Morning journal and courier., 1883-02-10
Saturday, Feb. 10, 1883.
PoWELL's.sIGNAL SERVICES.

The management of the signal service i
 receiving much sharp criticism, and ther,
 appears to be goed ground for the fault
 finding. Congressman BsItzhoo7er of Penn
 sylvania, who believes that the weather
 bureau, which is now in the War department
 should be transferred to the Interior depart
 ment, has had published in the C0ngressionG
 Record some letters which indicate that last 1 winter General Hazen, Chief Signal Officer
 and some of those under him entered into c
 discreditable lobbying scheme to secure the
 passage of bill called '"rhe Majors and
 Captains bir." This bill provided for the
 addition of three Majors, twelve Captains,
 and twelve First Lieutenants to the Signal | Corps, for the regulation of appointments
 and promotions, and for other details, tending
 toeonsolidate the corps and establish it on a I permanent foundaS.o4A in connection with the Army.
 MT. Beltzhoover asserts that in the fall of | 1881 General Hagen called upon the Secreta- l make trips around the country and to princi pal cities ''for the benefit of commerce and agriculture" When four were refused, he asked for one, to visit the principal cities and Hook after certain commercial inter ests." It appears that Lieut.. J. P. Story, of the Fourth artillery, was sent out, and that Lieut.. J. s. Powell, of the Signal Corps, was performing similar duty. The let ters published show that Powell was very active in the work he was sent out to do. He moved rapidly from one city to another, reporting progress from day to day to his superiors in Washington. In one of his letters he compliments himself and others as follows: ''You may rest assured I have left no station without placing matters in such way that there can be no getting out of the action being taken which we desire. For instance, prepare carefully set of resolu- tions all ready for passage by the Chamber. then visit as many of that body as possible and explain the whole thing verbally, or else in writing, and tell them the committee have these resolutions in hand and will present them at the next meeting, and want them not only to vote with the committee but make individual ef- forts with their members of Congress to se- cure the desired result. This gives them an OppoELuA1by tU spEeau tneuSeAVeS on SUD- ject which before they knew very little about, and as all mankind are ambitious, they will endeavor to push the matter to show their familiarity with science. Thus far I have been exceedingly successful.
 It is interesting to know that this active and sagacious "fxer'' has had at least his eye on New Haven. In one of his letters he says: 'I believe all that remains for me are Burlington, Portland and Bangor. Will Springfield, Newport, New Haven and New London be of service, that is, in point of time2" He also says: T have laid my wires so well that if resolutions are not passed at every station where I have asked them know the men have had something to do with it."
 Powell was very successful in getting Chambers of Commerce and other bodies to pass resolutions. and these bodies will feel fattered when they realize that they were s'taken in" by shrewd schooner. The revel- ations made by Mir. Beltzhooyer will not add to the reputation of the Signal Service man. agement, which was not any too good before.