914. That in addition to the Chief Signal Officer the commissioned force of the Signal Corps shall hereafter consist of [one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel], one major, four captains (mounted), and four first lieutenants (mounted), who shall receive the pay and allowances of like grades in the Army. The officers herein provided for shall be appointed from the Army, including lieutenants of the Signal Corps, preference being given to officers who have performed long and efficient service in the Signal Service: Provided, That no appointment shall be made until a board, to be appointed by the Secretary of War, shall have submitted a report recommending officers for appointment in the Signal Corps in the order of merit, based upon the importance and usefulness of work performed in the Signal Service, as said board may determine from the official records. And such second lieutenants of the Signal Corps as may not be promoted under the provisions of this act shall be appointed second lieutenants in the line of the Army with present date of commission, and shall be assigned to the first vacancies which may occur in the grade of second lieutenant after the appointments herein provided for have been made. Sec. 6, ibid.

915. That whenever a vacancy in the grade of brigadiergeneral shall occur in the office of Chief Signal Officer,

The Signal Corps; composi tion.

Sec. 6, ibid.

Aug. 6, 1894. v. 1897, v. 29. p. 611 J. R. No. 53, July

28, p. 234; Mar. 2,

8, 1898, v. 30.

Reorganization

of officers.

Aug. 6, 1894, v. 28. p. 234.; J. R.

v. 30.

the commissioned force of the Signal Corps shall 53, July 8, 1898, consist of one brigadier-general, who shall be the Chief Signal Officer of the Army, and selected from the Corps, one colonel who shall be assistant chief signal officer, and one lieutenant-colonel, one major, and three captains (mounted) to be appointed from the Corps according to seniority, and three first lieutenants (mounted) to be appointed as now provided by law, who shall each receive the pay and allowances of like grades in the Army, and provided for, shall be honorably discharged from the Army on June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, and such portion of this entire force, including the civilian employees of the Signal Service, as may be necessary for the proper performance of the duties of the Weather Bureau shall, if they so elect, be transferred to the Department of Agriculture, and the compensation of the force so transferred shall continue as it shall be in the Signal Service on June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, until otherwise provided by law: Provided, That skilled observers serving in the Signal Service at said date shall be entitled to preference over other persons not in the Signal Service for appointment in the Weather Bureau to places for which they may be properly qualified until the expiration of the time for which they were last enlisted."

For statutory provisions respecting sale of surplus publications, see paragraph 76,

ante.

Section 6 of the act of October 1, 1890 (26 Stat. L., 655), contained the provision that "the President is authorized to appoint on or before March first, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, a board of three officials, which board shall be charged with the duty of examining the classes and kinds of property and the amount of moneys pertaining to and in the possession of the Signal Corps, and said board shall as soon as practicable make the Secretary of War a report setting forth the amount of moneys and the quantities and kinds of property more suitable for the work of the Weather Bureau and not necessary for the use of the Signal Corps, and what part of said property will be suitable and necessary for the Signal Corps, and upon the approval of said report by the Secretary of War the property and money's which shall be decided to properly pertain to the Weather Bureau work shall be transferred to such Bureau, and to the custody of the Secretary of Agriculture, while the remaining property and funds shall continue in the possession of the Signal Corps."

Promotions. Mar. 2, 1897, v. 29, p. 611.

Appointments promotions, etc.,

1890, v. 26, p. 653;

the officers of the Signal Corps shall retain the commissions held by them at the date of the next vacancy in the office of Chief Signal Officer, unless promoted in compliance with law. Act of August 6, 1894 (28 Stat. L., 234). Joint Res. No. 53, July 8, 1898.

The promotions authorized by law when a vacancy occurs in the office of the Chief Signal Officer may be made in grades below that of colonel upon the approval of this act. Act of March 2, 1897 (29 Stat. L., 611).

916. That all appointments and promotions in the Signal Sec. 7, Oct. 1 Corps after this reorganization shall be made after examR. S., secs. 1206, ination and approval under sections twelve hundred and 1207, p. 214, amended. six and twelve hundred and seven of the Revised Statutes, which are 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; and all vacancies. which may hereafter exist in the grade of first lieutenant in the Signal Corps shall be filled by transfer from the line of the Army, after competitive examination and recommendation by a board of officers of the Signal Corps to be appointed by the Secretary of War. Sec. 7, act of October 1, 1890 (26 Stat. L., 653).

