New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-08
SIGNAL SERVICE AND TIE ARMY
' 'o'o'AoN OF THEIR TRUE RELATION REFERRED
10 TIE ATroRNEY-GENERAL, WHOSE OPINION
SUPPORTS TIE VIEWS OF GENERAL uAzEN

Ahh QUESTION OF THEIR TRUE RELATION REFERRED
10 TIE ATroRNEY-GENEgAI, WHOSE OPINION
SUPPORTS TIE VIEWS OF GENERAL IAZEN
'bf TELEGRAPH TO TaIBUNL.I
W WASHINGTON, Aug. An opinion has re-
ce''y been given by Attorney General Macyeagh
"c III iast definitely settles the question of the true
relation OF the Signal Service to the Army For come
So''s p's' 1eneral sherman and other distinguished
ocers o the Army have been opposed to the retention
oI inc signal service as part of the Army establish
neht' paragr aph inserted in the Appropriation bill
Tor the fiscal year ending June 30 379 for the SIGNAL
"er'lce' contained proyiso that there may be two
hoc"nInSsioned officers Signal Service promotod
W sne grade or secondlieutcnant during each yearv
ihl' wac construed by General Myer to outborz tho
each year OF two leutenants ia the Signal
rN'o from hon-commissioned officers Of that corps
s VIZ" was concurred In by the Secretary of War and
Ny the Judge Advocl General of the ARMY General
william Mex Dunn and Notwithstanding tho nrotos
ana opposition of General Sherman and General Town
eehu' tnch AdjutanGeneral. President Hayes too the
'~'' Wv Al ISIS, ~ ana so SIX were thus
promoteo ara their names now on the register
several months ago thu usual competitive examination
OF sergeants was held by board OF oicera and two
were Se'ected Tor promotion This examination demands
Va e successful candidate the ability pass tho radu-
""S requirements OF any collegiate scientific course
ana i'll 9IuluOn thorough practical KNOWLEDGE of bud
is supplying and operating field permanent hines OF
'e'eSaph ana of the science ~ mctcUrologv IA do
hNhed by the operations of the Weather Report Divi-
soh oi me service General Hazen approved the report
VI 'io HA'hlulhg Bo0ru AFTER he hti himself carefully
ieNiseu TIE examination papers aud forwarded the re-
port with the recommendation for the opnoiuoept NJ
bo'h nominees to the Secretary War The Army rcc
uailons require that all official communications shah
pe transmitted through the regular military channels"
ms required the papers to go to AdjutantGener
r ana tho General OF the Army before reaching the
secretary OF War II supposed that the Endorsement
aio py General sherman in forwarding the papers to
secretary Lincoln in strong opposition TO the recon-
mendatou OF General Hazen
some ume after forwarding the papers, General Hazen
took occasion to make inquiries regarding the proyrcss
toward action when he found that the matter WAS
parked" ON Secretary Lncoln's table, and that excel
ieht ohcal ful OF grave doubts whether there was
tng law for snch action. Iii fact he strongly i'm
bucd with all the arguments OF the military and nom
military DIRECTORS 10 the Signal Service. General Hazen
conpatted these views, and was prepared with all the
arguments OF his side OF the question but could not
vince the Secretary Other meetings took place between
these officials but each had the results and these
delays brought the tmo long past the the sssas-
enaton of President Garfield nothing could be done
even II the secretary withdrew his objections.
matter Including other questions witch have been raised
relating TO tho military statues OF tho Signal Service
should DC referred 10 the Attorney General his official
opinion To this Secretary Lincoln at once agreed and
s case y, "as made up and referred The requested
Use Sestetly Oh War nearly month ago, but does not
Attorney Generals opinion comedies with that of Gen
o1a aIen IN every essential point, and supports the
claims OF the friends OF the Signal Service According to
hissvicw the Signal Corps separate corps OF The
Army ns Ia the Engineers, and It's chief officer has con
the law specifically authorizes the appointment during
each year OF two srcondlieutcnants who shall be
General iiazen incidentally learned that the papers
an returned 10 hn war and called one day
clined TO advance the belief that lie not bound 10
in with the law in the case but Gpnii, told
Gsncral Hazen that he wished to think it further
and would not make the opinion public oically until
solnc time tht8 week,