New-York tribune., 1917-06-11
Bars Let Down
To Draw Officers
To Coast Vessels
u. S. Modihes Rules to Per-
nit Examination of Men
Lacking Experience

Washington. June 10.-Legal require
ments for masters. mates and assistant
engineers in coast waters have been
modified to relieve the great shortage
of such officers. The tightening of the
restrictions was ordered following the
recent by the Board of Supervising
Steamboat Inspectors of the Depart
ment of Commerce OF protests from
tugboat owners on Puget Sound and
at other Western points, urging tsat
action be taken 10 change the rules Tor
admission to license.
An order has been issued of which
the effect is TO modify the legal re-
ouirement for experience and make
il much less difficult to obtain q per
nit. If the local Inspector considers
a man qualified to stand the examna-
tion. but lacking in experience. he may
examine him.
Applies TO Long Island Sound
The order affects masters of steam
vessels in the territories indicated.
steam ferry vessels. passenger barges.
mates, pilots and chief, first, second
and third class assistant engineers.
The order applies not only 20 Puget
Sound. but to Chesapeake Bay, the
Potomac River. Long Island Sound,
Delaware Bay. Pamlico and Albemarle
sounds. Mobile Bay, Lakes Ponchar-
train and Maurepas and other sounds
and coast waters.
The kilograms of the Western tow
boat men said that owing to high
wages being paid in the navy yards and
IN shipyards IL was impossible 10 keep
license mates and engineers. They
could get from SIS TO 50 per day Of
eight hours and overtime, and the re-
suit was that it was becoming increas-
ngly difficult 10 obtain enough men TO
operate their craft.
"Unless we are able 70 use in
experienced frcmcn and sailors to fill
vacancies the towing OF logs, coal and
railway cars will be greatly curtailed," ,"
il is stated. Captains and mates Of
tugs are scarce and the supply of mates
and assistant engineers is inadequate 10
meet the demand. With the wages they
get ashore they Will not. under these
circumstances. 90 away from home on
small boats while these conditions OBJ
tain. The naval service has also taken
many licensed officers Of these classes"
Great interest IS being manifested in
the proposed training schools for mer-
chant marine officers, and stream of
letters is coming TO the Shipping Board,
as well as TO the Department Of Com
merce Scores of men in all sections Of
the country are dcsirous of entering
these schools. which viii in a short time
qualify these pupils as deck and en-
gineer officers of the merchant fleets.
Many Enroll in Boston
The Shipping Board wishes TO call at
tention TO the fact that applicants will
save time by addressing the Director
Of Recruiting, Henry Howard. United
States Custom House, Boston. Mr.
Howard is the originator Of the train
ing school idea. and is in charge of the
organization work. One of the schools
has been opened at Boston, and the
number Of applications coming in as
sures the starting of others.
Plans are under consideration fol
schools at New York. Philadelphia, Bal
timore, Chicago, Cleveland, New Or
leans. Seattle and Pasadena.
There is no particular age limit fol
those who wish TO enter the schools
Those accepted must stand phyJca
examination. They will be paid a reas
enable compensation for time spent IL
training at sea. II is possible that mer
who have had sea or engineering ex
perience can complete the course in Two
months. An ordinarily well educated
man Of no previous experience may als'
be able to qualify as a deck or engineer
ofTrQr in that time