23, 1874, so as to require that "no appointment or promotion is said department shall hereafter be made until the officer so appointed or promoted shall have passed a satisfactory examination before a board of ordnance officers senior to himself."’ By the act of July 7, 1898 (30 Stat. L., 720), the composition of the Ordnance Department was fixed at one brigadier-general, four colonels, five lieutenant-colonels. twelve majors, twenty-four captains, and twenty first lieutenants. By section 23 of the act of February 2, 1901 (31 Stat. L., 754), the permanent strength of the Ordnance Department was fixed at one chief of ordnance with the rank of brigadier-general, four colonels, six lieutenant-colonels, twelve majors, twentyfour captains,, and twenty-four first lieutenants, together with the enlisted men, including ordnance-sergeants, already authorized by law. A system of details was also provided by the operation of which the permanent commissioned personnel of the Department will be gradually replaced, as vacancies occur, by officers detailed from the line of the Army for duty in the Ordnance Department. Composition. ORGANIZATION. 1218. The Signal Corps shall consist of one Chief Signal Officer with the rank of brigadier-general, one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, four majors, fourteen captains, fourteen first lieutenants, eighty first-class sergeants, one hundred Feb. 2, 1901, and twenty sergeants, one hundred and fifty corporals, two hundred and fifty first-class privates, one hundred and fifty second-class privates, and ten cooks. Sec. 24, act of February 2, 1901 (31 Stat. L., 754). 24, v. 31, p. 754. nal Corps. Ibid. 3 Volunteer Sig- 1219. The President is authorized to continue in service during the present emergency, for duty in the Philippine Islands, five volunteer signal officers with the rank of second lieutenant. This authority shall extend only for the period when their services may be absolutely necessary. Sec. 24, act of February 2, 1901 (31 Stat. L., 754). Promotions. APPOINTMENTS, PROMOTIONS, DETAILS. * * 1220. So long as there remain any officers holding permanent appointments in the Signal Corps, including those appointed to original vacancies in the Feb. 2, 1901, s. grades of captain and first lieutenant as provided in sec26, v. 31, p. 755. tions sixteen, seventeen, twenty-one, and twenty-four of For note containing the statutory history of the Signal Corps see end of chapter. 2Section 24 of the act of February 2, 1901 (31 Stat. L., 754,) contains a proviso to the effect that "vacancies created or caused by this section shall be filled by promotion of officers of the Signal Corps according to seniority, as now provided by law. Vacancies remaining after such promotions may be filled by appointment of persons who have served in the Volunteer Signal Corps since April twenty-first, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight." The pay of a first-class sergeant of the Signal Corps was fixed at that of a hospital steward by section 8, act of October 1, 1890 (26 Stat. L., 653). The pay of firstclass privates was made the same as that of privates of corresponding grade in the engineer battalion by section 3, act of April 26, 1898 (30 Stat. L., 364). * * * promotions, etc. Sec. 7, Oct. this act, they shall be promoted according to seniority in the several grades, as now provided by law, and nothing herein contained shall be deemed to apply to vacancies which can be filled by such promotions or to the periods for which the officers so promoted shall hold their appointments. Sec. 26, act of February 2, 1901 (31 Stat. L.,755). 1221. All appointments and promotions in the Signal Appointments, Corps shall be made after examination and ap- 1896, v. 26, p. 653; proval under sections twelve hundred and six and twelve R, S., sees. 1206, hundred and seven of the Revised Statutes,' which are amended. hereby amended so as to be applicable to and to provide for the promotion of the lieutenants of the Signal Corps in the same manner as they now apply to the Corps of Engineers and the Ordnance Corps. Sec. 7, act of October 1, 1890 (26 Stat. L., 653). 2 1222. When any vacancy, except that of the chief of the department or corps, shall occur which can not be filled by promotion as provided in this section, it shall be filled. by detail from the line of the Army. Sec. 26, act of February 2, 1901 (31 Stat. L., 755). 1207, p. 214, Details. Feb. 2, 1901, s. 26, v. 31, p. 755. Ibid. 1223. Such details shall be made from the grade in which same, how the vacancies exist, under such system of examination as the President may from time to time prescribe. Ibid. 3 ENLISTED MEN. * * strength. 24, v. 31, p. 754.. 1224. The Signal Corps shall consist of * eighty Enlisted first-class sergeants, one hundred and twenty sergeants, Feb. 2, 1901, s. one hundred and fifty corporals, two hundred and fifty first-class privates, one hundred and fifty second-class privates, and ten cooks. Sec. 24, act of February 2, 1901 (31 Stat. L., 754). WAR INCREASE. Staff of corps Apr. 22, 1898, s. 1225. So much of section ten of the act of Congress commander. approved April twenty-second, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, as provides that the staff of a general commanding an army corps shall consist of certain officers, 30, p. 752. with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, shall be held to This clause regulates the promotion, after examination, of officers holding permanent appointments in the Signal Corps. 2 The clause relating to the transfer of officers of the line to the Signal Corps was repealed by the act of February 2, 1901. Appointments to original vacancies created or caused by that enactment are governed by the requirements of section 24. See, in this connection, section 24, act of February 2, 1901, and note to paragraph 1218, ante. By section 8 of the act of October 1, 1890 (26 Stat. L., 653), first-class sergeants of the Signal Corps were given the pay of hospital stewards. Enlisted men. Apr. 26, 1898, s. 3, v. 30, p. 364. Par. include among such officers a chief signal officer. 