Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-11

TURE, But THINKS THE SCIENTIFIC BUREAUS SHOULD
BE CONSOLIDATED.
Gen. Greely, Chief of the Sgnal-Service Bureau,
was before the Senate committee on agriculture
and forestry this morning to give his views in re-
gard to the transfer Of the Signal Bureau to the
Agricultural Department. The House bill to pro-
vide for the enlargement and duties OF the Agri-
cultural Department contained a section transfer
ring the Signal Bureau to that department. The
bill was reported to the Senate with that section
stricken out, but was recOmmitted.
CIvIL-sERvICE RULES NOT GOOD FOR THE SIGNAL
SERVICE.
Gen. Greeley is opposed to the transfer. He
maintained that 1t would impair the efficiency OF
the service. He said the proposed transfer would
subject the Signal Bureau to civil-service rules,
and he did not believe, in fact, he was sure, that
efficient signal men could not be obtained in that
manner. AT any rate, they could not be procured
promptly enough. For instance, he said an OBJ
server at Santa Fe might suddenly reslgn ir stead
OF being able to replace him Immediately 1t would
require at least a month TO obtain another ap-
pointee through the civil service.
REORGANIZATION OF THE SIGNAL SERVICE RECON-
MENDED.
Gen. Greedy said he would recommend reorgan.
izatiOn OF the Signal Bureau, as he admitted GER
tain defects now existing. He would have four
professors as students of weather changes &C.,
and number OF officers, say twelve, and would
recruit the service from graduates of West Point.
He would also have one major as assistant to the
chief OF the bureau, and the necessary number OF
observers, &C.
COMMISSIONERS CoLMAN'S ATTITUDE.
In the course of his remarks Gen. Greely
charged that Commissioner COlman OF the Agri-
cultural Department., had been exerttng every In
fiuence to have the Signal Bureau transferred to
his Department. He said that he (Greely) had
endeavored to ally the Signal Service more closely
with the Agricultural Department, but the Com
missioner could not make any suggestion that
would aid In carrying out that end. He said CON-
missioner Colman had conferred with a subordinate
OF the Signal Bureau in regard to the projected
transfer.
Senator Plumb retorted that he had conversed
with Commissioner Colman in regard 10 the
transfer and the latter had said he did not care 10
have 1t made The Senator said that only q few
days ago he met Commissioner COlman and In
reply TO question as 70 the transfer, he said In
substance 1t was question for Congress TO de-
eide, but he did not care to have the Signal
Bureau.
Senator Paddock also remarked that commits
soner Colman had appeared at least, Indifferent
on the subject.
Senator Plumb remarked that the feeling among
agriculturists OF the West was in favor OF having
the weather bureau connected with the Agricul-
tural Department. He said this Department had
grown steadily despite opposition and rid1cule and
that II was rendering better service OF more value
10 the people than ever before.
CONSOLIDATION sUGGESTED.
Gen. Greely suggested that the scientific bu-
reaus ought TO be consolidated. but said there
would be something OF incongruity between the
Agricultural Department and the Signal Bureau
and If the transfer should be made he would re.
main at the head OF the Signal Office only long
then he would ask the President relieve him and
assign him TO other duty.