New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-22
THE PCRVEYOR GENERAL OF THE ARMY.
OBJECTIONS TO THE RECENT APPOINTMENTS OF
THE PRESIDENT.

OBJECTIONS TO THE RECENT APPOINTMENTS OF
THE PRESIDENT.
WASHINGTON. Sept 81 Cspcci1n.-rhe President has
sent 10 the senate the appointment OF C0onri Ehwa'a
r. ViluIn surgeon. TO be Chief Mcdra Purveyor with
the rank Of colonel from August 3D. 800 vice Coo'cl
iaAtcr appointed Surgeon General. Contingent upon
this appointment is the nomination OF Lieutenant
Colonel BERNARD J. d. Irwin Assistant Medical Pirvryor
t. be surgeon with the rank OF colonel from Aueu>'
e vice Colonel vi,!um. appointed Chief Medical
iurvcyor. Vum has been colonel since April -.
1--9 and Irwin La, been the senior lieutenant colonel
since February g. While 10th are IN tue Medical
Corp, proper. they still distinct branches Niluh
belongs the Corps of Surgeons who minister To- t'
and ailments OF the rank ami file ~ the Arn'y
and Irwin belongs to the cops which attends rntreN
TO the purchasing and distributing Of the medical and
hospital supplies. Ofcer- Of both brancle, must
necessarily be surgeons. but their duties ale entirely
distinct. The commanding officer Of the whole corps
holds the rank Of bligadicr general The head OF tho
me iioal purvcyors ma t" rank Of colonel ana tlo''
under him GRADED down from lieutenant colohr''
20 captains. At the time of the appointment ..
,lnrcl Baxter to hc surgeon General. the sonior
Lieutenant colonel IrwiH vino had h'ld that Office
since February. I-J0. II + now claimed that lrwih''
promotion should not BE- contingent the appoint
nlcnt Of Vum. the President has seen III (" put 1t.
Int rather upon the vacancy can-rd nv the appoint
mcnt OF Colonel Baxter a surgeon ''cLcfal
Colonel VILLAIN docs not Obtain any increase in rank
by the appointment. In fact. he lo-c> abrit a year
and hall r,Hh based upon the fa|t that upon his AZ
sumption Of the occ Of Chief Medical Prvcyor he Will
be compelled to take rank colonel from tho date
Of his commission as Chief Medical Iurveyor. 1t j.
asserted by prts in military law that Colonel Elllun
cannot elect accept this los, Of rank and that In
pat O! IN laws governing The Army Is there authority
given The Pre- dent 10 reduce officer IN rank. There
Il law the effect that promotions 10 all arinN ~
'le . he
the grade, up to and Including the grade OF colonel
Above that Grade the President may appoint whoEc'rr
he deems -. In fact he may appoint second lien
tenant To- hc hr..n.icr Lajor general. but Ii"
cannot make cap'rin ~ major. The experts claim
that It's u matter of fact The appointment ot Upnrl
Nu 10 III" pLcc ~ C!icf Medic d Inrvcv"r is li-,
tc;y u dccrada'ion rank. und that while III tn,
such Il dc.rs!, ion n"";' WITH ~" appreciation
II the OHIO y affected tho Circumstances form = bal
precedent wlth IS agilu-t ;le ppicr Of tn" GOVERN
meat. llo ircHde Of Colonel r' Ia cpndc"t tn,;
thc That hc pIvs"- Will 80 .ir,nSiy appeal t"
the VI in-;ic" AID cig.;y IL the errac that o.:
foundations WI De- either withdrawn permitted f.
d" v!th =. sion. rn"y hold iil"' a." "0r- Of
crca;"d ~ ia Fl ne cNp,>, pu.rosr Ui -'vas
-ms""n ta> ,'fe!~" ran" ANA ii,. ilr .i,'r j..
i'r N-tlns tic r?crd', " 'tll power to nominal"
!, j. i"a-"d that %. p,.>!lcn, WAS confronted ~I'h
iI '- ,1 % ,ni,,,iur r H. in,1rr T..
the Attorney G~nc.L AID optiininx h- opinion b"
bc'~Ins convinced thai the appointment of '"l' MI
Nillum mid 10 made totw u ns:AniiT. the Opinion
fu.II-hc! ~ tic law o' ri tie ":'run-t u l.
co:,i".d Il that tOi"u" irwlns rr'ri"tior ought t.
halo followed ..i..cI ..;"!N upon the accession oi
"a the ONO" IL surgeon t''li"rai I1a' Wa The
Ii".i made in Tie Sru" q: "fIlni.'. a d
.aI;hin: lieutenant C,oI"l lr"IE was ctlid hl law
AID equity TIE I.a'" sfr vacant
J!. ne. M'dl Al ItiV - incl'b Stationed
,,rc. IL ri tl'' many places IN" ~aI.
AID j.. II na,lc. pl"u'l Ni.lun l. at
49,. cYi l'n'icd ia 81" orb. AID Colonel !iVin +.
.rf rrim,. du'f ia rir,i-,p. i."ih ohocr~ iv"
,.Atclc.ii !S.o"ld- al agr l,shlj c'tccn.cd.