The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-04
Admission and Promotion I'm the Navy,

BEN. L. GREEN.
Admission and Promotion In the Navy.
TO THR EDITOR or THE HERALD
The public press of the country has for some
tins past been pointing out the existing evils in
the navy, audit IL now generally adnitted every
hand that something must soon DO done to reno
vats and rsiso it to its original and high standard
But as yet no thorough reform has been proposed,
or, at least decided upon that ID likeyto be agree
able to the majority. We ask the questions why
not spply the aame system of admission and pro-
motion As is now applied. with such manifest adj
vantage, to the engineer corps of the navy? twill
certainly mot be denied by any competent to Judge,
but that the corps of naval engineers has grown at
an unprecedented rate, in ability intelligence and
usefulness, since the present system Of examinations
was adopted This corps is comparatively new in
orgas ization, having only been authorized by
Congress in August, 1872 At that date,
neither the rapid increase of steamers, nor an
larged sphere of duties for the naval engineers,
such SO has sin, taken place, were contemplated
and tho organization was accordingly made alike
With other corps of the navy. Three years had but
elapsed before it became absolutely necessary to
organize the corps a different basis, i & es
merit Accordingly, the first Board of Chief En-
giIeers wa. COW eneo ut Washington City, in July,
lS45, for that purpose, before whom all the en-
ginters then IN the navy were ordered, and their
respective merits ascertained. As might have been
supposed, many of these in the higher grades, Gas
nov exist in other corps in the nayy,) were found
incompetent for the lower grades They were, Of
course, passed according to their ability.
Since that period no person has been admitted or
promoted into the engineer corps Of tho navy
until pronounced qualified by a board convened by
the Secretary Of the Navy for that purpose.
The corps is divided into four grades. and not
only before admission to the lowest, but before pro
molten sfteIwsrd to each higher grade. tue can
d'date must pass rigid and scrutinizirg OK
animation, extending BOT only to his profess
sional attaipments, but to his moral aud
oisl character and general aptitude for and
energy in business There are thus four ex-
sDiDations to be passed at stated intervals,
each exceeding the other in stringenoy, and
with the important advantage of having tho
character and ability of the candidate under
stood from the experience of his service in the grade
from which he is to he promoted. Further, by this
system Of examinations for each grace the CORPS is
puyged of oil members untitled, eoellk morally or
professionally, for the discharge of IS, because
any candidate, whatever be the grade ne IN ~ have
attained if be fail to pass for the grade, is dis
missed from the service and his place filled by the
next best qualified An engineer may thus have
been in the service for many years, and discharged all
tho duties of the lower grades with credit, but on
failing to pass Tor the highest he is dismissed. As
in each general examination, the standard Of quail.
fcations is greatly raised, it will therefore DO seen
that it impossible for engineer Of the navy to
remain stationary; he must advance and keep pace
with the progress of tho arts and sciences, ap-
piled to his profession, he must leave the corps
Hence in this system there is the widest field for
petition; for promotion taking place it doe, accord
ing to merit determined by the examinations. ono
examination may reverse the relative standing Of
mem bers of the same grade from what estab-
lshed by the preceding examination; thus, talent
10 LETT continually untrammelled to strive for still
higher elevation.
Any person desiring to enter the engineer corps
of the navy between the ages of Is and 25 has only
to send his and address to the Secretary of tho
Navy, when it is placed upon the list, and at the
next examination for admission he receives permits
sion to present himself before the Board Of Examn
ers. composed of chief engineers of the navy who,
having attained that grade after the laborous and
prog lessive climbing through the inferior grades,
are naturally disposed to guard it with jealousy
1t will thus be seen that the composition Of the
engineer corps is emnently republican, the field being
alike oEen to the Of the blacksmith and sena-
permission TO be examined, and when once be lore
the examining board, the fate of the candidate ia
determined pu,el on his merit
Although but seven years has elapsed since the
the members have already entered upon wide and
very responsible range of duties, combining all Of
The theory and practice known in the extensively
ramified arts and sciences, making up thorough
steam engineering and steam navigation; a know
ledge which-it believed it will be contested by
any competent to Judge demands quite as much
natural ability, united with as deep study, and
long practice, as are required for any profession.
The engineers Of the navy now decide upon and
design the various complex machinery for the war
steamers, furnishing first the working drawings, in
the most complete detail, then supsrintend and
direct their manufacture at the various establish
mcnts afterwards its erection board the vessels
finally, they operate this machinery at sea. The
machinery go designed and superintendent is some
times of the largest, most complicated, and costly
description, frequently amounting, in first class
steamships, to hundreds Of thousands of dollars;
and at the various establishments where it is
strncted the naval engineers the sole guardians
Of the public interest. where the expenditures con-
sttuts formidable fraction of the naval appropr-
atoms. The amounts and kinds Of labor done
determined by and paid for wholly on their certi-
ficates Again, after this costly and complex ma
chipery is erected board the steamship, its pre-
servation and judicious management rests alone
with the engineers; on them depends not only the
effective operation Of the machinery, but the safety
Of the vessel and all embarked in it; hence it is
an obvious fact that on board steamship the
steam machinery must necessarily be the important
and essential feature, to which all Others sub
ordinate; and as necessary corollary to this, it
follows, that the services of those who control it
the most valuable, and their responsibilities the
greatest
There is . strong probability, which will scarcely
be contested by any who have bestowed the proper
reflection on the subject, that in twenty years hence
there viii be no naval vessel unpropelled, in
whole or in part. by steam or other gases The in
PRODUCTION OF motive power for all marine war pur
poses will be compelled by necessity and the pres
sure Of circumstances When this change shsll be
made, which is now in rapid progress, the engineer
officers will be as numerous, and their duties as i'm
portant, as an aggregate to the whole navy, as all
the officers in it, In consideration of these facts,
we have no hesitation in saying that the same sys
tenn Of admission and promotion should at onoo be
ii
Of twenty officers be selected from the grades of cap
tain. commander and lieutenant, and those OF
known abil ty, and the whole Of these grades, to-
gethsr with the passed midshipmsn, undergo rigid
and searching examination not only into their pro-
fctsioDal qualifications but their social and moral
characters and If captains arc found unfit for Dap
tans commanders, let them 60 down to the grades
which they are ft to dill, and if entirely unfit for
service, let them so out, as is the case in the
engineer corps; and thereafter let officer in any
grade be promoted until he has been pronounced
qualified by competent board of examiners; then
We shall hear nothing more Of the imbecihty and
All