The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-08-23
CHAPTER 7Gg.

AN ACT in addition 10 chapter 2jS Of the
Public Laws "Of the Militia" entitled
"An Act TO Establish II Naval Battal-
ion TO be Attached TO the Rhode Island
Militia"
PASSED April 2G. 1880
ii is enacted by the General Assembly as
follows:
Section J. la addition 10 the organiza-
tions comprising the active militia, there
shall be allowed two companies of naval
battalion, designated as follows: One of
Naval Reserve Artillery, located in Prov
idence, and one n Naval Reserve Torpedo
Company, located at Newport, which
shall constitute n battalion to be known
as "The Naval Battalion" of the Rhode
Island Militia.
Sec. 2. The officers of this battalion
shall consist Of Lieutenant commander,
whose rank and pay shall be that of n
major of infantry, and u staff 30 consist Of
one adiutaut, one ordnance officer, one
paYmaster, who shall he the mastering
officer, and one surgeon, each with the
rank Of lieutenant of the junior grade.
They shall be paid the same ae battalion
staiis in the militia. There shall also be
attached TO the staff the following petty
ellicers, viz: One master at arms, two
yeomen, one hospital steward, one chief
bugler, who shall receive the came pay
as the on-commissioned officers of bat
talon Of infantry.
Sec g. The company Of Naval Reserve
Artillery shall be commanded by lieu
tenant, and shall consist of not more than
one battery. This battery shall be com
posed of one lieutenant, junior grade.
two ensigns, two boatswains-matcs, three
gunners- mates, woquartermasters, three
coxswains. and forty -four seamcn as en-
listed men The Naval Reserve Torpedo
Company shall be commanded 10y leu
tenant, and shall consist of not more than
one company. This company shall be
composed OF one Lieutenant, Junior grade,
two ensigns, two boatswains- mates, three
gunners- mates, two quartermasters, three
coXSwains, and forty four scamen as en-
listed men. This company shall consist
of three crews, each of which shall con.
tain eighteen petty officers and men. The
first crew shall be commanded by lieu
tenant, junior grade, the second and third
crews 10y the two ensigns. Each torpedo
crew shall contain at least two men with
n practical knowle lge of electricity, aud
two others with n practical knowledge Of
steam machinery.
Sec. 4. The rank and pay of officers of
each company shall correspond TO the
=. IF the Brigade Rhode Island Militia, as
follows: Lieutenant with captain, lieu
tenant, junior grade, with first Lieutenant,
ensign with second lieutenant. The boat
swains- mates, gunners- mates, quarter
masters and coXswains shall receive the
same pay rs the non-cOmmissioned oili-
GERS of a battalion of infantry. The sea-
men shall receive the same pay as en-
listed men of infantry.
Sec. .. This battalion shall be uni
formed ms the commander-in- chief shall
direct, out of any existing appropriations
made for uniforms or supplies for the
militia.
Sec q. The organization of the naval
battalion shall conform generally TO the
provisions of the laws of the United
States, and the system of discipline and
exercise shall conform as nearly as may
be to that of the navy of the United
States, as it now is or may hereafter be
prescribed 10y Congress. When not 9th
erwise provided for, the government Of
the naval battalion shall be controlled 10y
the provisions of the Public Statutes IA
now applied TO the Rhode Island Mi
litia.
Sec. Z. When the Government of the
United States is ready TO supply the ma
terial and opportunities for naval iustruc-
tion and drill, the governor is hereby au-
thorized To make the necessary arrange
ments for carrying such programme into
effect. The duty of the naval battalion
required 10y law, or any part Of it. may
be performed atloat in United States ves-
sells. Officers and men of the naval bat
talon mustered temporarily into the ser
vice of the United States for instruction
and drill, and receiving compensation
therefor from the United States, shall not
during the same time be entitled 90 COM
pensation or allowances from the state.
Sec. s. The governor is authorized TO
apply TO the President of the United
States for the detail OF commissioned and
petty officers of the navy To act as in
spectors and instructors in the art of ma
val warfare.
Sec .. When in conformity with sec
tion of chapter POS of the Public Stat
utes as amended by section | of chapter
32S of the Public Laws. an enrolment of
persons subject TO military duty shall be
made, these shall he separately enrolled
and designated as the Naval Militia, all
seafaring men of whatever calling or oc-
cupation and all men engaged ia the nav
igation of the rivers. lakes and other
waters, all persons engaged in the con-
struction and management of ships and
crafts, or any part thereof upon such
waters, together with shp-owners and
their employees, yacht owners, members
of yacht clubs, aud all other associations
for aquatic pursuits. and all ex-oficers
and former enlisted men Of the navy.
Sec. 10. This act shall take effect upon
its passage.