Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-06
SIGNAL SERVICE AND civil SERVICE,

EDS, RECORD UNION Noticing in your
tslegraphic columns few days ago that a
bill has been introduced in Congress to de-
tach the weather branch of the Signal Ser
vice from the War Department to that of
the Interior, permit me to say in behalf OF
myself and quite 3 number of the Signal
Service men, that they would prefer it re-
msiDing where it now is. There has been
much talk about civil service reform, or in
other words, the retention of q man or pub
lie servant who performs his duties properly
and satisfactorily to those to whom be Is d.
rsctly responsible for the performances of the
duties allotted to him l claim that the
weather branch of the Signal Service is q
genuine ciuH serrice. An applicant must pass
both a mental and physical examination be-
fore he can become member Of the Signal
Corps He is not asked what his religion or
his politics are his recommendation as to
his general character must be given by per-
sons who are known at the Signal Service De-
partment. The applicants examination prov
| ing satisfactory to the examining officer, he Is
enlisted into the Signal Service branch of the
United States army for five years. An ap-
premiership muat be served by the applicant
at the Signal Service school of instruction
near Washington, ID. c., which requires from
four to six months of constant study and
practice. After his course of studies he must
90 before another Board Of examining officers
If he passes the final examin alton he is then
placed upon the list of waiting observers (; if
not, he is discharged from the service SIS being
unfit for the performance of the duties
required During his term Of waiting
he must continue the course of meteorological
studies. When vacancy occurs on station,
ha aansnr ahsoruar n 0r1arad IN
take charge of said station, where he is gen.
crafty retained for long period of time.
unless the exigencies OF the service require his
transfer to some other station, in which case
he is relieved by member of the signal
corps, and leaves for his new station. An
observer, if sick, has his medical bills payed !;
his own pay of course is not stopped
| during his sickness. If during his
term of service be becomes an
Invalid and unfit for duty, he is discharged
from the service on surg eon's certificate of
disability, and draws small pension from
the Government If he dies he is buried
| by the United States authorities. Ii he
| leaves wife and children she draws acertain
amount as long SIS she remains single, and 80
much for each child until il arrives at q GER
tain age. And last, but not least
| By any means, is the amount retained
from each observers monthly pay, which sum
| is not paid until the end OF his hye years, or
when he is discharged. Therefore when g
| member OF the Signal Corps leaves the ser.
vice at the end of his term he receives several
hundred dollars in cash. Furthermore. each
member of the service has the privilege OF re-
| turning into the service of the Signal Corps
| at the expiration Of each term of service, in
preference to an uninstructed man. It would
| be rather uncharitsble TO turn a man adrift
| after he had served the best part of his
| life in the continuous performance of his
duties. The salary is not so great
as to enable an observer to lay by much, if
| any, forla rainy day. If he does lay up any
| thing, it is By the practice of the most rigid
| economy known, otherwise he leaves the SER
vice panniless. The constant changing of
men from one station to another takes all the
| loose change, if any has been saved, making
his bank account thing of. the past. while
| the little home comforts he may have gath
cred around him must be sacrificed for mere
song to the rapacious secondhand dealer.
| Upon his arrival at his nav post OF duty he
must repeat the same thing, that is. buying
at high prices the absolute necessaries for his
| own comfort. Another good thing in our
service is that man must not run in debt
| beyond what he can pay at any one time. 1t
| he does so he is discharged from the service.
| 1t looks to me ss though the weather branch
of the Signal Service comes nearer being a
genuine Civil Service than any other clerical
| branch of the Government. Your obedient
| servant, JAMES A. BARwIoK,
Sergeant Signal Corps U. s. A.