DUTIES COMMON TO ALL HEADS OF NAVY YARD DEPARTMENTS.

10-15. Heads of departments not to be considered bureau representatives. The officers in charge of the several departments and divisions are the agents of the commandant in carrying out the work of the several bureaus, but no one of them shall in any sense be considered as the representative of any particular bureau. Whenever any work is to be performed at a navy yard, the commandant shall direct its performance by either the machinery or the hull division or by the public works department, according to the nature of the shops and resources which may be required therefor, and it shall be done. under the supervision and control of the head of the division or department to which it is thus assigned, who shall be responsible for the manner and cost of its performance. The direct cost of and the indirect charges incident to such work shall be charged against the appropriations of the bureau concerned. (N. R. 1519.)

10-16. Inspections by departments. The inspection of all ordinary articles under the cognizance of any department or division. shall be made by the officer in charge thereof, or one of his assistants, but any special article or appliance may be inspected by such officer as the commandant may designate, and inspection calls shall be forwarded by the supply officer accordingly. (N. R. 1520.)

10-17. Signature of reports and accounts. The heads of departments and divisions shall prepare and sign all reports and accounts relating thereto that are required to be made by the commandant to the Navy Department or any of its bureaus. (N. R. 1523.)

10-18. Requests for material. The heads of departments and divisions shall make request upon the supply officer for supplies and material as required and shall keep him advised in advance as to the probable needs of their several departments and divisions. An officer making a requisition shall be responsible for the necessity for the article for the purpose stated; the necessity for the delivery within the time specified; the estimate of cost; the statement as to the appropriation against which the charges are to be made; and the specifications describing the different items. (N. R. 1524.)

10-19. When direct communication is permissible. When new work is duly authorized, a shipment or fresh business directed, or a requisition duly approved, the head of the department inter

ested on board a ship in commission or the navy yard officials concerned may communicate direct with all bureaus, officers, persons, or firms involved in the matter, in order to expedite the transaction of public affairs. Important messages sent by telephone shall be confirmed in writing. (N. R. 2044-3.)

10-20. Work done by one department for another. Whenever the head of a department or division requires work to be done by another department or division, he shall make a request therefor upon the officer controlling the shops in which the work is to be done, such request to contain a statement of the work required, the job order number, title, and appropriation to which it is to be charged, and the authority for the work. Such work shall at all times be open to the inspection of the head of department or division upon whose request it is done. (N. R. 1542.)

10-21. Right to confer with commanding officer. Every officer in charge of a department has the general right, at all proper times, to communicate and confer directly with the responsible commanding officer concerning any matter relating to his department; and his duty to do so is absolute whenever he thinks it necessary for the good of his department or of the service. (N. R. 183.)

DUTIES OF ASSISTANTS IN YARD DEPARTMENTS.

10-22. Officers detailed as assistants in the several departments and divisions shall perform such duties therein as the officer in charge thereof may direct, and such additional duties as the commandant may assign. (N. R. 1518-4.)

10-23. In the absence of the officer in charge of any division or department, the duties thereof shall be performed by the senior assistant on duty therein, or, should there be no assistant, by such officer as may be detailed by the commandant. (N. R. 1518-3.)

CHAPTER 11.

THE DISTRICT PUBLIC WORKS OFFICER.

11-01. The district public works officer is a member of the staff of the district commandant and head of the public works department of the district. He shall be an officer of the Corps of Civil Engineers, and is charged, under the commandant of the district, with the administration, supervision, and direction of all public works activities within the district, outside of the units to which officers of the Civil Engineer Corps have been assigned by the department as public works officers. (District Manual, pars. 8, 9, and 108).

11-02. The bureau's relations are with the commandant as commanding officer of the district. The District Manual (par. 109) provides that the public works department shall be organized and its activities carried on under such instructions as may be issued from time to time by the Bureau of Yards and Docks.

11-03. District organization necessary. The organization providing for the administration, supervision, and direction of all district public works activities by a district public works officer has demonstrated its necessity under war conditions. The bureau finds it equally necessary, owing to the geographical distribution of the public works of the Navy, as well as for administrative reasons, to continue in peace time the district organization, but on a reduced basis commensurate with the work on hand in the respective districts. The organization must be so arranged that it may be quickly expanded to any extent necessary to meet emergency conditions, without carrying personnel in excess of normal peace requirements.

