The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-24
zHk NErr suReEoN-aENkRAL.
The Contest for ths Vacancy to be Created
by Gen. Moore'a Retirement

by Gen. Moore'a Retirement.
WARRINGTON, July %. Tho next retirement
for age In the army IL that OF Col. William
D. Whlprle. Assistant Adjutant- General. which
occurs next week, The ensuing promotions
Will leave vacancy In the grade OF Major In
that department, which will give President
Harrison another bit of army patronage.
But more important is n retirement which
follows fortnight later, that Of Surgeon-G Gen
eral John Moore. since the appointee to that
vacancy will have the rank and pay OF Briga-
dier.GenernL Surgeon General Moore has
filled career OF over thlrty-seven yeurs in the
nrny, having been appointed Assistant Sur
Geon from his native state, Indiana, In 1858.
tie passed regularly through the grades served
with distinction during the war, receiving the
brovet OF Lieutenant Colonel for gallant and
meritorious services during the Atlanta cam
paign. and that Of Colonel orfaithful and NOR
itorious services during the war and became
the head OF the Medical Department on Nov.
Is, 1856. At that time no had hardly been con-
sidered one OF the leading aspirants in the con
test Tor the place Of Surgeon General. but his
professional ability and army record were in
dispntabe and he was passed over the heads
oil some seniors
Win a like experience occur now. or will tho
mentI SO far as precedent Is concerned, no
s S, INDICTMENT can be formed on this point.
sons nominations TO the rank oil general Of
hoer in STAFF and line. since he took office
Gen Miles. Brig Gen. Grerson Xdjt. G on. Rel
ton. and Commissary- eneral Du Barry. he Sc
ieeted the senior officer for promotion. But In
the cases OF Paymaster- &c eneral Smith and
Suarternaster-Gen l'atchelder he not only
chose Junior officer. but skipped whole
The RANKING olieer in. the Medical Depart.
ment is Col. Jededlah II. Baxter Chief Medi-
cal Purveyor. He begun his military service
u O., MASAR-
shusetts Infantry, and received the brevets Of
Lieutenant Colonel and colonel Of vou' teers,
aud oil oonel In the regular army for ia thiul
and meritorious services in the war, After lis
close he was appointed to the regular, service
rank Of Lieutenant Colonel and Assistant
Nedichl pnrve, or and with this sinrt ho
achieved bis present rank of Colonel and CHIEF
MEDICAL Purveyor sixteen years ago Since
then he has seen juniors promoted over him to
the head Of The department; but this fact was
no reflection on his ability. rs the officers thus
preferred had served In the army much longer
In the present instance. also. the five other
officers III the department who have the same
rank OF Colonel have been q very long time in
the service; Surgeon Charles sutherland Gu.
his present rank In 1876. Assistant Surgeon
General CHARLES lage entered 1t in lSll ,flom
1887. Surgeon Basil Norris, who is generally
regarded rs one OF the chief competitors OF
4s sseEed bf as
2hei IN lsSs. The two remaining surgeons.
Col: Edward p. Nolum and Col. Joseph Il.
Smith: were appointed in 1853 and 1854 re;
spectively. both from New York. and reached
tneir present grade last year. All OF these
officers received hreyets for war service Sur
geons sutherland. Norris. and Smith those Of
Lientenant-Colonel and Colonel. and Assist
ant Surgeon General Page and Surgeon Nollum
that Of Lieutenant-Colone.T The reports OF
Col: Smith we're for superior ability, and excel
lent management OF the Affairs OF his depart
ment and meritorious services and devotion to
the sick during the prevalence of the cholera
At Little Rock. As the entrances OF tho first
four OF these officers into the service were all
within less than two years of each other. so
their retirements come close together. that OF
Col Nollum next year, tina, Of Col. Norris the
year after, and those Of Coils Sutherland
and Page in 1893. Col. Smith does MT retire
until 1895, and Col Baxter not until 1901.
Of course. the President is not compelled to
select the SurreGn-General from the ColUnels
he might even 20 among the Majors. or lower
IL he chose Tho number OF recent appoint
ments in the other staff departmcnts has
hitherto drawn away attention from the ap-
rroaching vacancy in the office OF Surgeon
General but from this time forward 1t Will at
tract great interest both in and out OF the
Medical Department.