Signal Corps to remain part of

lishment.

1890, v. 26, p. 653.

917. That the civilian duties now performed by the Signal Military Estab Corps of the Army shall hereafter devolve upon a bureau Sec. 1, Oct. 1, 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.2 Sec. 1, ibid.

Signal Corps to

be appropriated

918. On and after July first, eighteen hundred and ninetyfor with the one, the appropriations for the support of the Signal Corps Sec. 9, Oct. 1, of the Army shall be made with those of other staff corps 1890, v. 26, p. 654. of the Army. Sec. 9, ibid.

Army.

ments.

Disburse. All appropriations made for the support of the Signal Aug. 30, 1890, v. Service or Corps shall be disbursed, under the direction of 1891, v. 26 p. 770, the Secretary of War, by a bonded officer to be designated

26. p. 371; Feb.24,

from time to time by the Secretary of War for duty as disbursing officer of the Signal Service. Acts of August 30, 1890 (26 Stat. L., 371), and February 21, 1891 (26 ibid., 770.)

Joint Resolution No. 53 of July 8, 1898, contained the requirement "that so much of the Act of Congress approved August 6, 1894, as reduces the grade of the Chief Signal Officer of the Army is hereby repealed, and the colonel therein provided for shall be assistant chief signal officer and appointed, by regular promotion, upon the approval of this resolution." It also provides that the laws authorizing the detail and assignment of the officers of the Army to duty in the Weather Bureau be, and are hereby, repealed."

2 Section 4 of the act of October 1, 1890 (26 Stat L., 653), which authorized the detail of officers of the Signal Department in the Weather Bureau, was repealed by the act of July 8, 1898.

Sec. 8, ibid.

919. That the enlisted force of the Signal Corps of the Enlisted men. Army shall hereafter consist of fifty sergeants, of which ten shall be of the first class, with pay of hospital stewards. Sec. 8, ibid.

Apr. 26, 1898.

920. In time of war there shall be added to the Signal War increase, Corps of the Army ten corporals, one hundred first-class privates, and forty second-class privates, who shall have the pay and allowances of engineer troops of the same grade. Sec. 3, act of April 26, 1898.

VOLUNTEER SIGNAL CORPS.

Volunteer Signal Corps.

30.

921. The President is hereby authorized to organize a volunteer signal corps, for service during the existing war, May 18, 1898, v. which corps shall receive the same pay and allowances as are authorized by law for the Signal Corps of the Army. Act of May 18, 1898.

Sec. 2, ibid.

The volunteer signal corps shall consist of one colonel, Organization. one lieutenant-colonel, one major as disbursing officer, and such other officers and men as may be required, not exceeding one major for each army corps, and two captains, two first lieutenants, two second lieutenants, five first-class sergeants, ten sergeants, ten corporals, and thirty firstclass privates to each organized division of troops: Provided, That two-thirds of all officers below the rank of major and a like proportion of the enlisted men shall be skilled electricians or telegraph operators. Sec. 2, ibid.

Chief Signal Officers of Army

Corps.

J. R. 53 July

So much of section ten of the Act of Congress approved April twenty-fifth, [twenty-second] eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, as provides that the staff of the general com- 8, 1898, v. 30. manding an army corps shall consist of certain officers, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, shall be held to include among such officers a chief signal officer. Joint Res. No. 53, July 8, 1898.

etc., to make re

erty.

922. From and after the passage of this act, every officer Enlisted men, of the Signal Corps, every noncommissioned officer or turns of propprivate of the Signal Corps, and all other officers, agents, Oct. 12, 1888, v. or persons who now have in possession, or may hereafter 25, p. 552. 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. Act of October 12, 1888 (25 Stat. L., 552). The Chief Signal Officer, subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, is hereby authorized and directed to draw up and enforce in his Bureau a system of rules and regulations for the government of the Signal Bureau, and of all

Regulations to Chief Signal Offi

be prescribed by

cer

Ibid.

18, p. 388.

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. Ibid.

MILITARY TELEGRAPH LINES.

