New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-11
NAVAL ENGINEERS, GRIEVANCES.
SECRETARY LONG EXPLAINS THE DEPART
MENT'S POLICY.

Washington JAM 10 (SpeeiaD.-The peculiar IN
depreciation OF doubtful clauses of the Naval FeF
sonnet bill by the chief of the Bureau OF NaVsa-
ton. which has caused so much discomfort In
the Engineer Corps Of the Navy has attracted inc
attention of Congressman familiar with the crcum-
stances under which that reform measure was put
upbn the statutes, and a movement is aIreaoy
started to have the spirit well as the letter
of the law respected. Yesterday, when eleven mem
bers OF the House Naval Committee calleo upon
Secretary Long, at the Navy Department to pay
their respects It seemed opportune time IN the
discussion which followed naval topics, TO can
attention to the administration of the provisions
of the Personnel BILL as embodied in the Depart
ments general order No ga. Issued to the service
on August last. Many members OF the present
committee, who were also members OF the last Oon-
gress and who worked faithfully and hard 10 Sc
cure the passage of the Personnel olll' were sur
prised at the contents of the general ORDER Whlch
seemed to them practically to nuify the chle' Cd
jects of the law. The plain intent OF the act was
so the majority of the committee contendeq. 10
provide all-around officers. instead OF speclalsts'
aboard ship and this was to be accomplished oy
interchangeabnty of watch duty on deck and In
the engine room. The order, among other th'hgs'
stated:
That 1T is the intention Of the Departmentt t.. that
commissioned officers shall be renewed SO laT as
practicable from further duty in charge OF engine
room watches.
To-day Secretary Long addressed the following
letter to Acting Chairman Foss, OF the committee
as result of the criticisms;
NAVY Department Washington. January 10 dsy2;
NV Dear Sir: Referring to what was s' ~ 'Eo1se
dav when Yourself and other members OF tle IpI20
COMMITTEES on Naval Affairs called on me- anu go
pecially to the suggestions OF MT BuIlfGI. ,-sra
that on the 18th of December last OF 7o,,ri,
been in the engineer corps and who IS next IN I TUE
to The navigator of each vessel. shall Where tIeI
Is no ofceT for regular engineer duty be assigned
TO duty in charge of the engineer depaF a.
the ship instead Of having charge OF d ilile NV
The policy Of TIE Department is, in order to carry
ont the spirit of the Personnel bill to give FORMER
engineer ofcers who are hereafter to perform line
duty relief from engineer duties at sea IN olosa a
themselves to pass the examination required LOT
line duties This seems justice TO them Ihen, IuI-
ther the policy is, pursuing the same end, 70 RLo-
vide that least officer on every snip VINO mas
always been of the line shall be assigned 10 duty
in the engineer department. so that ne may get
that experience In other words. that former en-
may learn line duty, and line officers may learn
to do engineer duty. Very truly yours o>-c,
This letter Is not apt to close the discussion
General Order No 524 declares that hereafter watch
duty in the engine room is to be performed by
machinists thus following closely the footsteps OF
the Spanish organization which proved SO dlsas-
trous In the actual stress of war. Before the PISS
sage of the Personnel bill watch duty in the engine
room was performed by commissioned engineer Of
duty devolves according to the true intent
of the act. upon members of the amalgamated line.
gamaton being centred in interchangeab ihty OF
watch duty in the engine room and on deck The
Secretarys letter does not dwell upon this point,
but promises that former line otCerS are 10 De
detailed chief engineers, which gives rise to the
question to whether not. without previous
actual experience to be gained by standing watch
tent for the duties devolving upon the chief engi
neers OF large and complicated naval ships.