Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1893 — Old Men of the Marines. [ARTICLE]

Old Men of the Marines.

One of the curiosities of the public service is the present condition of the Revenue Marine Service in the matter of the antiquity of many of its officers. For example: Captain Martin was born iD 1803, Captain Ottinger in 1801, Captain Scammon in 1825, Captain Henriquea in 1826. Captain EvaDs in 1817, FirstLieutenant Barston in 1824,. First-Lieu-tenant Loring in 1824. First-Lieutenant Walden in 1825, Seeond-Lieutenant Howard in 1821, Chief Engineer Roberts in 1822, Chief Engineer Vallat in 1828, Chief Engineer Chester in 1831, Chief EogineerCheversin 1832. Chief Engineer Harrison in 1828 and Chief Engineer Dinsmore in 1826. This condition only exists beeause there is no remedy, and its influence on the Revenue Marine Service is very unfavorable and discouraging. With captains over ninety years old, first-lieutenants, second-lieutenants Aud engineers over seventy, and all still on the active list, the status of that service cannot be effective. Under existing law there is no retired list for the officers of the Revenue Mariue, and they must be kept at the top when they grow old and useless. No human organization can be kept healthy and efficient without a constant pressure of young blood at the bottom. Captaiu Shepard and his predecessors have endeavored to force Congressional action, but so far their efforts have not succeeded.—[Washington Post.