1226. In time of war there shall be added to the Signal Corps of the Army ten corporals and one hundred firstclass privates, who shall have the pay and allowances of engineer troops of the same grade. Sec. 3, act of April 26, 1898 (30 Stat. L., 364). 1227. Chief Signal Officer. 1228. The same; regulations. Officer; duties. DUTIES. Par. 1229. Accountability for property. Chief Signal 1227. The Chief Signal Officer shall have charge, under Sec. 2, Oct. 1, the direction of the Secretary of War, of all military signal 1890, v. 26, p. 653. Regulations to be prescribed by duties, and of books, papers, and devices connected therewith, including telegraph and telephone apparatus and the necessary meteorological instruments for use on target ranges, and other military uses; the construction, repair, and operation of military telegraph lines, and the duty of collecting and transmitting information for the Army by telegraph or otherwise, and all other duties usually pertaining to military signaling; and the operations of said corps shall be confined to strictly military matters.' Sec. 2. act of October 1, 1890 (26 Stat. L., 653). 1228. The Chief Signal Officer, subject to the approval of Chief Signal Offi- the Secretary of War, is hereby authorized and directed to Oct. 12, 1888, v. draw up and enforce in his Bureau a system of rules and cer. 25, p. 552. etc.. to make re regulations for the government of the Signal Bureau, and of all persons in said Bureau, and for the safe-keeping and preservation of all Signal Service property of every kind, and to direct and prescribe the kind, number, and form of all returns and reports, and to enforce compliance therewith. Act of October 12, 1888 (25 Stat. L., 552). Enlisted men, 1229. From and after the passage of this act, every officer turns of prop- of the Signal Corps, every noncommissioned officer or priOct. 12, 1888, v. vate of the Signal Corps, and all other officers, agents, or 25, p. 552. erty. The act of October 1, 1890 (26 Stat. L., 653), contained the requirement that "the civilian duties now performed by the Signal Corps of the Army shall hereafter devolve upon a bureau to be known as the Weather Bureau, which, on and after July first, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, shall be established in and attached to the Department of Agriculture, and the Signal Corps of the Army shall remain a part of the Military Establishment under the direction of the Secretary of War, and all estimates for its support shall be included with other estimates for the support of the Military Establishment." Section 4 of this enactment, which authorized the detail of officers of the Signal Corps in the Weather Bureau of the Department of Agriculture, was repealed by Joint Resolution No. 57, of July 8, 1898 (30 Stat. L., 752). This enactment finally severed the statutory connection of this corps with the Weather Bureau. persons who now have in possession, or may hereafter receive or may be intrusted with any stores or supplies, shall, quarterly or more often, if so directed, and in such manner and on such forms as may be prescribed by the Chief Signal Officer, make true and correct returns to the Chief Signal Officer of all Signal Service property and all other supplies and stores of every kind received by or intrusted to them and each of them, or which may, in any manner, come into their and each of their possession or charge. Ibid. be appropriated Army. 1230. On and after July first, eighteen hundred and Signal Corps to ninety-one, the appropriations for the support of the Sig- for with the nal Corps of the Army shall be made with those of other, Sec. 9, Oct. 1, staff corps of the Army. Sec. 9, act of October 1, 1890 (26 Stat. L., 653). MILITARY TELEGRAPH LINES. * * 1890, v. 26, p. 654. operation, and the repair. Oct. 1, 1890, s. 2, 1231. The Chief Signal Officer shall have charge, under Construction the direction of the Secretary of War, of construction, repair, and operation of all military tele- v. 26, p. 653. graph lines. Section 2, act of October 1, 1890 (26 Stat. L., 653). 1232. For the purpose of connecting headquarters, Department of Alaska, at Saint Michael, by military telegraph and cable lines with other military stations in Alaska, four hundred and fifty thousand five hundred and fifty dollars: Provided, That commercial business may be done over these military lines under such conditions as may be deemed, by the Secretary of War, equitable and in the public interests, all receipts from such commercial business shall be accounted for and paid into the Treasury of the United States, and that the sum hereby appropriated shall be immediately available: Provided further, That no telegraph or cable lines owned or operated or controlled by persons not citizens of the United States, or by any foreign corporation or government, shall be established in or permitted to enter Alaska. Act of May 26, 1900 (31 Stat. L., 206). lies in Alaska. May 26, 1900, v. Telegraph 31, p. 206. 1233. After the first day of July, eighteen hundred and Receipts to be eighty-three, all moneys received for the transmission of paid into Treas private dispatches over any and all telegraph lines owned 22, p. 616. ury. Mar. 3, 1883, v. The act of October 1, 1890 (26 Stat. L., 653, par. 1227, ante), which places the Chief Signal Officer in charge of "the construction, repair, and operation of military telegraph lines," repealed the act of August 7, 1882 (22 Stat. L., 319), which vested the supervision of the construction and operation of military telegraph lines in department commanders. |