The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-07
UP WITH THE STORM FLAG
TIE MOVEMENT TO TRANsFER
THE SIGNAL SERVICE.


Bills on tho Subject Reported to the
Senate from Both the Military and
Agricultural Comm!ttees-The Lat
ter Contains Good Word for the
Value and Efficiency of the Service.
WASHINGTON, March 6-Bills were re-
ported to-day from both the military and
agricultural committees of the Senate to
transfer the weather bureau Of the signal
service to the agricultural department, and
TO leave under control of the war depart
ment only the strictly military part of the
signal service. The chief of the weather
bureau is given salary Of $500 year.
The chief Of the signal service and not
more than four army officers skilled in
forecastiug the weather may be detailed
for duty in the weather bureau until civil
ians can be trained in tho service Enlisted
men and employees of the signal corps may
be transferred to the department of agri-
culture. The reorganized signal corps is to
consist of the chief signal officer, one
major, four captains, and four first lieuten-
ants. Such second heutenants IN the corps
as may not be promoted by this act are to
be transferred TO the line Of the army.
Provision is made for fifty sergeants in the
signal corps.
REPORT OF THE MILITARY COMMITTEE
The report of the military committee. SUBJ
mitted with the bill reported from it, re-
views the provisions of the bill and quotes
the report of the congressional commission
and the message of the President Ia favor of
the proposed separation OF the military sig
mailing and weather bureau braucnes of the
signal service. The report closes with the
following tribute TO the weather services;
"As to the value of the weather service to
the country there is no question. 1t has
grown in favor from year TO year, and there
Is scarcely an industryor commercial interest
that is not benefited in some way by The
reports collected aud issued by this service.
Warnings of storms in the northern statas
and on the sea coast are especially service
able in saving human life, while the annual
saving of property in ships and their cargoes
alone amounts to many millions Of dollars.
The notice OF approaching cold waves and
northern frost warnings, food warnings,
reports for the benefit OF the cotton and
sugar interests, are incalculable In value
and are sought for and utilized by
the parties Interested. Public confidence
in the correctness of these reports has in
creased so that tho weather service has be-
come Indispensable TO the public, and it
should not only be continued, but SO organ
lied as to secure Improvement, and, If possi-
ble,extension Of its benefits to other branches
Of industry. The transfer of the weather
bureau to the department of agriculture
will, it is believed, widen Its field Of useful
ness and secure for it more liberal
support than has previously been given or
asked. By recommending this transfer it
should be understood that while the agri-
cultural interest of the country is one of
the chief interests to be served by the
weather service, yet the great commercial
and marine interests should not be lost
sight of in providing for tho study of
meteorology in connection with crop pro-
ductiouU