New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-15
COL. AINSwORTII'S PLACE AN ANOMALY.

]
HIS POSITION WAS SPECIALLY CREATED FOR
HIM BY CONGREss-SOME COMPLICATIONS
| Washington, Juno Il (speciaD.-Colond F. G..
Ainsworth, whose connection with the Ford's Theatre
disaster OF last Friday bids fair to make him for
some time 10 come n conspicuous public figure. mas
had an Interesting career both as an Army surgeon
md AS n bureau chief In the War Department. and
now occupies the anomalous position In the military
service OF being the only line STAFF officer not
attached to any corps and filling place specially
created by Congress for his benefit
| Colonel Ainsworth appointed an assistant sur
econ ID the Army from civil life November 10.
1874 and his first duty was at West Point sub
scoucnty he had service ut Fort Vancouver, si;ka.
Fort Yuma Camp Grant, Arizona, and In the field
with the 18th Infantry In the Department OF Can
forna. These assignments were between November
1874. and April. lseO. In the latter year he was
transferred to duty ut san Antonio Texas, ana ne
remained on duty various posts in that state and
vicinity until October l., 1885. when be was as
signed to duty recorder OF tie Army Medical
BOARD In New York which place h held when he
was summoned Washington in 1856 His nrst
connection with his present duties dates from that
time The demand for the settlement Of pension
cases was then ut Its height, aud an investigation
showed that calls for information from the hos
pital records OF the Army about 100000 cases
in arrears. Mr. Endicou was secretary OF war
lie determined to md one who possessed
sufficient executive ability TO bring these recordS up
to date II possible. and be applied to the surgeon
General OF tho Army for such man. Mr. AIMS
worth was then assistant surgeon in the corps
with In. rank OF captain. lie duty I'm New
York. The surgeon General recommended him and
he was selected and assigned to duty In the oiicc
Of the Surgeon General at Washington lie was rcgu
larv placed In charge OF the Record and Pension
Office.
soon after he had Informed himself OF the character
Of the Work assigned lin. he conceived IN" idea OF
solving IN. existing difficulties by the application
Of the card index system tat that time III Slleral
use in nbrarcs) to pension records. Ills plan
was approved by the Surgeon General by senator
Cu,hrrll. then chairman of The senate committee
engaged In investigating d' partmenul he'huus Vi
business and finally ly the secretary of War, Mr. Endi
colt. Work under this system was begun early Ill
Iss7 and. as everybody familiar with public business
knows with wonderful result, In the settlement
~ p,usion claims In July. lo9l, secretary Proctor.
IMPRESSED by the success OF Colonel AnswOrhs work
with the medical records. decided 10 apply th' same
system TO the military records. 10 ms eEl Il"
issued an order nscrrng all such records In the
Offices Of the Adjulan'cnerl and surgeon 'elrrai
to a common Office which he designated ~ the
Record and Pension Office, and placed Colonel -NuS-
worth mt the head OF it. This transfer in'lli"d al
the clerks who were then engaged thi, work.
numbering nearly 900. In the first session OF tile
la, Congress the actin Of the SECRETARY ot war wa
lrealiz.d. and the present Office Of Records ana
Pensions Of the War Department was created rs an
independent organization. This MT of Congress 50
p,ht.y indicated Colonel Ain,vofth as ia" heal
Of the Office that President Harrison vetoed the Dill
on the ground that It infrng'd the constitutions
preroglive OF the President IN the matter Of appoint
nen,s The bill practically named Colonel Mns"orth
for the place ard gave tlc President no discretion
I'm the mnicr. The act WAS then amended by Con
rrcs, 81 a. to meet thrs, objections. President liar
rson then approved and AT once nominated 'ololi"
Mnswurh for the pace, ana II" va, commenced by
the senate. ,
oiuncl AnSwOrth accepted the position thus
created. AZ the same tim he resigned his commission
i'm the Mcdi,ai Del arim,nt. When Ia" o:ltihAl bli
VAS passed by Congress. he was captain In the
NJ deal Corr :. near the head OF the list but IN the
period Intervening before the amended hill becam"
law he regularly promoted TO III" grade OF SIR
g-on with the rank OF major IN the Medical Depart
mcnt. His appointment took him oit or That depart
nenl and gave him the rank OF colonel Unattached To
any department division Of The Army. IL" occupies
thu, unique position 81 being colonel IN i'Ni:i
nlent altogether outside Of the recognized corr, OF
the
80 one ut the War Department can forete the
result OF the present Investigation. far Colonel
AinSworh's position In the Amy Is concerned. Tine
Pre- -idcnt can suspend him from his position Chief
Of the Olcc OF Records and Pensions but he cannot
appont any one else 10 place unless Colonel Aims;
worth /, dismissed from his place colonel In the
Army--a proceeding thai De accomplished only by
sentence Of coVrt-maral for catSe The office was
created for Colonel Ainsworth by special act Of Con