11-04. Technical resources not to be duplicated. The conduct of public works activities requires technical equipment adapted to a variety of problems, and personnel expert in many different lines of work. The larger navy yards and some of the naval stations have such organizations, and it is not the intention of the bureau to duplicate facilities in any district in time of peace, unless made necessary by added volume of work; nor is it the intention of the bureau, where the district public works officer's organization possesses the necessary

facilities, to duplicate them at any of the component units of the district. In practically all cases all functions coming under the bureau's cognizance and direction can be performed by utilizing the resources of existing technical service groups without interference with the administration and operation of the navy yard or station under the direction of the commandant. The restrictions of this paragraph are not intended to prevent the establishment of a technical group where the work requires its continuous employment.

11-05. The principal duties of the district public works officer are listed below. This list is not to be considered as excluding general duties in compliance with the first paragraph of this chapter nor such other duties as may be assigned by the commandant or required where special conditions arise. The district public works officer shall:

(a) Familiarize himself with the physical characteristics of the district, especially as regards harbors, channels, anchorages, berthing, and other facilities for units of the fleet. He shall maintain a file of topographic and hydrographic plans of the important localities in the district. He shall also inform himself of any harbor improvement projects under way or contemplated within the district, and shall prepare the necessary data in regard thereto as the basis of district reports to the bureau.

(b) Familiarize himself with the location, extent, and important characteristics of industrial facilities of the district, particularly shiprepair and shipbuilding yards, including dry docks and marine railways.

(c) Make all physical examinations, estimates, surveys, descriptions, and reports in connection with the selection, acquisition, leasing, disposal, and commandeering of real estate, in accordance with articles 426 and 427, Navy Regulations, 1920.

(d) Take physical custody, under the direction of the commandant, of all real property no longer required for its original purpose and placed under the Bureau of Yards and Docks by Navy Regulations, article 427, paragraph 1, and prepare reports in regard thereto as required by the bureau. (N. R. 427.)

(e) When so instructed by the Judge Advocate General, conduct preliminary negotiations, under the commandant, with the owners of real estate tentatively selected for purchase or lease, for the purpose of ascertaining the amount to be included in the estimates to be submitted to Congress. (N. R. 426.)

(ƒ) Make annual estimates and all other estimates of funds required under cognizance of the Bureau of Yards and Docks for the district, except for the units of the district to which officers of the Civil Engineer Corps have been assigned by the department as public works officers, plant engineers at navy yards, or by other designation indicating similar responsibility. In the excepted cases the district public works officer shall examine and submit to the district commandant comment on all estimates for public works and other objects under Bureau of Yards and Docks.

(g) Prepare plans and specifications for Yards and Docks contracts, or construction by day labor, when so directed by the Bureau of Yards and Docks.

(h) Supervise and inspect all public works contract operations in all the various units of the district, and certify and sign all vouchers for payments under contracts, except when the contract work is specifically placed by the bureau under another officer.

(i) Supervise public works construction performed by day labor and repairs beyond the capacity of the force regularly employed at stations where no officer of the Civil Engineer Corps is regularly assigned.

(j) Maintain and operate all public works and public utilities at naval supply bases.

(k) Analyze and digest cost reports and prepare data forming basis of district reports to the bureau.

(1) Advise the district commandant as to the general features of all public works operations within the units of the district, particularly as to their military bearing.

The following additional duties of the district public works officer pertain to all district units except those to which officers of the Civil Engineer Corps have been assigned by the department as public works officers, plant engineers, or by other designation indicating similar responsibility:

(m) Make such topographic, subsurface, and hydrographic surveys as may be necessary, of all real estate owned, leased, or occupied for naval purposes, and maintain lists thereof, together with a description of the fixed improvements thereon. (N. R. 426-6.)

(n) Make the annual inspection of all public works and public utilities, submitting a written report thereof to the commandant, with a copy for the Bureau of Yards and Docks. (N. R. 493; see also N. R. ch. 54, sec. 1, p. 721.)