The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-02-28
IS 1.554.S3e


,o04, o39
These figures exceed by half million
dollars the greatest total hitherto reached.
They show how, under the dollhouse growth
of professional, political and social infR-
ences, Bureau of small beginnings may
suddenly expand into vast proportions.
OF this large sum onlv one-fifth, or about
$4,000 is to be used for meteorological
purposes which are the foundation and the
object of the Bureau. million and a
quarter 60 for the psy OF officers and
soldiers, buildings, and the machinery of a
pompous military establishment Five hun
dred aud eighty-four enlisted mel cost
S56S, 941, or 1914 each, annually, and thirty
five officers cost S126. 1876, or an average of
IS, COS each. Tie civil officers cost Sl16 600.
1t is no secret that persons are employed
az large pay in this Bureau who perform no
legitimate duty. Their business is to praise
the organization, to work up fictitious
opinion in its favor, and TO daub the Chief
Signal Officer with fittery. Since il has
been proposed 10 transfer the service to the
Interior Department, ana To d;vest il of the
form of a military organization, extrcOrdi-
nary and shameful means have been used 10
defeat the movement. General HsZen ap-
piled 10 the Secretary of War in the fall of
1881 for detail of four officers to visit the
principal cities Ito look alter certain COM
mercial interests" He addressed the fol-
lowing letter to Captain w. H. Clapp. one
of the officers on duty at the Signal Office:
"ICopfdential
"Clapp-Get word to Powell to work up our
friends in the four large cities, New York, Boston,
Philadelphia and Baltimore, without regard to
StOry's expected visit. w. b. HAZEN."
Powell and Story ere members of the Sig
nal Corps. Again Hazen wrote:
"Clspp-Write Powell that the third section
(of bill coneocted is the signal Bureau) is neces-
sary, but the men in the Corps will come in first
hen they deserve II, as he certainly will. Also,
that after visiting Philadelphia 70 keep US in
formed. and when time for action comes viii
have him come here, hnishing his tour nfterward-
Nv. Ii. b.
Acting under these instructions, Lieuten-
ant Powell visited Pittsburg, Milwaukee
Chicago, Indianapolis, Toledo, Erie, Buffalo,
Rochester, Oswego, Albany, Portland, B).-
ton, Newport, Springfield, New Haven, New
York and Pniladelphis, his journey lasting
three months Lieutenant Allen and Lieu
tenant Swift were sent In other directions
| Ito work up our friends" Their business
was TO procure resolutions from Boards of
Trade, Chambers OF Commerce and other CT
CARNATIONS, the resolutions being in fact
prepared in Washington and intended TO in
| fiueEce opinion in Congress. HsZep's emii :
saries also wrote editorial articles for Gel
| tain newspapers with the same end in view
This work was so successful that Lieuten-
ant Powell expressed surprise that certain
organizations passed resolutions without
knowing for what they were petitioning:'
but he added by way of explanation, II tell
you, Story, bottle of wine and dinner go
q long way sometimes"
These and other officers were detached
from regular duty, and all their expenses
were paid from the appropriations for the
Signal Service, while they were thus gagged
in working up an artificial sentiment in IA.
vor of the Bureau and Its Chief.
! Howgate stole about $3.50 600 in fifteen
months without disturbing the routine OF
erations of the service. Indeed, the annual
reports in Howgate's time boasted of certain
scientific Improvements which must have
been costly. 1t is evident that the appro.
priations must have been greatly excessive
to have afforded a margin for Howgate's
steal while the regular wClk went on with
out arrangement.
When officers can be detailed for months
at a time to fabricate eommendatory resolu-
tons, designed to affect legislation, il is plain
that they are not needed in the Signal Corps.
| When the money voted by Congress In the
alleged interest OF science is diverted TO most
questionable objects, il is so clear that the
| appropriations for the service are ex raya-
CAVITY large.
Very serious questions are suggested by
| THIS exposure Inc nfSI Is WD6I0er, IN at
| tempting to influence legislation by such
improper methods, General Hszeu and his
subordinate officers have not laid themselves
open to trial by Court Martial for violating
the Army regulations. The second question
is whether General Hazen will himself de-
mand Court of Inquiry upon the CHARGES
made by responsible member of Congress
who said;
| II neither sought nor want quarrel with this
| de- I'D
| and loathed by every respectable Slider ia tt
country; this General without battle; this sol
| der who compromised the cnarge of base ard ia
noble cowsrdiee. and straits upon the stage and
wears the mu1iments of war thorn of all that
makes it honorable justifes a soldiers life -
The Signal Office is an illustration of the
system of Bureau administration that has
grown out of the corruption and ex trava-
gance prevalent at Warrington ever since
the flush days OF Grantism.