The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-01-09

the discharge OF those dueseayng the vacancies as
they be filled by snsments or by further
appointments from the rank and Bile Of the army.
The second point 10 which your attention invited is
the making Of some provision by which 10 reqae hosp al
and attendants for the sboous and loathsome dn
ties they have perform and ia consideration oil their
frequent exposure 10 contagious diseases.
The following extract hom my last annual report im-
bodies my views in this particular:
That soldiers acting and attendants in hos
pitfalls be allowed the extra pay authorized TO other soldiers
fatigue duty by IAN act approved March 3 1873, the
provisions Of which were extended by AN ae 70 increase
The pay OF the rank and file OF the army &C. approved
August 1854 by which soldiers employed on constant
labor Of less than ten days are entitled 10 receive TWEEN
yhye cents per day at stations east Oh and thiry-hse
per day at stations west of the Rocky mounains
The act Of Congress just quoted granting additional
compensation 20 soldiers con constant labor for not less
than days intended TO embrace. as verify be-
eye the soldiers acting cooks and nurses IN hospitals
well those employed in the Quarermasters and Sub
sstence Departments or other stan departments OF The
army.
The object Of the law was reward the soldiers who
taken from company duty, or military duty proper
and placed extra duty constant labor for the period
least OF days and how il came 10 pass that hos
pita attendants serving faithfully at hard labor by day
and by night for months conseeutvely were by forced
construction of the law construed out OF their weearned
compensation, cannot understand.
The time when the hospital attendants were
regularly mustered body of and received the ex
compensation accorded TO other soldiers on extra SER
vice constant labor
Pay master Benjamin r. Larned, tn payRaster gem
eral OF the army wont TO out justice with
even hand these well other soldiers taken from the
regular line of military duty and placed on service win
the staff departments And these payments made for
without question beng raised as to the legality OF
the proceeding until at last clerk in the Treasury De
PARTNER learned IN the law than his at
the ASK and less careful of other peoples rights perhaps
than OF his own, found out that service in hospitals
labor and checked the accounts Of the MASTER just
then under examination by the amount OF payments made
| on extra rolls to the hospital attendants.
From that time 10 the present soment the extra pay for
service and labor has been withheld from The faithful
patient, and untiring nurse while II has BEEN aYsbed
upon other soldiers not jo worthy Of reward.
BY what authority by whose order the pay masters
prohibited to make these payments have not to this
day learned but that the first the chess-board
was made by eage-eyed officer of the Treasury Depart
| ment there be no doubt
| While defending, as think have right to do the
claims of the who faithfully in the staff depart
men of the army of which the chief cannot refrain
from expressing the opinion that If the claim Of soldier
to extra pay depends upon the amount Of constant labor
and dsagreeabe duty he has frequently 10 perform the
hospital attendant has clear right 10 the additional COM
peDsaton guaranteed by the of Congress approved
March q 1919, and August A, 1854.
| Again II the eligibility of the hospital attendant to re-
ceve extra pay is dependent upon the Interpretation of
the law given by the Secretary of War other proper
thory for the time being, il may be well to inquire how
far the last construction Of the law governing the matter
flor there have been different versions OF the law pu, forth
under different administrations of the Department Of War;
should prevail the Interpretation given and acted upon
| in the good old times of yore.
Upon second thought however it strikes being
rule of than doubtful policy to reopen questions
already decided ny IL
may lead nermnable business OF reconsideration of
and retroacion upon and things long since put
rest
would therefore rather ask for and special act
of Congress to the immediately under discus
sion well that involving the right of assistant
geons the allowance for forage for horses is
corded to officers of the line of the army with whom they
assimated in rank and with whom they equally
JOY the other perquisites Of office
In conclusion beg leave say that the doctrine which
now-a-days obtain-vz: that and physi
clans mnsterng 10 the body well the high person
ages Of the church who administer the soul of man. have
look for their reward in Heaven for the good deeds done
in this worldmay be very consoatory, very satisfactory
and very aeripg of US Of the craft partcu
lary il brings somewhat in juxtaposton with the
pure members Of the Hierarchy There other persons
however aud among them soldiers of the army, faithfully
labong by day and by night nurses in hospitals,
who brook the idea of being placed beyond the pale
of rghtf consideration accorded TO soldiers employed in
making bridge cutting road, and who cannot be
brought believe otherwise than that they might well
receive portion if their full of rccompense
earth here below and take their chance for higher and
permanent reward in another and better world
All of which is respectfully submitted
TIL. LAWSON, Surgeon General.
Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS
Secretary Of War