Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-31
BRIGHT FOR SIGNAL CORPS
Chances Are Excellent for Enlarge
ment of That Branch Of Army.
OVERTIME PAY FOR CARRIERS
Omaha Grain Petitions
Congress to Pass Townsend Bills
Amending Interstate Conn
merce Law.
(From a staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30-(Special Tele-
gram. 1.-THE bill charging the Signal corps
of the army ard making 1t a separate arm
of the service, introduced by Representa-
tive Hepburn of Iowa and Senator Burkett
Of Nebraska in their respective houses, is
being received much more favorably than
even the earnest friends of the Signal corps
anticipated, and, In fact, it looks now as
though the bill would become a law before
the expiration of the present session.
The house committee on military affairs
has reported fayorably the Hepburn bill
with a few amendments of small impor-
lance, the principal one being the elimina-
ton of the band, which the bill provided
for. This bill is now on the house calendar.
Senator Burkett, who has been an enthusi-
astic champion of the enlargement OF the
Signal corps and who has labored indie
fatigably with Colonel Hepburn, whose son
is a member of the corps and stationed at
Fort Omaha, stated today that he expected
a favorable report on his bill next Thurs
day. Should a favorable report come from
the military affairs committee of the senE
ate the bill will be in an advantageous posi-
ton, in that II will become eligible as an
amendment to the military appropriation
bill now under consideration by the house
and which in all probability will be passed
tomorrow.
Should the signal corps be enlarged along
the lines Of Burkett-Hepburn bills Omaha
will be made the center Of this corps.
Four companies will be located at Fort
Omaha and Senator Burkett says that there
will be a band there, too.
P~resident-elect Taft, when secretary OF
war. saw the necessity for the enlargement
OF the signal corps and the present secre-
taTy OF war, Luke Wright, has endorsed
the Hepburn bill most enthusi-
astically. The members OF general staff OF
the army also see the necessity for the en-
largement of the corps. which must neces-
sarily play an important part in the wars
Of the future. Their recommendations give
hopes that the bill will be passed at the
resent session of congress, either as an
independent measure or as a rider TO some
one Of the appropriation bills.
Beatrice Bill Passed.
Senator Burkett's bill appropriAting $4,000
for the purpose of additional ground for
the postoffice at Beatrice passed the senate
today and probably will be attached to the
sundry civil bill when that bill reaches
the senate.
Senator Burkett has accepted an invita-
tion Of the Atlantic City Board OF Trade
to speak before that body at a banquet
on February -.
Overtime for Carriers.
The Omaha letter carriers are interested
in an amendment added by the senate to
the omnibus claims bill. which has just
passed the senate. providing for the pay
ment OF overtime claims Of letter carriers.
The senate has voted four times in favor
Of paying these claims. The bill now goes
back 10 tho house OF representatives.
where this senate amendment will have 10
be acted on before It becomes a law.
The Omaha carriers interested. are as
follows; Elmer Castberg. sl4O2; James
Clark. x1.a; Samuel T.. Collins, tl5.SS; Pat
rick Corcoran. tl5.3; Charles II. Creighton,