The San Francisco call., 1897-11-15
Will Be Expected to Take the
Deck When the Occasion
Dem ands.
FULLER AUTHORITY FOR
MACHlNISTS.
Their Standing to Be Materially
Advanced by the Proposed
Changes
Special Dispatch to THE CALL
CALL OFFICE, RIGGS HOUSE |
WASHINGTON, Nov. IA.

CALL OFFICE, RIGGS HoUsE,l
WASHINGTON, Nov. IA.
1t is pretty well derstood here now
that the naval personnel board will rec
ommend that the older engineers who are
not graduates Of the naval aca emy will
be requireI TO perform engineering duties
only. The engineer graduates who en-
tered as engineers Will be given the option
OF qualifying as line officers or of continu-
ing to perform engineering duties solely;
the younger engineers, ali OF whom en-
tered as naval cad ts will probably be
transferred, with the requirement that
after a reasonable time they snail fit
themselves for all duties, both as line
officers ana engineers, and the younger
line officers Of corresponding date will be
required TO iii themselves for the perform
ance of engineering duties in addition TO
those they now perform.
In all probability if any change is made
in the marine corps it will consist in its
com plete absorption into the line, as has
BEN proposed for the engineers, while
with the pay corps the change would
probably consist in not making any more
appon ments from civil life. but, az va
cancies occurred at the lower end, trans
ferrlng these nun bers o 10 the line and
then detailing lire officers for the perform
ance of duty as paymas ers. The object
OF this latter scheme is stated by prom
inent ne officers to be not any desire to
abolish the pay corps, but to secure an adj
ditional officer on the ship qualified to
command division OF men N connection
with the guns or pow der division.
1t is claimed bV leading line officers u no
recently served IN comman OF large ships
that the mum ber OF line officers is INSULT
cient for properly performing battle ser
vice in time of war. AS they put it, the
primary object OF the navy is to enable
ships 10 fight, and they feel that every
thing else should be subordnated to se-
curing efficiency in that respect
The absorption OF the engineer corps by
the line. which seems now we'll assured,
means that all officers Tor a certain num-
ter of years Will be expected 10 be equally
proficient in the duties OF line as vel! as
engineer officers. In other words, engi-
neers are to take the deck, and as such
vii, for the time be virtually in charge of
the ship. Line men below certain num-
Der are to take the engine-room and serve
on watch.
The duties under the pres mt scheme
will be interchangea bic and a line officer
will not only be expected to conduct the
movements of the ship from the deck, but
equally b prepared 10 answer bells from
tue bridge.
There is q further proposition that the
machlnlsts of the navy, who are now des-
ignated as enlisted men, shall be alIo we'd
fuller au horlty in running he engines,
their duties TO be increased and their
powers spondingly. The standing
OF this type. Ill other words, is 10 be mate
rally advanced.
The "old navy" machnists while not
performing service as arduous or perhaps
requiring as mucn lntelliFence, neverthe-
less were clothed with vaster responsible
ties, and under the present propositions it
is intended hat the work OF this class
shall be advanced so far as the response
bility is concerned. The effect OF this
may b. to llgnten the duties some what of
the officers in the engine-room. 1t may
in time create a mechanical force in the
engineer department calling for higher
pay and better treatment from the Gov
ernment.