Chief Signal 923. For completing the construction and for mainteOfficer to control; expenses, how nance and use of military telegraph lines on the Indian and defrayed; report.. Mar. 3, 1875, v. Mexican frontiers, and for the connection of military posts and stations, for the better protection of immigration and the frontier settlements from depredations, especially in the State of Texas, the Territories of New Mexico and Arizona, and the Indian Territory, eighty-eight thousand dollars:1 Receipts to be (Act of March 3, 1875, 18 Stat. L., 388.) Provided, That on and after the first day of July, eighteen hundred and eighty-three, all moneys received for the transmission of private dispatches over any and all telegraph lines owned or operated by the United States shall be paid into the Treasury of the United States, as required by section thirtysix hundred and seventeen of the Revised Statutes; and all acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. Act of March 3, 1883 (22 Stat. L., 616).

paid into Treasury.

Mar. 3, 1883, v. 22, p. 616.

Construction of new lines.

22, p. 319.

924. That the construction of new lines of telegraph shall Aug. 7, 1882. v. be under the supervision and direction of the several military commanders, subject to the approval of the Secretary of War. Act of August 7, 1882 (22 Stat. L., 319).

Injury to tele

interference with

925. That any person or persons who shall willfully or graph lines, &c., of United States, maliciously injure or destroy any of the works or property working, ob or material of any telegraphic line constructed and owned, penalty. or in process of construction, by the United States, or that June 23, 1874, may be hereafter constructed and owned or occupied and

struction, &c.;

v. 18, p. 250.

controlled by the United States, or who shall willfully or maliciously interfere in any way with the working or use of any such telegraphic line, or who shall willfully or maliciously obstruct, hinder, or delay the transmission of any communication over any such telegraphic line, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof in any district court of the United States having jurisdiction of the same shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars, or with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or with both, in the discretion of the court. Act of June 23, 1874 (18 Stat. L., 250).

1 The act of March 3, 1875, contained a provision authorizing the Secretary of War "to pay the expenses of operating and keeping in repair the said telegraph lines out of any money received for dispatches sent over said lines; any balance remaining after the payment of such expenses to be covered into the Treasury as a miscellane ons receipt; the money received in any one fiscal year to be used only in payment for the expenses of that year. And a full report of the receipts and expenditures in connection with the said telegraph lines shall be made quarterly to the Secretary of War, through the Chief Signal Officer. And the Chief Signal Officer shall have the charge and control of said lines of telegraph in the construction, repair, and operation of the same."

CHAPTER XXIV.

Par.

THE RECORD AND PENSION OFFICE.

Par.

926. Record and Pension Office; 929. Military histories of regi

duties.

927. Revolutionary military rec

ords, etc.

928. Clerical force, printing, etc.

ments may be furnished
States.

Pension Office,

ment, estab

May 9, 1892, v.

926. The division organized by the Secretary of War in Record and his office for the preservation and custody of the records war Depart of the volunteer armies, under the name of the record and shed. pension division, is hereby established as now organized, 27, p. 27. and shall hereafter be known as the Record and Pension Office of the War Department; and the President is hereby authorized to select an officer of the Army whom he may consider to be especially well qualified for the performance of the duties hereinafter specified and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint him in the Army to be chief of said office, who shall have the rank, pay, and allowances of a colonel and shall, under the Secretary of War, have charge of the military and hospital Duties. records of the volunteer armies and the pension and other business of the War Department connected therewith; and all laws or parts of laws inconsistent with the terms of this act are hereby repealed. Act of May 9, 1892 (27 Stat. L., 27.)

All Revolu

tionary army rec

ords, etc., trans

ferred to Secre

Aug. 18, 1894,

927. All military records, such as muster and pay rolls, orders, and reports relating to the personnel or the opera tions of the armies of the Revolutionary war and of the tary of War. war of eighteen hundred and twelve, now in any of the v. 28, p. 403. Executive Departments, shall be transferred to the Secretary of War to be preserved, indexed, and prepared for publication. Act of August 18, 1894 (28 Stat. L., 403).

The act of July 27, 1892 (27 Stat. L., 275), had contained the requirement that "the military records of the American Revolution and of the war of eighteen hundred and twelve, now preserved in the Treasury and Interior Departments, be transferred to the War Department, to be preserved in the Record and Pension Division of that Department, and that they shall be properly indexed and arranged for use."