The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-05

s'The duties in which the corps is now en-
gagged are civil and not military. 1t performs no
military service its only exercise that is military
in its character is the art of military signaling,
which. owing to the pressure of meteorological
duties, has been neglected in the past, though it
| is proposed to press the study more vigorously
| in the future. Nor is this study, as pursued in
| the corps important to the army which re-
ceives through its own officers all the necessary
instruction. 1t is evident that the studies and
labors of the Signal Service in the scientific field
upon which it has entered will more and more
absorb and engross its energies and it must Ill
timateiy become purely civil organization. 1t
would, therefore, be unwise, with this prospect
before US, to provide for its permanent attach
ment to the army, and to give to it the unbend-
ing organization and discipline of military
body. 1t must depend upon the efforts of men
who are engaged in technical study and any
officer who takes part in its work must be valua-
bic for his studious and scientific labor rather
than for his military ability and his soldierly
qualities"
In referring to the Grant relics Secretary En-
dicott says:
ION Feb. 3, 1885, the President transmitted
to Congress a message, in which he submitted
an offer made by Mrs. Grant to give to the
United States government the swords and mil
ltary and civil, testimonials lately belonging to
General Grant accompanied by copy of deed
OF trust from William H. Vanderbilt to Mrs
Grant for these articles, and also a copy of let
ter from Mr.. Vanderbilt to the President stating
that he had purchased the articles belonging to
General Grant, and that he gave them to Mrs
Grant in trust, to eventually become the prop
erty of the government This correspondence is
published in Senate Elk. Doc. No. 60, Forty
eighth Congress, second session, which also con-
tains printed list of the articles
ION the 7th of February 1885, the Senate
passed joint resolution accepting this property,
conveying the thanks of Congress to Mr.. Van
derbit and Mrs. Grant, and directing that the
property and articles should be placed under the
custody of the Llbrarian of Congress, the Secre-
tary of War to have the safe-keeping and GUS
tody of them in the War Department until they
can be transported by the Librarian of Congress
to suitable building to be provided for the use
of the library of Congress This resolution was
not considered in the House of Representatives.
ION the 18th of May Col. F. d. Grant wrote
to the Secretary of War relative to these arti
cles and as General Grants family about to
leave New York, he asked that an officer of the
War Department be directed to take the articles
to their proper destination. Colonel Grant was
advised, in reply, that Lleutenant-colonel Batch
elder of the army, had been detailed to repair
to New York. to confer with Mrs. Grant, receive
the articles, and remove them to the War De-
partment, where they would be held to await the
further action of Congress These articles are
now stored in the War Department. To avoid
any misrepresentation to the character of the
custody undertaken by the Secretary OF War,
there further correspondence on that
subject, to the effect that the articles would be
kept in safe custody in the War Department
building to await the action of Congress- sub
ject, however to the control of Mrs. Grant if
she desired the return of any all the articles;
it being assumed that. until the action of Con-
gress accepting the donation, the title to the
property remained in Mrs. Grant"
The report closes with the following recon-
mendation:
II have not. at the present time, any sugges
tons to make in regard to the organization of
this department, except in one particular There
is no Assistant Secretary of War, and it is nee
essary fer the proper transaction of the public
business that there should be such an officer.
The daily routine in relation to the affairs of
the army, and the direction of public works, the
settlement of claims, and other duties required
of the Secretary of War under special provis-
|. ions of law, and in addition thereto the super
vision and regulation of the clerical force of this
department, numbering ], $50 employees, impose
an amount Of work wi ich would seem to justify
this recommendation. There is no officer in the
department., as now organized, legally vested
with authority to assist the Secretary in the per-
Torrance of these duties, while his temporary
absence, under present conditions, often results
In great inconvenience"