New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-30
RIVALRY IN TIE NAVY.
THE OLD BREACH BETWEEN THE TNGlNEER
AND LINE OFFICERS EEOrENFD.
rny rrIEOnAPM TO me TRIBUNE.

rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE!
Washington, May 29-Exceping the Dill which pio-
vIdns for the tiTnSfcr OF the Rcvcne Mhilhe oclN"c
from the Treasury the Navy APARTMENT the blu 10
Increase the numbers and improve the satns OF oc'r
Of te Engineer Corps Of the Navy has excited mort
interest and caused more activity In naval drcieS'
where T., hns both friends and enemies, than any
other hill ,at Is row, has been In recent years.
before Congress. For years there mas existed III '"o
Navy IN earnest contest between Engineer o"Ve'"
ana Line officers, the former seeking ana the I"'o
ounos,pc legislation TO increase the number OF En-
cnccr officers and to modify the present law VIII"
rv,-s those officers relative assimntcd rlnR ns 10
oh, ain for them actual positive RANK Inc o'u
strife between these branches of the Navy WHICH III
recent years hns been dormant. owing douo'i'ss' W
the absence OF an awakening cause is again aegr,'
sivey in progress, TO the scous injury II * 'o"s"'
bv the more conservative officers OF butii hnr"o"'
and efficiency IN the naval service.
Under the provisions Of existing law Inc hhe"cci
Corns Of the Navy is composed Of $50 commissioned
officers who with the titles of chief engineers p'Ssca
assistant engineers and assistant engineers haNc 'e
relative rank OF captains, commanders Hen'c"ant
commanders. leutcnants and erSgns: whereas o'c o
hcforc Congress- which has renewed opposition from
line officers provides that. by all actual nouoh VI
twenty the officers Of the Engineer Corps snail oe
increased 10 3O3 In number, and that they slla "i'c
the actual rank Of captains, commandcrs etc., anu
the right TO exercise military command IN ther own
department.
In favor Of the bill. It's friends urge that the pro-
noSed increase in the number OF engineer ohocre u
necessary not only to supply existing demands OF the
service but to make proper provision i1r Fr"
ncctive demands that will follow The comp@'
t,on Of the new vessels building and con
templated. and, in support OK the statement
exhaustive tables, extracts from ohclHi reP'rS V.
secretaries of the Navy and Chiefs OF the bureau Oh
Steam Engineering as we'll as other data are ffshe'
Referring the subject OF rank ana command ''c
friends Of the bill contend that the assignment to
r,cneor officers Of actual rank instead Of relative or
asslmilated rank as now authorized. Is II necessary
measure In view Of the importance OF tinS Drahc" vi
the naval service and the responsibilities these oh'er
have to assume and discharge In modern VcsSeis VI
war where steam engineering lms pracucalN sup
planted scamanship and where the senio? engineer VI
6cer on board slip has the direction and contro Oh
large part OF the upon whom depends the
efficiency of the vessel as fighting machine. IL u
urged that any official who successfully directs ana
controls must have the usual military r"hh 10
have authority as such rank is the sole recognized
warrant for the exercise Of his functions without
this absolute authority. II is said nn ofcer Is con-
tradcilOn In terms, relying solely upon per onal qnoh
Ties and the good will ~ Others 10 obedience
10 orders and il IS urge that II the Army ~hcres'n
officers. even the doctors ana chaplans. have held
actual rank for many years. experience proves inc
value and importance Of this condition.
In opposition to the bill. the Line Oncers say '1d'
the Navy will have only hfty-Gve vessels When MI
those authorized by law completed; That the mum
bcr OF engineer officers fixed By law viii provide
three and n hal, officers Of that corps for each ship
even in case all OF fifty five ships were In commission
q, the same tidea remote possibility; that In foreign
naves, wchrc there Is proporlonatcly an equal
amount Of work and responsibility there Is much
smaller number Of engineer officers on each ship Than
on United states vessels and that the annual cost OF
the proposed unnecessary increase would be- *9OO
600 In reference To the subject Of rank and com
mand Line officers contend that military authority Is
derived solely from the commission given an Oihc,r
BIZ the President. which In ever, case line or STAN
requires by itS terms obedience from MI officers
or men, without regard to the rank or title OF
the officer holding IT, and the authority so vested
IN an officer cannot be affected By accident OF title
or name: that the titles fixed by law for OIL
GERS OF the Navy not only show the status OF indi
yiduals relative another. but distinctly represent
the nature of their duties, as In all foreign naves. ana
should not be disturbed. that the supreme command
OF vessel lawfully and properly devoves npon
exceed those OF all subOrdnatcs. and to divide this
authority and power wOnld lessen efficiency. divide re-
siblrv and create confusion and friction; and
that The fact that ,taif officers In thu Army have actual
rink Is not pertinent the circumstance under Which
du,v is performed is widely different, staff officers In
no other army having actual rank.
The bill referred 10 has received The approval or the
Secretary OF the Navy and has been favoraby reported
by the Senate Committee Naval Affairs. II Is be-
Ueved that the House Committee on Naval Affairs VIII
take no action the bin during this session.