The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-17

1t was expected Tuesday that the House
Committee on Naval Affairs would yes
terday be able to report it's appropria-
ton bill Such would have been the
case had not unexpected opposition to
the request of the Administration been
made by Chairman Bouteie in respect to
the reorganization bill, which increases
the number of engineers and contains pro-
visions tending to the efficiency of the
navy. a...n
The committee was in session all day
yesterday and it now looks as if it will
be the last of the week before a report
will be made. At the solicitation of the
Administration the committee decided
yesterday to include in the bill a provi-
sion for the construction of half a dozen
torpedo boat destroyers. These addi-
tions to the bill were embodied in it yes
terday, but member of the committee
said last night that owing to the dIssen-
sion that constantly exists in the COM
mittee. the appropriation for these YES
sells may be stricken out today.
When the committee meets this morn
ing it will at once take up the measures
provided in the reorganization bill which
was unanimously recommended by the
last board of visitors to Annapolis. The
bill has been before Congress for a long
time and provides for the eniarging and
Improvement of the Engineer Corps. 1t
makes one corps of both the line and
engineer officers and provides for the
training to do duty in the line and staff
branches of the service.
Since this proposed change has been
before Congress it has been bitterly op-
posed by Mr.. BoutelIe of Maine, Chair
man of the Naval Committee When Sec
retary Long, Commodore Melville and
Captain Crowinshield went before the
committee Monday to advocate the meas
ure in conjunction with u provision for
an increase in the number of steam en-
gineers, assistant paymasters and assist
ant surgeons, Mr.. Boutelle antagonized
him at the outset, and, it is said, re
fused to permit the Secretary of the
Navy TO explain his views
Secretary Long. filled with chagrin at
such treatment, sought the President and
explained the situation. The President
sent for Mr.. BouteIe, and when the lat
ter called he positively refused TO per
nit the committee 10 recommend the
legislation wanted. He even went so far
as to inform the President that he knew
Secretary Long. He asserted that 100 ma
chinists would relieve the strain that the
Navy at present feels and that he would
be willing to provide for the increase, but
would not consent to any other change.
The President believes that the change
recommended by the Secretary of the
Navy is necessary, and he informed Mr..
Boutelle that it must become q law before
the latter took his departure. 1t is UNDER
stood that the President has informed
each member of the committee of his
views, and that today Mr.. BOutelie will
have to submit to the modification of
seeing himself out voted in his committee.
The urgency of some reorganization in
the service. it is claimed. is apparent,
for when the detail of offices was made
out for the Minneapolis and the Columbia
it was found that but one chief engineer
and two assistants could be assigned to
each vessel. These ships have about 90
900 horsepower each in their machinery
and, for various purposes, have nearly
100 engines. The main engines, three in
number, are placed in three separate
Watertight compartments and the boilers
occupy four more separate compartments,
while the auxiliary engines are in various
parts of the vessels
In time of battle these watertight COM
partmentS have to be closed and separat-
ed from each other, so that three men
could not attend to all, even if the need
for relief during d part of the twenty
four hours is not to be considered. Dur
ing the Civil War the frigate Minnesota,
with only ene-twentieth the horsepower
of the Minneapolis, and with no such
complicated machinery, had nine commis-
stoned engineers. The British ships,
Powerful and Terrible each carries nine
commissioned engineers, which the ad-
miralty regard as too small a number.
When the two Brazilian vessels were
purchased it was found that there were
no engineer officers in the Navy available
for them. The contest is not a part of
the old line. and staff fight. and the pro-
posed measure is supported by both
branches of the service