Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/97

* REVENUE CUTTER SERVICE. 81 REVENUE CUTTER SERVICE. ing vessels, iiiamied with 10 masters, 30 mates, 40 uiaiiiieis, and 20 boys. By degrees, and as occasion arose, the service was augniented in strength and armament, and on July 1, 170!), Congress authorized the President to "cause the revenue cutters to be employed to defend the sea- coast and to repel hostility to vessels and com- merce within their jurisdiction." The ra))id growth of foreign trade, and a shipping interest that was constantly developing at home, created the necessity for moie ellicient means of protec- tion, and swifter cruisers, better armed, manned and equipped, were gradually added to the force. Tlie duties of these vessels were extended to tlie suppression of piracy that had become common on account of the many adventurers attracted to American waters. A distinctive revenue ensign and peiMiant were provided by law. (See Colored Plate in article Flag.) Beginning in 1843, steam- ers were introduced, and they have entirely su- perseded the old type of sailing cutters. Eevenue cutters have participated in all the wars of the United States except the Algerine war, and have been prompt to respond to any emergency. In 1797, when France assumed a bel- ligerent attitude, and during the troublous times that followed, the cutters aided in maintaining the dignity and position of the Government. Sev- en of them were employed in the waters of the West Indies. The Endjargo Act of 1807, intended to countervail Napoleon's decrees, put the service into special requisition in guarding the seaboard and preventing the departure of unauthorized merchant ships. In the War of 1812 its force was actively engaged in patrolling the coast and repelling foreign invasion. During the nullifica- tion troubles of 1832-33 several revenue vessels were stationed ofi' Charleston ready to enforce the execution of the tarifT laws. At the time of the Seminole War, in 183G, they transported troops and munitions, and ati'orded protection to settlers along the coast. In the war with Jlexico eight vessels shared in the naval attacks on Alvarado and Tabasco and cooperated with the naval squad- ron. In 18.58 the steam cutter Harriet Lane took part in the naval exjiedition to Paraguay, and was considered one of the most efficient ships of the fleet. During the Civil War the cutters were busily engaged conveying dispatches, pur- suing blockade-runners, doing guard and recon- naissance duty, and joining in attacks on the enemy's forts and batteries. Throughout the war with Spain 20 vessels of the service, carry- ing 71 guns, 131 officers, and 72.5 men, were em- ployed with the army and navy, while 3, just constructed, with 25 officers and 210 men, were under orders to go to the front when the war closed. Eight cutters were in the North Atlantic squadron on the Cidian blockade, 4 cooperated with the na'y on the Pacific coast, while one was in the Battle of JNIanila Bay. In 1903 there were in the service 44 vessels, 17 of them harbor and anchorage boats, steam launches, etc., 1 a practice bark, and the remain- ing 26 steamers ranging from 152 to 869 tons burden. Those built of steel in recent years are admirable models of marine design and architec- ture and are among the fastest of their class afloat. Nearty all liave been constructed under the immediate supervision of officers of the corps and devised with special reference to the general needs of the service. They are usually armed with from 2 to improved rapid-lire gims, and are provided with necessary small arms for the use of the crews. In time of war their equip- ment may be readily augmented. The vess«ds are kept prepared, as far as possible, for pndoiiged voyages ami the performance of any duty that may be legally assigned them. In this comiei'tioii it may be stated that almut all the early autlii'n tic information concerning the natural features of Alaska, its climate, the characteristics of the natives, and the resources of that country, wi're obtained by explorations made l)y oHiecrs of the revenue cutter service. Several vessels make cruises each year into the Bering Sea and .rclic Ocean for the i)rotcction of the lislieries and Government interests. The active list of the service comprised, in 1903, 37 captains, 37 lirst lieutenants, 37 second lieu- tenants, 37 third lieutenants and cadets, 1 cap- tain of engineers, 35 chief engineers, 17 first as- sistant engineers, 18 second assistant engineers, and 1 constructor, and in addition about 1000 petty officers and .seamen. The olhcers of the engineer corps rank with line oflieers of corre- sponding grades, and the constructor has the rank of first lieutenant. All are commissioned by the President, l)y and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and, under the law, rank is held as follows: Captains with majors in the army and licutenant-couunanders in the navy; first lieutenants with captains in the army and lieutenants in the navy; second lieutenants willi first lieutenants in the army and lieutenants (ju- nior grade) in the navy; third lieutenants with second lieutenants in the army and ensigns in the na^'y. When revenue cutters serve in coiiperation with the navy, pursuant to law, their ollieers hohl rank with and next after naval officers of the grades nanu'd. The comniissioned officei's of the service receive the same pay and allowances as officers of corresponding rank in the army, and are retii'ed for physical disability or on reach- ing the age of 64 years. Promotions are made, in the order of seniority, to fill vacancies which may occur in the various grades, after the candi- dates have qualified by a professional examina- tion. In 1876 Congress enacted a measure permitting the Secretary of the Treasury to ai)point cadets to fill vacancies occurring in the grade of third lieutenant. The object was to provide means for educating young men for deck officers. Ihider the operation of this system nearly two-thirds of the active list of the line in 1903 were composed of cadet graduates. Some 10 additional appoint- ments have been made from graduates of the Naval Academy. Before the cadet system was organized candidates from the merchant marine and volunteer navy were admitted directly to the grade of third lieutenant. .An applicant for a cadetship nnist be not less than 18 nor more than 25 years of ace. of vigorous constitution, physi- cally soinid and well formed, not less than 5 feet 3 inches in height, of good moral character, and unmarried. He is reqtiired to pass a satisfactory entrance examination in spelling, geography, gen- eral history and Constitution of the I'nited States, fframniar, composition and rhetoric, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, physics, English literature, one modern langimge (either French, German, or Spanish), and general inforniatimi. The examination, which is open to all qualified