New-York tribune., 1901-02-26
FOUGHT BY LINE OFFICERS.

The line or the navy. headed by Admiral
Sampson. has LEFT nothing undone for the last
ten days in it's efforts TO knock the words out
Of that amendment. Every device known to the
lobby has been utilized influence from far and
wide has been brought 70 bear. and every Off
Of high rank has been aroused 10 a high
pitch OF excitement against the concealed men
ace contained in nineteen letters Of appropri-
alton bill item. The Objectionable words are ''or
warrant machinists'' in the first half of the
amendment. These words 10 line officers not
altogether without good cause mean the ulti-
mate revival OF the engineer corps. They are re-
garded the entering wedge which will speed
lily grow TO enormous dimensions. after the man
ner in which similar wedge thirty years ago
began its growth. The history of this amend
ment which led to the Sampson Endorsement, is
brief but highly instructive. About six weeks
ago Secretary Long sent 10 the House and SEN
ate naval committees with recommendation
20 favorable consideration drafts of a measure
providing for the promotion OF boatswains and
gunners to the grade Of ensign in the navy He
said In his letter OF transmittal that the pro-
posed legislation would have tendency 10 pop
ularize the navy. inasmuch as II would give de-
serving enlisted men opportunity to secure
reward for mertorious service by promotion
through intermediate grades to the rank OF COM
missioned officers in the regular line of promo
tion. He suggested also that If practicable the
Naval Appropriation act be amended so as to
provide that vacancies In the grade of ensign
untitled by graduates of the Naval Academy be
filled by the appointment of boatswains or gun
ners 20 number not exceeding six in any one
calendar year
SKILL POSSESSED BY ENGINEERS
The proposition had the approval of the Naval
General Board. of which Admiral Dewey is
chairman. and it was supported by line officers
generally. There not word about warrant
machinists in 1t. and in one other respect it diff
fered from the revised amendment printed
above. namely. instead of requiring the recon-
mendatiOn OF "a commanding officer under
whom he has served" 1t stipulated that the
recommendation should come from all Line Of
fcers'' under whom the gunner or boatswain
had served. This exacting restriction was
thought to be sufficient TO prevent any whole
sale contamination of the naval service by an
influx of enlisted men. and with the other re-
strictions ii was pretty sure that only men of
extraordinary merit would ever succeed in Sc
curing commissions. except through the sacred
precincts OF the Naval Academy. The deliberate
omission of warrant machinists from the class
of men who should be encouraged by the chance
of promotion to permanent rank was promptly
rectifed by the Senate committee These war
rant officers. who rank with boatswains
and gunners, have replaced the engineers in the
fighting ships In numbers the engine force
forms one-third Of each ships complement of
officers and men. Their duties call for tech
nical skill and knowledge far superior to that
or any other warrant officers. and comparable
only 10 that OF commanding officers. The life
OF the ship depends on them. No one has
greater responsibilities. A monkey wrench care
lessly left in the delicate machinery may de-
stroy in an instant the efficiency of $4,000 900
battleship. 1t was Chief Engineer Milligan's
skill that enabled the Oregon to make
her two famous runs-one from san Francisco
TO the Florida coast and the other past all the
other battieships at Santiago-while the rum