News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-03-28
NAVAL RED TAPE.
The Rigid Rules that Exist on a
Man-of-War.

The story of naval red tape would fill
volume, and very amusing volume it
would be to the civilian. Hoary customs
that have long outlived their usefulness
are continued, apparently for no better
reason than that they were once neces-
sary. Trifes are magnified into things
of moment, and there are hundred
petty regulations that, disobeyed, may
bring down a reprimand or q court-mar-
tial. The rules of procedure are cast
iron, and no European court is more
jealous of etiquette than is the American
Navy. The commander of a man-of- war
no longer has power of life and death
over his subordinates, though it is less
than generation since the son of q
Cabinet officer was hanged to the yard
arm after a drum-head cOurtmartial.
The captain is still tremendous person
age. He lives alone in quarters that are
cOmmOdiOus and sumptuous, compared
with those of his subordinate officers.
He is surrounded by ceremonious obser-
vances. He has a boats crew at his
back to carry him where he will, whether
on public or private business. His
quarter deck is sacred precinct, so that
no officer save those on duty there dares
to loiter upon its surface His represen-
tative, the officer of the deck, though he
be a mere ensign, receives the salute of
every seaman and officer in thr ship. 1t
has not been guessed what would happen
should any one smoke ON the quarter
deck, and so much is the spot held in
awe that an officer passing touches his
hat even though neither the captain nor
the officer of the deck is in sight.
One of the oldest examples of for
malities and red tape is given at quar-
ters on the first Sunday of the month,
when the muster takes place. Every
one comes to quarters that morning in
full dress. When silence has been COM
manded, the first lieutenant informs
the captain, through the orderly, that
the officers and crew are ready to mus
ter. The captain then comes on deck
and bids the first lieutenant read the
articles of war. Thereupon the first
lieutenant reads in his loudest voice the
said articles with their dreadful fulmi-
nations against drunkenness, gambling,
profane swearing, treason, and other
like crimes. He also reads such general
orders as may have come from the Navy
Department. The reading finished, he
IcpOIGo W TIC captain lndo tiIo O1uSio
have been published. At this the cap
tain says to the first lieutenant: ''Then
go on with the muster" The first lieu
tenant says in turn to the officer of the
deck: "Go on with the muster" The
officer of the deck says to the paymaster:
''Go on with the muster" The pay
master gays to his clerk: $50 on with
the muster, and the clerk goes on with
the muster, which is merely roll call of
the ships officers and crew. When the
clerk has finished his task, he reports
the result to the paymaster; the pay
master repeats the clerks message to
the officer of the deck, the officer of the
deck repeats it to the first lieutenant,
and the first lieutenant repeats it to the
captain. The captain then says to the
first lieutenant: ''Pipe down" This
1rtIer tTslverses the course of the others,
nj finally reaches the boatswain. He
pipes down." which means that the
function" is ended.-Neto York Star.