All the officers of vessels of the United States shall be citizens of the United States, except that in cases where, on a foreign voyage, or on a voyage from an Atlantic to a Pacific port of the United States, any such vessel is for any reason deprived of the services of an officer below the grade of master, his place, or a vacancy caused by the promotion of another officer to such place, may be supplied by a person not a citizen of the United States until the first return of such vessel to its home port; and such vessel shall not be liable to any penalty or penal tax for such employment of an alien officer. 54. Naturalization of engineer or pilot. Any alien who, in the manner provided for by law, has declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and who shall have been a permanent resident of R. S., 4131. R. S.. 4131. R. S., 4438. R. S., 4446. R. S., 4439. R. S., 4440. the United States for at least six months immediately prior to the granting of such license, may be licensed, as if already naturalized, to serve as an engineer or pilot upon any steam-vessel subject to inspection under the provisions of [R. S., 4399-4500] the act, entitled "An act to provide for the better security of life on board of vessels propelled, in whole or in part, by steam, and for other purposes,' approved February twenty-eighth, eighteen hundred and seventy one. 55. Officer's license. The boards of local inspectors [of steam vessels] shall license and classify the masters, chief mates, engineers, and pilots of all steam-vessels. It shall be unlawful to employ any person, or for any person to serve as a master, chief mate, engineer, or pilot on any steamer, who is not licensed by the inspectors; and any one violating this section shall be liable to a penalty of one hundred dollars for each offense. Every master, mate, engineer, and pilot who shall receive a license shall, when employed upon any vessel, place his certificate of license, which shall be framed under glass, in some conspicuous place in such vessel, where it can be seen by passengers and others at all times; and for every neglect to comply with this provision by any such master, mate, engineer, or pilot, he shall be subject to a fine of one hundred dollars, or to the revocation of his license. 56. Master's license. Whenever any person applies to be licensed as master of a steam-vessel, the inspectors shall make diligent inquiry as to his character, and shall carefully examine the applicant, as well as the proofs which he presents in support of his claim, and if they are satisfied that his capacity, experience, habits of life, and character are such as to warrant the belief that he can be safely intrusted with the duties and reponsibilities of the station for which he makes application, they shall grant him a license authorizing him to discharge such duties on any such vessel for the term of one year; but such license shall be suspended or revoked, upon satisfactory proof of bad conduct, intemperate habits, incapacity, inattention to his duties, or the willful violation of any provision of this Title [R. S., 4399-4500]. 57. Chief mate's license. Whenever any person applies for authority to be employed as chief mate of steam-vessels, the inspectors shall require satisfactory evidence of the knowledge, experience, and skill of the applicant in lading cargo, and in handling and stowage of freight, and shall examine him as to his knowledge and ability in navigation and managing such vessels, and all other duties pertaining to his station; and if satisfied of his qualifications and good character, they shall grant him a license, authorizing him to perform such duties for the term of one year; but such license shall be sus pended or revoked upon satisfactory proof of bad conduct, intemperate habits, unskillfulness, or want of knowledge of the duties of his station, or the willful violation of any provision of this Title [R. S., 4399-4500]. 58. Engineer's license. Whenever any person applies for authority to perform R. S., 4441. Paragraph 56, line 11, strike out words "one year" and insert words "five years," with marginal reference May 28, 1896. Paragraph 57, line 10, strike out "one year" and insert "five years," with marginal reference May 28, 1896. of one year, in which they shall assign him to the appropriate class of engineers; but such license shall be suspended or revoked upon satisfactory proof of negligence, unskillfulness, intemperance, or the willful violation of any provision of this Titla (RS.. 4399-45001. Whenever complaint Page 49. Paragraph 58, line 12, strike out "one year" and insert "five years," with original reference May 28, 1896. Paragraph 59, lines 7 and 8, strike out "one year" and insert "five years," with marginal reference May 28, 1896. neer and assign mi to a lower graue I VW~~ US if they find him fitted therefor. 59. Pilot's license. Whenever any person claiming to be a skillful pilot of R. S., 4442. steam-vessels offers himself for a license, the inspectors shall make diligent inquiry as to his character and merits, Insert at page 48, end of paragraph 54. May 28, 1896. After the first day of January, eighteen hundred and R. S. 4131. ninety-seven, no person shall be qualified to hold a license as a commander or watch officer of a merchant vessel of the United States who is not a native-born citizen, or whose naturalization as a citizen shall not have been fully completed. shall not be required to nola two neenses w piwim NAV 95, PT 2-4 as to his character, and shall carefully examine the applicant, as well as the proofs which he presents in support of his claim, and if they are satisfied that his capacity, experience, habits of life, and character are such as to warrant the belief that he can be safely intrusted with the duties and reponsibilities of the station for which he makes appli11 t him a license authorizing him to R. S., 4440. 122 edge and ability in navy and all other duties pertaining to his station; and if satis fied of his qualifications and good character, they shall grant him a license, authorizing him to perform such duties for the term of one year; but such license shall be sus |