Mr. NEWELL. Mr. Chairman, I desire to submit a few remarks upon the amendment just offered by the member of the ComCommerce, my friendfrom Pennsylvania, [Mr. O’Naru.] The amendment proposes to appropriate the sum of $10,000 to provrde addi honal means for the better preservation of life and property from shipwreck alone the coast of NewJersey, between Sandy Hoo and Little Egg Harbor, and is in pursuance of resolutions which I had the honor to present at the opening of this session, and whichI am glad to see have the approval of the ComCommerce, and wrll, I trust, be equally well received by the members of the House. I will take a moment to give a brief account of the history and nature of the system of life saving in operation at the entering angle to the harbor of NewYork on the coasts of NewJersey and long Island. At the 1st session of the 38th congress I presented a resolution requesting the ComCommerce to inquire if any and what means were necessary for the better preservation of life and property from shipwreck along the coasts of LongIsland and NewJer se, and upon the passage of the lighthouse bill for that year 0 ered an amendment providing that $10,000 be appropriated to provide life boats, rockets, carronades, and other appliances for the purpose indicated, which was unanimously adopted. At the next session $10,000 more were added in the same manner, and subsequently an additional $10,000, making in all $30,000. Those appropriations were expended under the supervision of an expe rienced officer of the revenue service in erecting buildings called station houses, originally at intervals of about ten miles, and' as the appropriations were made. of 5 or 6 mrles, albn the coast of NewJersey, beginning at Sandy Hook and extending to Cape May, of which there are now 28; and on the coast of LongIsland, which has 12 of these establishments. Each house is provided with a surf boat, a life car, which is a metallic elliptical shaped vessel, holding 6 passengers who lie own, when the hatch is fastened an the ear thus made impervious to water. At each end of the car is a large iron ring, and through them runs a cable extending from the vessel to the shore, and on this the car lays through the surf, being pulled backward) and forward by a.rope attached to each end alternately by the crew and Wreckers. Communication is established by a ball thrown from a mortar. To the ball is attached a small line, with which a cable is drawn to the vessel. 'On this the car runs a truck, or broad fellas beach wagon, to convey the surf boat, cars, and other necessary appliances to the point of danger. Blue lights, used to notify the wrecked of appreaching aid or to warn them of a dangerous point of shore; lanterns, axes, spades, speaking trumpets, lines, ropes, cables, life preservers, a stove, and a full supply of dry wood cut. up, complete the furniture of a station house. A superintendent is required to make a monthly inspection ofeach house, to report ifnny repairs be necessary, as well as other matters of interest. A keeper for each house receives $200a year, who employs without expense to the government a crew of 8 thorough watermen and skilled in wrecking. So far as is possible, these men are always ready for emergencies. The present superintendent has called my attention to the absolute necessity of doubling the number of stations and fixtures between the points designated in the resolution. Being 5 or 6 miles apart, it frequently happens that the opportunity to save life and preperty is 103t by the time necessarily consumed in transporting the clumsy and heavy it paratus overa sandy and irregular beach, in the midst of a blinding storm, it may be, and not unfrequently in the night season. If the number is increased, as suggested, no need will ever exist for further extension. I trust the committee are sulIiciently impressed with the value and importance of the system to appropriate the requisite sum and to provide for the salaries of the keepers; and I am fully persuaded that no similar amount can He disposed of in any way to accomplish greater good to humanity. During the existence of the system nearly, if not nite, 4,000 lives and much rop erty have been saved through its agency. 0st noticeable among all the cases was that of the emilgrant ship Ayreshire, wrecked on the coast of ewJersey, whose 401 passengers were safely landed in a.fearful storm 1n the Government life ears, and during the subsequent storms not a few lives were saved in the same manner. It is desirable that the crews who endanger their lives shall be paid, and especially rewarded for any acts of dangerous and successful duty in saving life and property. such services have hitherto been rendered by these gallant men without pay or reward, and so palpable an injustice should no longer disgrace this Government. The present embarrassed condition of our finances may deter members from making any new source of expenditure, but I beg them to remember that these services have been rendered many years without salary or any recognition from the Government; and I trust that when the proposition is made to reward them it will not be withheld. I desire to give notice that at the proper time I shall make an effort to provide or them suitable remuneration. My constituents have ever been on the alert to save life and property from the dangers of shipwreck, and ask no corn ensation for acts of humanity, and desire no relief from its burdens; but they should not be expected to keep up organizations for that purpose, and.to be always ready to afford relief, and receive no consideration for their services. I hope, also, that the appro firtation asked for repairin and relighting the ght houss on Tucker’s sch, on the coast of NewJersey, will be made. This light has been discontinued since the year 1850. This lighthouse is located on Tucker’s Beach, near Little Egg Harbor inlet, which leads into a large and commodious bay and harbor, acknowledged to he the best on the coast, there being about 15 feet of water on the bar. It is frequented by all classes of coasting vessels, it not being unusual to see 50 sail at anchor here; and in the judgment of sensible sea men and coast traders the relighting is necessary to make this bay more useful as a bar bor, it being difficult to find the inlet on a dark and stormy night without this light. I trust the small appropriation asked for may not be withheld. PROVOST MARSHAL GENERAL’S BUREAU.