PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 409-AUG. 1 , 1939 eTo constitute a Officers registered under the provisions of this Act and pursers' clerks separate department; pursers' clerks includ- shall constitute a separate and independent department on vessels of ed. the United States to be known as the staff department under the charge of the senior registered purser on such vessel, who shall be Registered chief responsible solely to the master. On oceangoing vessels licensed to carry more than one hundred passengers, such officer in charge of the staff department shall be a registered chief purser; and whenever more than three persons are employed in the staff department on such Registered senior vessels, exclusive of surgeons, there shall be a minimum of one regis- assistants and junior assistants. tered senior assistant purser and one registered junior assistant purser Ctizenship require- in such staff department. No person shall be eligible for registry as a staff officer under the provisions of this Act who is not a citizen of the United States. Qualifications. SEC. 2 . No applicant for registry under the provisions of this Act shall be required to take an examination to qualify therefor, but the Secretary shall require satisfactory proof of good character, citizen- ship, and such minimum periods of service as he shall deem necessary to establish the requisite knowledge, skill, and experience to qualify gFonsregstry as u r applicants for the respective stations. Applicants for registry as surgeon shall be required to possess a valid license as physician and surgeon issued under the authority of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia. Oath of office. S. 3 . Each staff officer receiving a certificate of registry under the provisions of this Act shall make oath or affirmation before an officer empowered to administer oaths, to be designated by the Secretary, that he will faithfully and honestly perform all the duties required of him by law. No such staff officer shall be required to obtain any other certificate of service or efficiency or behavior as a condition of service in such capacity other than as herein provided. bers of Naval Resere SEo. 4 . (a) Staff officers registered under the provisions of this Corps, insignia on Act who are members of the Naval Reserve Corps shall wear on their uniforms such special distinguishing insignia as may be approved by the Secretary of the Navy. Prescribedtypeetc. (b) The uniform stripes, decoration, or other insignia to be worn by such officers shall be of gold braid or woven gold or silver mate- Unlawful wearing. ral, and no member of the ship's crew other than such staff officers shall be allowed to wear any uniform with such staff officer's identi- fying insignia. rempmte P r setDaffof u n- SE. 5 . (a) It shall be unlawful to employ any person or for any cers unlawful; penal- person to serve in any grade or perform the duties of any grade ty. specified in section 1 of this Act on any such vessel of the United States designated therein unless he shall be in bona fide possession of a certificate of registry, issued under the provisions of this Act, as an officer in such grade; and anyone violating this provision shall If no registered staff be liable to a penalty of $100 for each offense: Provided That in officer available at the event no registered staff officer is available and obtainable at the time of sailing, the vessel may sail with an unregistered staff officer Not included in or without any staff officer: Provided further, That such staff officer Inspection certificate. shall not be included in the vessel's inspection certificate. Penal provisions. Altering, etc., cer (b) Any staff officer registered under the provisions of this Act tificate of registry. who shall change by addition, interpolation, or erasure of any kind, any certificate of registry referred to in this section shall have his registry and his certificate of registry revoked and be punished by Exceptions. a fine of not more than $100: Provided,That the provisions of this Act shall not apply to any vessel of the United States operated on bays, sounds, inland waterways, and lakes, other than the Great Lakes, or to passenger ferries and car ferries operated on the Great Lakes. [53 STAT.
�
