation,
but 1t is the intention of the newly
formed society to own its own build
ing.
Cabinet officers are much interested
in the forming of these social organi
cations in the departments of which
they are the chiefs, 1t is said that
the government already has benefit
ted, from the fact that the workers
in the interior department, through
the club life, have become better ac
quainted with one another, and there
fore have exchanged views of work.
ing conditions and concerning means
to improve the service
1t has been possible for department
employees to join other clubs in the
city of Washington. some of which
have small initiation fees, small dues,
and yet give good returns for the
money spent. In these clubs, how
ever, membership consists of men and
women from all walks of life, and so
the department employees feel that
so far as their own work and their
own social intercourse is concerned, It
is better to have organizations OF
their own,