HOUSE No. 992.

(HommontDcalll) of ittassadjusctts.

House of Representatives, March 11, 1896.

The committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the report of the Adjutant General, report, in part, the accompanying Bill.

For the Committee,

FRANKLIN O. BARNES.

House of Representatives, March 12, 1896

The committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Bill relative to the Naval Brigade of the militia of the Commonwealth, report that it ought to pass.

For the Committee,

HENRY D. HUMPHREY. 2 NAVAL BRIGADE. [Mar.

Commontomltl) of ittassadjiisdts.

In the Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety-six.

AN ACT Relative to the Naval Brigade of the Militia of the Com- monwealth. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 Section 1. The officers of the naval brigade shall 2 consist of one captain, who shall be chief of brigade, 3 and whose rank and pay shall he the same as that of a 4 colonel of infantry. 5 Two -commanders, who shall be chiefs of 6 battalion, and whose rank and pay shall be the same as 7 that of a major of infantry. 8 The -commander shall be executive 9 officer of the naval brigade, the junior lieutenant-com- 10 mander the navigator of the naval brigade, in addition 11 to their duties as chiefs of battalion. 12 A staff, which shall consist of a surgeon, brigade ad- -13 jutant, an ordnance officer, an equipment officer, a pay- -14 master, who shall be the mustering officer for the brigade, 15 an engineer, a signal officer, and an assistant surgeon. 1896.] HOUSE —No. 992. 3

16 The surgeon shall be a lieutenant-commander, and 17 shall have the rank and pay corresponding with that of a 18 major of infantry. 19 The other staff officers, except the paymaster, signal 20 officer and assistant surgeon, shall have the rank of lieu- -21 tenants, and shall have the rank and pay corresponding 22 with that of captains of infantry. 23 The paymaster, signal officer and assistant surgeon 24 shall have the rank of lieutenant, junior grade, and shall 25 have the same rank and pay as first of in- -26 fantry. 27 There shall also be attached to the brigade staff the

28 following petty officers : 29 One master-at-arms, who shall be the chief petty officer 30 of the brigade, and who shall have the rank and pay of a 31 sergeant-major of infantry. 32 One equipment yeoman, two paymaster’s yeomen, one 33 apothecary, and one chief bugler, all of whom shall have 34 the same rank and pay as non-commissioned staff of 35 infantry. 36 There shall also be attached to headquarters of the 37 naval brigade an engineer’s force, which shall consist of 38 four machinists, who shall have the rank and pay of non- -39 commissioned staff of infantry, three water tenders and 40 three oilers, who shall have the same rank and pay as ser- -41 geants and corporals of infantry, respectively, and fifteen 42 firemen, who shall rate as privates of infantry. The men 43 comprising this division shall have, in addition to the 44 usual requirements for enlistment in the “ M. Y. M.,’ 45 such experience as mechanics, steam engineers or firemen 46 as shall tit them for their several ratings. 47 There shall also be a signal corps attached to head- -48 quarters of the naval brigade, which shall consist of one 49 chief quartermaster, who shall have the same rank and 4 NAVAL BRIGADE. FMar.

50 pay as non-commissioned staff of infantry, two quarter- -51 masters, who shall have the rank and pay of sergeants of 52 infantry, and eight enlisted men. 53 There shall also be attached to the headquarters of the 54 naval brigade a torpedo division, which shall consist of 55 one chief gunner’s mate, who shall have the rank and 56 pay of non-commissioned staff of infantry, two gunner’s 57 mates, who shall have the rank and pay of sergeants of 58 infantry, and ten seamen. 59 For all of the above forces the brigade commander 60 shall be the recruiting officer, and they shall be uniformed 61 and equipped as the commander-in-chief may direet. 62 To each company of the naval brigade there shall be 63 one lieutenant, who shall be chief of company, one 64 lieutenant, junior grade, and one ensign, who shall cor- -65 respond in rank and pay with captains and first and 66 second lieutenants of infantry respectively, one chief 67 boatswain’s mate, two boatswain’s mates, two gunner’s 68 mates, two quartermasters, two coxswains, one bugler, 69 one bayman and forty-four seamen; and the minimum 70 number of enlisted men shall be forty-one. 71 The chief boatswain’s mate shall rank with a first 72 sergeant, boatswain’s mates and gunner’s mates with 73 sergeants, coxswains and quartermasters with corporals 74 of infantry. 75 The seamen and bayman shall receive the same pay as 76 enlisted men in companies of infantry. 77 The duty of the naval brigade may be performed 78 afloat. 79 On the passage of this act, all supernumerary enlisted 80 men will be honorably discharged. 81 Officers affected by this act, now holding commissions, 82 shall retain their rank and position until vacancies occur 83 in their respective grades; but no further elections or 1896.] HOUSE —No. 992 )

84 appointments shall be had in such grades until the 85 brigade is reduced to the number of officers allowed by 86 this act. 87 All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are 88 hereby repealed.

1 Sect. 2. This act will take effect on its passage.