The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-12
NAVAL timber IS scarce
Department Unable to Fill Vacancies
and Nan New Ships.
SAILORS PREFER THE YACHTS
High standard Of Requirements Makes II
Difficult for Recruiting Officers to
Secure Seamcn-Nincty Per Cent
Of Applications Rejected.

Washington. Aug. 1.-THE navy de-
partment Is finding considerable dill
Guilty in enlisting men to NIL existing
vacancies and to man the new ships
that will soon be ready to go into COM
mission. 1t is authoratively stated at
the department that neither the Sec
ond-class battleship Texas nor the
armored cruiser Maine Will be enabled
to participate in the drill off Newport.
Aside from the delay In procuring
crews for the two ships. there are
other embarrassments which will rem
der it impossible for even the Texas
which is in the more advanced condi.
ton to be in condition for several
weeks.
The navy officials say that it is with
difficulty that enlistments OF seameh'
machinists and others are made during
the summer season. At this period men
who combine knowledge of such mat
ters can always find more re-
munerative employment on pri-
viate yachts and along shore
where the duty is not so exact
ing as it is in the navy. The business
conditions. which are more satisfactory
now than they have been for several
years, make it also possible to pro-
cure work that Is more satisfactory to
them than serving the government, and
for these reasons enlistment proceed
slowly. Later in the autumn, however
when the scores of private yachts shall
have been laid up the men engaged
upon them will seek other employment,
and then the vacancies in the ranks of
the enlisted men will be rapidly filled
Never before In its long and honora-
BILE history has the navy department
been so Jealous of the high character,
the intelligence and the physical condi-
ton of the men. whom II IL taking into
it's service as at present. II is asserted
by those having thee matter in charge
that 80 per cent. of the applications
are rejected for one reason or another
While more or less latitude is given to
the recruiting officers. the rules of the
department require that no seamen
machin.st or fireman shall be enlisted
who has passed the age of 30 years en-
cept he be man wha has previously
served in the navy. In that case the age
limitation is not so strictly enfonced II
the applicant meets the other require
| ments.
Government Pays Well.
The United States government pays
its enlisted men better than any Other
nation on earth. Seamen of the first
TiIlh TeCeiNe S1f per fIioHtu, WHlle ldnuS-
men without previous experience draw
s. less. The pay of machinst Is 81
a month, and that of fireman s35. A
blacksmith receives $50; a plumber. $45
and painter, $50. Men who enlist as
seamen when qualified and are ad-
vanced to the rating of petty officers
have their wages increased to an
amount varying from s25 to $6j a
month. The rate of pay generally is far
in advance of that which is given tc
| private and non-commissioned officers
In the army, but the service is more
exacting and from many points of view
| It is not so desirable 1t is said, 70,
example that the department finds
great difficulty in inducing the younger
men to re-enlist after one or two ser.
vices. After an experience of this
character the men as a rule desire tC
marry and seek employment on shore
rather than TO be separated from theil
families for period of three years with
only ninety days vacation at the ex
| pi"ation of that time.
| The hope of the navy, the sheet anchor
upon which its hopes of a successfu
future very largely depend, Is the ap
prentice system. which was esta blishet
many years ago.