The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-08
NAVAL ELECTRICIANS
AN UNDERPAID CLASS
Excessive Responsibility at
Only $50 Per Month.
BUT FEW GOOD MEN ENLIST
Grave Damages From InefhcienCy Of
Mechanics One of the Ere
quent Results.

Chief electricians in the navy and the /
means Of improving their standing is a |
subject that is attracting the attention /
OF those who have the best interests OF
the service at heart
There is no more important feature of
a fighting ship in battle or in peace than |
the electrical equipment. Yet the vital
need of high grade experts in this in
valuable department has apparently not
impressed itself upon the public or the
naval officials
Small Pay and Rank.
The chief electrician on battleshIp
has the rank of chief petty officer and
draws only SEQ per month. He is not
subject to any warrant officer and the
responsibility for the efficiency OF the
department devolves entirely upon the
chief electrician himself
His Immediate commissioned superior
is the navigating officer. The navigating
officers have numerous other duties to
perform and are seldom hrst-clasg eX-
perts in electricity. so that they are not
OF great assistance 10 the chief
chief electrician must be q good
mechanic, a good electrician, an engi-
neer, and a man with education and
brains enough to not only know the me-
-chanicaI details Of the business, but the
theories and scientific reasons 10 account
for his results.
InnumeTabIe Electric Devices
There Is a surprisingly large number
OF electrical devices on a battleship,
ranging all the way from a simple bell
10 the machinery which moves the. enor-
mously heavy iron turrets from which
are fred the guns that make the ship
of service to the country.
The guns are fred by electricity. The
various parts of the ship are kept IN
Communication by electricity. There Is
an electrical steering gear. Signals are
made by electric lights. The electric
searchlight is absolutely essential ia
order to protect the ship against the
assaults of torpedo boats. Much Of the
auxiliary machinery discharging impor-
.tant minor duties is operated by cleo
tricity- The launches are propelled by
electricity In fact, there is scarcely a
section OF the ship in which electricity
is not used from necessity or as q con
veaienee.
Always on Duty.
Yet the man who is held responsible
for the ski1lfuI supervision OF so many
details draws only $50 per month, and
has the rank OF chief petty officer He
does not serve q regular watch. bat Is
theoretically and practically always Cd
duty
Those who have observed the eondi-
ltioR of the chief electricians are con-
WINGED that the Office should Immediately
be raised TO that of warrant officer and
be filled by examination. Said a former
chief electrician yesterday:
Uncle Sam cannot hope to get OF
held good men as chief electricians on
"a salary OF $50 per month. The only men
who can be secured are those without
ability or without ambition. and the navy
has no room for either class.
american electricians are in demand
all over the world, and even mediocre
man is able 10 make more on land than
he can get in the navy. Any man who is
capable OF satisfactorily filing the place
OF a chief electrician On a large warship
should be able TO make twice the navy
pay.
i Better Condition of Engineers.
IN the engine room are warrant Off
GERS who are good engineers attracted 10
the service by salaries which range from
81 200 TO 81, 500. Over them is a commits
stoned officer who has made study of
engineering and is capable Of intelli-
gently directing the work OF his depart
ment- The chief electrician is response
bic for hundreds Of details, but is not
accorded the rank or the emoluments OF
= warrant officer and frequently has 10
look to 3 commissioned superior who is
not al all well posted on electricity
s.On a modern warsbip in time cf
battle. not even the big guns are more
Important than the electrical appliances. !
While each gun is carefully handled by
trained and capable commissioned and
warrant officers, the electrical equip
rnent, which renders the guns effective.
Is under the direction OF a $50 q month
mechanic. who has a working force
which is TOO often ignorant about the
principles of electricity. and sometimes
Incompetent in management.
Efficient Men Not Attracted.
sThe consequence Of the present con-
aitiOn Of affairs Is that men with the
Intelligence and training sufficient 10
gender them valuable chief electricians
In the navy, refuse to enter the ser
vice. because they can make far more
en- the outside. without being subjected
90 the discipline which they have 10 en-
aure on a ship
81 would say that the Government
should order an examination to fiji
sixty positions Of chief electricians,
with the rank of warrant officers, and
make the positions open to civilians. as
well as to men already in the service
The salary OF 81 eco to $500, with a
good life job. and a chance to see the
world, would attract good men, and
greatly strengthen the service"
YUKON GOLD RECEIVED.