Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-02
COAST GUARD MERGER
With NAVY PLANNED
Congressman Campbell Will In
troduce Measure Favorinr
Joining of Sea Forces
BERTH0LF OPPOSES SCHEME

Proposed legislation that would merge
the Little Navy" made up of the
Coast Guard Service, with the regular
navy, has dupalivelycontrovers
between officers of the two services over
the advisabiity of the change.
While supporters of the bill are said
to number % per cent of the officers
and men in the coast guard, its antago-
nists assert that only 80 per cent of the
coast guard favor it; that the majority Of
the officers Of the navy and Secretary
Glass, Of the Treasury Department, un-
der which the coast guard operates in
peace time, also are opposed to 1t.
The bill making the change pcrma :
nently to the navy is to be introduced
in Congress soon by Representative Guy
T.. Campbell, Of Pennsylvania.
Opposed to Measure
N Among the coast guard officers
actively opposed to the measure are
Commodore Commandapt II. p. Bert
holt, and Captain G. A. McAllister
engineering chief. Supporters of the
suggested change contend that it would
result in greater efficiency in coast
guard work and bring about consider
able economics of operation.
81 most certainly am opposed to the
transfer of the coast guard permanently
to the navy" said Commandant Bert
holf in Washington. today. 80 is the
President, so is the secretary of the
treasury, so are the majority of the navy
officers and so are at least half of the
coast. guard men. l positively am op-
posed to it,
''There's no secret about my atti-
tude. What I think about it will be
found in my remarks before the House
committee which considered the bill at
the last session"
But since then the bill has been re-
drafted with certain Objectionable fca-
lures of the first draft eliminated.
When Commandant Bertholf was re
minded that many coast guard officers
and men favor the bill, he said:
"Well, why shouldn't they. If a lot
of them don't they are insane. That
bill provides for giving almost all the
coast guard men an advance in rank
with an increase in pay when the
coast guard service is merged into the
navy.
''It would perhaps give me advanced
rank and increased pay, too. But I'm
opposed to it on the ground of eff
cheney. l firmly believe the coast
guard will perform more efficient serv-
ice working Independently of the navy
as unit by itself under the Treasury
Department, and 1 favor it's being
turned back to the Treasury Depart
ment when the war emergency is over. "
Harrison Gives Views
Captain p. G. Harrison, U. s. G.
g., who has just returned to the Cape
May base from Washington, where ht
conferred with members of Congress ir
the interest of the bill, sums up thu
results of its passage as follows:
SIT will not be detrimental to thu
Treasury Department or any of its sub
divisions, but will improve the efficiency
of the performance of the coast guart
duties, because of better and NOR,
abundant equipment.
''It will relieve the Treasury Depart
ment of the administration of military
service, which performs for it onl!
slight service, and that more by rea'
son of tradition than of necessity.
'It will not be detrimental to th
Department of Commerce, for the en-
forcement of the navigation laws ant
motorboat laws will be accomplished b.
the navy.
''It will benefit the navy by givinj
Il the services of number of trained
experienced officers.
sit will improve the efficiency o
the navy by opening to young naval of
fcers field Of training which will Civ
them broader experience in seaman
ship in coastal navigation.
''It will achieve economy by abolish
ing certain functions of the coast guar,
z which are Implications of similar func
tions in the navy. 1t is estimated
saving of approximately one half mil
lion dollars per year will be accom-
plished.