Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-02

General HaZen has scheme for the establish
ment OF the signal service in the War department,
which he has submitted to the Secretary Of War
In the shape of a petition to Congress, I'm hopes
that it will receive the Secretary's approval and
plan is necessary, as on more than one occasion
the legal status Of the service has been called into
question, and an Office charged with carrying out
important matters under special acts OF Congress
Should have fixed and definite organization and
proper legal status. The petition is in the shape
OF carefully prepared bill, which establishes the
signal service as bureau of the War department,
having charge of weather predictions, army signal
duty and the maintenance and repair of military
telegraph lines.
COMPOSITION OF THE BUREAU.
The bureau shall consist OF one chief signal Off
Ger, with the rank of brigader general, such COM
miss1oned officers of lower grades as have been or
may be provided for by law, $50 sergeants, thirty
cOrpOralS $50 privateS, two clerks of class three
clerks class l. one at 81 900, two messengers and
such scientific experts, clerks draughtsmen, copy
1Sts messengers, mechanics, &C., as may be neceS-
such civilian employees, operators, &c, as may be
needed at regular signal and telegraphic stations
throughout the country.
TRANSFER OF SIGNAL SERVICE LIEUTENANTs TO THE
ARMY.
The bill contemplates the transfer OF the sixteen
second heutenants now in the corps to the line OF
the army, with the respective dates of their COM
missions. as vacancies occur, and that the Presi-
dent shall be authorized to detail twenty-five
olllcers from the army as acting signal officers,
who, when so detailed and instructed shall not
be relieved from signal duty except for unfitness
or other sufficient cause.
THE ENLISTED MEN ARE
to be enlisted for four years and classified as 25
first class sergeants at 81 $780, 30 second class ser
geants at 81 4OO rs third class Sergeants at 3OO
80 corporals at 81 ,2OO 12O privates at s1lOO and
40 privates at 81 OOO 1t is to be the duty Of the
chief signal officer to furnish estimates and under
the direction OF the Secretary OF War, to make
contracts for the supplies OF the bureau stations
and telegraph lines. All officers and men en-
trusted with funds or property are to be required
to make correct returns to the chief signal o1ficer
who Is TO be authorized to draw up a system OF
rules and regulations regarding such matters
One of the officers detailed to the bureau is to be
mace dlsDurslng officer, with sufficient bond.
GENERAL HAZEN's EXPLANATION.
In communication to the Secretary of War ac-
companytng the proposed reorganization, Gen.
HaZen states that the scheme is prompted by ex-
perience and careful observation. Whatever the
signal service has done and is now doing, he SAYS
usually appended to appropriation acts, andwhile
there is no doubt but that The scope of its work
Is thoroughly defined, IT would seem proper and
OF the highest Importance that its organization
should be fixed and its work defined by consecu-
tive clauses under one act OF organization and eS-
tabiishment, without which the service will con-
and criticism, He states that twenty-five COM
mtSsioned oi1icers are absolutely needed to carry
ON The present work. The classification OF the
sergeants is but simple justice to that valuable
and mer1tOriOus grade OF men.
'By transferring sixteen leutenants Of the sig
nal corps to the line OF the army" he says justice
will be done them In the way Of promotion with
length OF service, without which their positions
are anomalous and undesirable, and opposed TO
military practice and utility OF all time and all
countries This plan will also admit OF the Selec-
tOn OF men for these duties OF the best ability and
training, while some OF these officers promoted
from sergeantS OF this service have never had the
training necessary to become SUCH"
WEST POINT GRADUATES WANTED.
''This matter is OF vital Importance, as at pres
ent the best officers for this service not obtain
able for it, West Point graduates cannot be as
signed to the corps, and the anomaly exists OF a
nation maintaining hrSt-claSS military and SCI
entific school, while It's pupils cannot be assigned
to this branch Of service, one more nearly purely
scientific than any other"
- G,pI >SSS