New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-23
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
THE NAVAL ENGINEERS APPEAL.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNv.l

|
that held by the line officers. and repeated efforts
have been made to induce Congress to amend the
laws which give to staff officers only relative "
rank. Another effort in this direction is being made
at the present session. this time especially IN behaf
of the engineer officers, many of whom have signed
q memorial to Congress, in which, among other
reasons why the legisla ion asked for should De
granted they offer the following:
Relative" rank is distinction which places the
engineer officers regards rank and title outside
of the Navy, as though they were not q portion OF
the Navy, but Of distant and separate service The
principle Of the kind of rank for all is recog-
nizcd to the fullest extent in the Army, all the corps
of which, without exception, have the same ranks
and military titles The Army engineer is colonel
or major Of engineers, as an Army line officer IS
colonel or major Of infantry, of cavalry and SO on
and, so far from the same rank and titles causing
confusion, they are the only means that can
| produce order and regularity, and pre-
vent the clashing of claims or preten-
| sion. The Army system produces perfect mar
mony of feeling, concert Of organization and
efficiency in action. and is what should be adopted
in the Navy to produce the same desirable results
The duties Of the engineer officers Of the Navy are
parallel and are essentially designing, constructing
| and supervising.
| Since steam machinery first introduced into
| the nayes Of the world-about forty years ago-as
an auxiliary to sails, its has gradu-
ally extended until at the present time
it is the marine motor while sails
have become n simple auxiliary and are set
only when the wind is fresh and fair. Steam is now
employed for almost every operation on board first
class naval steamer. 1t is used TO propel the vessel
to weigh the anchor to steer the vessel to pump her
out ii she leaks TO load the gunsn fact the ship is
a steam being. and the man who most thoroughly
understands it, use 1t, care for It, tend 1t, pre-
serve it. repair 1t, renew it, is the engineer.
1t Is the boast OF Americans and the compliment
of European naval officers that the engineers of the
United States Navy are of the highest proficiency
of any in the world The great Improvements they
have made in designs of machinery; the facts that
they are capable of making tho designs and build
ing the machinery from them, obtaining the great
est speed, with the greatest economy OF coal; the
repairs made to machinery on the blockade and Oh
foreirn stations by the engineers, and the economy
OF stores in their department are matters Of record
Their first appointment TO cadet engineer Is
guarded by. rigorous examination, phYsl-
their standing in the corps, their character,
length Of service, experience and intellectual
tions as TO their practical and scientific knowledge,
depend their retention and promotion IN the
service.
The bill proposed does not ask for any rank, pay
or privilege additional To what they now have by
law. but SIMPLY asks that their present rank be
made absolute, so that no misunderstanding can
arise about II. The engineers have at present only
their professional titles, exactly what they would
have i'll civil cmplcyments, where the question
of rank has no, existence They nave no
naval title to mark their connection with that
branch of the public service and their position III
The memorial concludes win extracts from the
speeches OF Sir Edward Reed in the British Pail
nent Admiral Sir A. Cooper Key, Captain Charles
Fellows. r. N; from editorials o. ne CPited SGrtce
GG:e.tc and others of the British press, suggesting
that engineer officers III view OF the establishment
of 4 stcau Navy, should in future be classcd with
the military branch of the service
Several members Of the House Committee on
Naval Affairs are strongly impressed in favor Of the
movement in beha of the engineers and 1t IS under
stood that a majority OF them are inclined 10 con-
slider the matter iavoraby.
VACANCIES IN TIE EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRi3UsE.I
WAsuINGroN, Jan. 22.-lhe question of making
provision for a vacancy in the Office of President,
caused by the removal death resignation or inabiI-
tv of both the President and Nice-President is ono
which claims considerable attention now, and sew
cral bills relating to the subject have been brought
forward in Congress this session Among them is
one introduced last Monday by Representative
McCoid Of Iowa, which he thinks meets every
requisite except one-by whom and how Prcsideii-
tial inability shall be deternined-which in his
opinion ought to be the subject Of a separate
urc if any legislation on the subject should be
thought necessary.
Mr. McCoid's bill continues the Electoral Col
ege during the Presidential term, and gives the
members thereof power to fill any vacancies which
NAV occur in its membership. 1t provides that In
case of a vacancy IN the Offices of President and
Vice-Presdcnt the Secretary of State shall perform
the ministerial duties as acting President, and in
tho meantime issue his proclamation calling to-
oether after thirty d1ys the Electoral College
which shall at once elect President aud Yce-nrcs-
ident for the unexpred term; and tho votes for
theso officers are TO be counted, if Congress is in
session when the election takes place, the eighth
Tuesday after the meeting of such electors, and if
Congress is not in session, then on the second
Tuesday after it shall assemble. This would give
eight weeks for the returns TO be snt to the Presi
dent pro TEN. of the Senate, the same time now al
lowed by the Constitution. A President and Vice
President could under this bill be so elected and
could en- er upon their duties within three months
after the vacancy should occur.
THE BILL" Mr. McCOid says. " returns to the pur
pose of the makers of the Constitution in making the
college of electors a responsible body of active
TcpTesen tatlvcs and not mere agents or party
and vet parties might meet i'll convention and pre-
sent candidates for their concerted action. 1t pre-
serves the political complexion of the AdmlnstTa-
tiOn during the entire four years for which Prcs
dent and Vice President are elected. 1t conforms
in every possible way to the present settled Constl
tutonal methods and practices: II confines the oc-
cupaDts of the Executive Office 10 men who ha Vo |
been elected at large by the people OF the Whole |
Union: 10 l5 simple original, and yet IN harmony
with the ideas Of the trainers of the Constitution
and is only n natural growth OF thought from the
experience of a century"
ONE RESULT or SCOVILLE'S LONG SPEECH |
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUSE.i
WAsHINGTON, Jan. 22.-Susplcion was expressed
during Mr. Scoville's long speech that he talk
ing against time in order to postpone Guteaus cx