Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-01-10
SIGNAL CORPS BOOST
Burkett Introduces Bill to Increase It's
+ Size and Importance.
HAS APPROVAL OF DEPARTMENT
Puts it on the Same Footing as the
Artillery and Infantry.
OMAHA TO BE CHIEF Z
Congressman Hepburn to Fa
Similar Measure in House.
OBJECTIONS TO GRAZING BILL
Nonden OF wyOminE, Chairman of
House Committee on Public
Lands, AntagOniEes the
Burkett Measure.
OBJECTIONS TO GRAZING BILL
tFrnm a $40 correspondentl

tFTufn Etdtt correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9-(Spccial Tele-
gram .)-Following out what has become
deep seated conviction on the part Of Sen
ator Burkett and officers Of the War de-
partment that the signal corps OF the army
should be placed on an equal footing with
he artillery and infantry the senior senator
from Nebraska today introduced an impor-
,ant measure which more than doubles
.he present size of the present signal corps
organization. For months Senator Burkett
has been in close conference with Secretary
TAFT and Brigadier General James Allen,
chief Of the signal corps, looking to the
enlargement Of the organization and the
result Of these conferences is the bill intro
duced by Senator Burkett. Should It pass
II will make Omaha the greatest signal
station in the United states. which will
become the headquarters for the increased
organization. The secretary Of war and
the War department, II is understood, are
in hearty sympathy with the masuure,
which is as follows:
The signal corps of the army shall consist
OF one chief signal officer with the rank
OF brigadier general, four colonels: -FOUR
lieutenant colonies, twelve majors, thirty
six captains, thirty-siN first lieutenants'
thirty-six second lieutenants, 100 master
electricians 800 first class sergeants. 100
sergeants 800 corporals, 100 first class pri-
Yates. 300 privates, sixty cooks, fOrty-eig 1T
farriers and blacksmiths, twenty-four sad
dlers. twenty-fouT wagoners, tOrty-eight
trumpeters, and one band as now author
lied BY law for bands OF cavalry regiments.
and each grade shall receive the rank. pay
and allowances now provided by law.
Provided, That the chief signal officer
OF the army shall be appointed as now pro-
shall hall be- filled First by promotion Of Of
ficers holding permanent appointments in
the signal corps, according TO seniority,
and second, by details TO the signal corps
from the army at large. from any grade
IN which a vacancy exists, or the grade De
low, provided that officers so detailed N
the grades below that of major shall not
be again be eligible for such detail until
they shall have served for at least one year
Provided. 1urther that the signal corps OF
the army shall be organized as may be d.
rected by the president of the United States
A and officers and enlisted men assigned to
n duty with troops shall, when so especially
deHisnated b. the EiFesident. constitute pact
OF the line Of the army.
Congressman Hepburn of Iowa VIII hav,
charge Of a similar bill in the house tn,
Intention Of the senator and representa-
tive beiOg TO push the bill as rapidly 81
possible, its Importance warranting earl!
consideration.
Teaching of Agriculture.
Senator Burkett introduced today a bil
20 provide for the teaching of agricul
ture, home economies and manual train
ing In normal schools Of the Unite,
States. The measure was introduced L,
the senator In the Fifty-ninth congres
and has been indorsed by the Nationa
Educational association. which is noy
actively working for the passage Of tn
present bill The department OF super
intendence of the National Educations
association is to meet in Washington o
February rs to present the matter t
their senators and representatives and en-
deavor TO secure the passage OF Senate
Burketts bill.
Burkett Names cadet.
Senator Burkett has recommended Ed
gar Allyn Russell OF Lincoln to be
cadet at Anna polls. he has an openin
for three young men to be appointed a
alternates.
Opposition 10 Grazing Bill.
Senator Burkett's grazing bin is going I
encounter strong opposition before it be
comes law. II ever. as now framed uI
Congressman Mondell. chairman OF III
public lands committee Of the house, sal
that the people OF Wyoming were oppose
30 the Burkett measure; that there WEI
only two newspapers in the state favorabl
60 the range control idea, and that III
newspapers were openly in opposition
lue blIheAt Bili. ne lrullc OF W NOu
in4 said Mr.. Mondell. mot only CRITICS
the theory Of Senator Burkett's measur
but the details as worked out In m
Judgment the Burkett bill violates n
fundamental principles Of our land policl
that is as II relates TO range control. tt
theory upon which the public land polio
is based Is that the government act
trustee of all the people in the distribJ
ton OF the public lands for the natio
This idea Is embodied in the thought thi
ultimately the national government W
have passed all the lands into private owl
ership and will then cease 10 be a Ian
lord. During the period in which the lar
Is gradually passing into private owne
ship, unentered lands should be kept op,
for free access OF all who desire to ents
utilize or settle upon them. Any leEisl
tion or any policy that doesn't allow Il
freest and fullest access must necessari
discourage settlers
Better range control can only be ia
tified on the theory that I'm certain porto
of the country all the remaining lands a
fit only for grazing purposes and tn,
use can be permanently regulated by 4
police control Of the general EOvernmeI
The fact Is there Is no part Of the pub
domain except possibly small areas he
and there that are permanent grazi
lands eW are learning through dry farl
ing 10 grow crops in regions where her
tofore q has been thought impossible
carry on crop production. Small areas
land are being brought under most
fectiVe cultivation through irrigation a.
Wy processes OF reclamation portions OF 1
public lands in every section arr bel
saved 10 the homesteader and the $
culturist by new and modern methods
land treatment. Under these circUmstanc
Il seems 20 me the height OF folly 10 pa
bill looking to police control of the pub
domain on the part OF the general 60