New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-05
THE PRESIDENT AShED TO INTERFERE
,vEr,c,x ENGINEERS WANT TO KEEP ENGLISH
uEv FROM GETTING LICENSES.

MEN FROM GETTING LCENSr'o'
Tho Marine Engineers Association Of America -
ndeavoring TO prevent the licensing OF nr',,'" '
jecfs as engineers Of the newly H"e'''"' w
,hip, New York and Paris. formerly 'he III! VI
York and CITY OF Paris The associotion 'a'' ~.
min, that those vessels being an auxiliary 10 INV
Savy OF the United states II Is important tha' wv
officers be Tinted states citizens. They say 'n'' wv
SECRETARY Of the Treasury. Mr.. Foster mau' w
I'm controven,lon Of the statutes OF the lni'eu H'
by permitting the engineers previously "i'' ~
vessels TO remain in charge upon simply fling dec"rh'
,,ors of their Intentions become CITIZENS Inc "s>o
citation has retained George W. Deasc 10 cnoe"'oI ~
have the order permitting the Issuing Of licenses ~
British subjects couniermanded In an interVie" YES
terday, Mr. Dcasc said
al wa, called upon BY the president OF the Marine
Enrneers' Association Of the United STATES 'op''h'
with committee OF eight or ten local pre'n'h's
and district delegates. The president oil the aSsoc'a'
ton mad seen Secretary Foster and made "A protest
Mr. Foster said that the owners Of the vessels hau rep
resented TO him that 1t for tho interest OF the
rompany that the engineers then In charge should ID"
licensed under our statutes fo the reason ta' 'hcre
were no American engineers who were COMPETENT w
take charge Of such vessels. and thar he Interpreted
the law which provided that none but American" ciuhehs
8 oud be officers Of vessels of the Inted states as
10 include engineers. rs h" did not cohHner inv"
10 be- officers. The masters and mates. however,
we're changed so that 5ly American citizens were In
charge the line OF distinction being drawn as W
whether engineers officers or not.
"Thcrr Is no question whatever but that an engineer
i officer of vessel; he Is 50 cilNsen up'" III"
papers and In the parlancc Of the he must submit
to examination and obtain a license from the 'h'i
States Government before he can act. Ever since
the inception Of inspect IN service which exists unhcr
the laws Of the United states for examining into the
qualifications and Issuing licenses to masters, ha'e>'
piIcts and engineers engineers have been deemed
officers and throughout the sections Of the Revised
Statutes. rfrrrnG to the Inspection service th"y d''
designated and referred TO-"
4" How about the citizenship. Mr. Dtase''
Mr. Foster ruled that the mere declaration of IN
cntion 20 become II citizen would authorize bi1'i'h
subjects. In this case. To obtain "a 'nltch >td'e'
license. cannot agree with him IN this, because
certainly a declaration Of intention does not consul
iuir u fnll.ncdgcd citizenship. Under the laws oi
New York An allen is entitled to hold property upon
nnc II declaration 10 become citilen but iha Is
the extent q his qualifications. he cannot vote, hoid
Office or exercise other qualifications. 80 II is Win
the citizen OF the United states
What action, Mr. D~asc, do tn" engineers pro
pose TO take -
We have this day transmitted a telegram to Mr
Cleveland In which call his attention Ia the 'a't
that the late secretary OF the Treasury has authorized
the Issuance Of United states licenses {" BriuHh SUD
j"ct, 10 serve engineers Of IN" steamships sew
York and Paris against section +l3l, H. =. OF t'l'
I nlrd siaic. and tell him lint many hay" been
licensed and more To hc licensed IN N"w-l orh on
Monday. "" ask him 10 protect American "nsin'"'r'
v in. rurilng the SECRETARY or the Tr"aSurr IN c"un
icrmand the Instructions permitting ia" issuance OF
such lcon~rS ~ those foreigners at least. until Inc
by ,,~org. Ihl.r National president Of the Marin"
Engin.rrs' Association Of America