Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-17

The Surgeon Generals office Is branch of
the War department, and one Of the most i'm
portant branches. Its work is very important,
and It's force OF clerks large and necessarily COM
petent. This Office is presided over by the Sur
geon General of the Army. J. X. Barnes, with
rank OF brgadier general. He has his Office on
Pennsylvania avenue, near 18th street. adjoining
Riggs bank. There are two branches Of the
Surgeon Generals Office-One on 10th street.
between and F streets, in the building
Familiarity known as the old Ford theater in
which President Lincoln was assassinated.
In this building is the National Medical Muse
um, which Is considered to be one of the finest,
If not the finest. in the world. The other branch
Is on the corner of and 10th streets. in the
new Hoffman building. There is an assistant
surgeon general, Gen. Crane with the rank of
colonel. Gen. Barnes and he receive the salaries
of army officers of their respective ranks. The
chief clerk Of the office is Samuel Ramsey, who
receives salary Of $4,000 per annum. There
are over three hundred employees in the Surgeon
Generals office, divided as follows: Nine at a
salary OF 81 800; six $1,000; nine, 81 400; one
hundred and ten. 81 200; one hundred and fif-
teen, 81 .OO0 one. $40; eight, $3.50. In addition
there are six temporary clerks at $1,000, and
four at 5000. There are thirteen enlisted men en-
ployed here. who receive the pay of soldier and
communication of allowances. The anatOmist has
salary OF 81 600. two engineers, 81 400 each,
watchmen receive $720 each, and ten labOrers,
$3.50.
The most important work Of the Office is done
In the pension and record DIVISION and upon the
work OF this division about two hundred and
forty clerks are employed. The records consist
books. which contain the hospital treatment of
EVERY SOLDIER IN THE HOSPITALS
during the war. the hospital muster rolls. and
monthly and quarterly reports. From these re-
cords the principal evidence is obtained in pen
sion cases. These books are in a somewhat worn
and dilapidated condition, resulting from their
constant use, and it is very necessary that they
shall all be copied before they become destroyed.
THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN THE WORKING
FORCE OF THE PENSION OFFICE
Will necessitate an increase in the Surgeon Gen.
erals office. When case comes up for an in
vestigatiOn in the Pension Office evidence must
be obtained from the Surgeon Generals office
as to the hospital record of the applicant. and
the working force Of the latter office must keep
pace with that of the former
The general legislative bill now before Con-
gress provides for twenty-one additional clerks
OF class four, twenty-six clerks of class three.
ffty-three clerks of class two and fifty clerks OF
class one, in all two hundred additional clerks
and for their salaries and those OF the six assist
ant messengers, three watchmen, six labOrers
and one superintendent of the building appro-
PIRATES 1924 800. The bill also makes a stipula-
ton that not less than three hundred clerks in
the Surgeon Generals Office shall be exclusively
engaged in preparing and making reports to ex-
pedite the settlement Of pension applications
called for by the Commissioner of Pensions.
The bill also apprOprates for the rent Of addi-
tional building or buildings a COO; for the pur-
chase OF blank books and stationery. So 600; for
the purchase Of fuel heating apparatus, &c,
49, for the purchase of Office furniture, car
pets and miscellaneous items, S1O,SOO.