Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-05
TEE AiGNAL SERVICE.
A Finn for Reorganization Prepared
ind submitted by General HazeB.

General nazen has a scheme for the
asfabli> hmpui o. the signal service 10 the
War Department. which be has submitted
~ tHe Secretary So War IN thc shape OF
petition 10 Congress, IN hopes that Il VIII
receive tie secretary approval and assist
anco. General Iazen thinks thai some such
Ulgn nfct ssary. a. on more than one oc-
casion the legal status Of The service ha-
been called into question, and an Office
charged with carrying out important ma
tere under special acts OF Congress should
have fixed and definite organization and
q proper legal status. The petition l. 10
the shape cf o careiully.prepared bilh
which establishes TIN signal service a. q
bureau Of the War Department, having
charge Of weather predictions. array sigma.
duty. and the maintenance and repair Of
military telegraph lines
COMPOSITION OF TEE BUREAU.
The Bureau shall consist OF one CHIEF
signal officer. with the rank Of brigadler-
general. such commissioned officer, Of lower
grades d. have been or may be provided Tor
rs law, $50 seTecants. thirty corp0rals, 2Jo
priysics. two click. OF class {. three clerks
class J. one ~ 81 600. TWO messengers, and
such scientific experts, clerks, draughts-
men. c0pyists, messengers mechanics, &C..
% may De necessary IN thc Office OF the
Chief signal officer; also, such civilian cm-
pioye-. operators, Ac., a. may bc needed at
regular signal and tCierIaphic stations
throughout the country.
rGANsTrE OF sICNAi-sEFTcL 1fErrENANTs
10 TIE AENY.
The hin contemplate, the transfer Of the
..EtCCu second licutenants now M The corp,
o. 10, line o. the AMY. with the respective
Oates OF their COMM sI0ns, "a, vacancies Qc-
cur. and q NJ the President shall be- author
iz,oto detail twenty-five officer from the
army rs actin. signal ot.ireT- who, when
So dsiaied and instructed. stall not Doe re-
hCrel from sigma, duty except for unfit
yrs- or ether sufficient cause.
TIE ENLISTED llEN AR
tole enlisted 10Y four year. and classified
o. - lr.t.clas- screeant> al Sl.G1O. 5U Sc
cond-c.a-s ,eigCaut- al -, 400, - third
class ,crgelnl- a. {i,3Ol, 81 c0rporal> "a.
$1,000. 100 private, II 81 100. and 40 prl-
Natc, 90 1000. ID j. 90 be- The duty G.. 'dc
Chief -icua. Oficertofuruisb estimate. and.
under he direction OF the Secretary 90 " ar.
to- make contracts for the supple, o. tIt
Bureau, stations, and telegraph ines. Al
Ulcers and men inirustcd with funds or
property are o. boz required 90 make correct
return. Co the Chief sigma. officer. who I. 60
De- authorized 10 draw Up @ system OF rule,
and regulations REGARDING such matters
one oi tie oticcr- detailed Orr the Bureau l.
o. ur made di,bGrs.L- CllcgI, viii su!iic,on
lond.
GLNETM HAZEN'- EXPLANATION.
IN communication 10 the Secretary OF
Var accompanying the proposed reorcani-
Z1tiOn. General f8Ien state. that the
scheme J.. prompted boy experience ana
caIciuI observation. Whatever the signal
service ha, done and f. now doing, be saws.
ba, been the result OF disconnected lcci.ia-
lion, usually appended 10 appropriation
acis ard while there l. no doubt Ju, thai
the scope Of l.. work 4. thoroughly defined,
% would seem proper and 81 the hi-heS' .
importance that IT, organization should be- /
liked and ~ work defined hf c1nsecuuYe
eau r, under one act oi organization ana /
establishment, without which the service /
viii continue Co. be- The subject Of great en- /
tarrl.smcnt AID criticism. lie states thai /
twenty-five commissioned officers are ah.o- !
utciy needed 10 carry on the pres mt /
work. The classification OF the sergrint> |
j. but simple Justice 90 That valuable and !
mcFitorious grade Of men.
by transferring sixteen liCuteu4ut- Of I
the signal corp, to the line Of the army" |
be s0ys. Justice will be done them IN the /
way OF promotion with ieng.h OF service, 4
without which their positions are anoml-
l0us and undesirable and opposed 10 mill
tary practice and utility Of all time and al
countries. This plan vii also admit OF the
selection OF men Tor these duties Of the best
shiliy aud training. while some Of these
officers promoted from -ergeants OF this
service have never had the training Hece--
Sary 10 become SUCH
VEsT POINT GEApU4TEs WANTED.
This matter j. OF vital importance, a,
az present the best officers for TINS service
are not obtllnabie for IL. West Point
graduates cannsl De- assigned 20 the corps,
and the anomaly exists OF q nation main
iaininea first-ciass military and scientific
school, while It's pupils cannot oc assigned
10 this branch Of service. one more nearly
purely scientific than any other"