The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-16
THE SURGEON AT TOGUS.
He Figured in the Proceedings in
the House Yesterday.
THE SENATE HAS PASSED BLANDS
SEIGNIORAGE BILL.

Mr.. Harris Shut Off the Oratory Prompt
Iy at the Agreed Hour and Called 1or
the Vote, Which Resulted a to 81
The Appointment of Surgeons at Ma
tionaI Military Homes Discussed by
Representatives.
Washington, March 15.-Mr. Black,
Democrat, of Illinois, called up the bill
authorizing the Board of Managers OF
National Soldiers Homes to employ sur
geons other than those disabled in the
service, to which class the board is now
restricted. In answer to questions by
Mr.. Cannon, Republican, of Illinois, Mr..
Black said that these surgeons received
about $4,000 year and quarters.
Mr.. Cannon said he knew enough SUI
geons who served in the army and were
fully qualified to fill all the places at the
disposal of the board.
Mr.. Black said that this might be true,
but that did not relieve the situation in
which the board found itself. The
amendment proposed was the only thing
that would do. He submitted that a
surgeon of 80 years ago was not man
who should be called in the night to at
tend to the invalids in these homes. The
soldiers should have the best and great
est care.
MIR. Dingley, Republican, of Maine,
asked Mr.. Black if he would not consent
to an amendment to strike out the word
'sdisabled'' from the present law, SO that
surgeons who served in the army but
were not disabled would still have the
right to appointment in the places as
against the civilians. He called atten-
ton to the fact that at the Togus Home
in Maine, a civilian was appointed and
an old soldier applicant turned down.
Mr.. Black stated that the managers In
that case acted in accordance with their
best Judgment and appointed civilian
because he was a better surgeon.
Mr.. Dingley said that that was the tlrst
time that the fact was suggested. lie
asked if. in that appointment, the law
had not been violated.
Mr.. Black answered that it had not.
The appointment had been revoked and
the services of the surgeon were now be-
ing performed under contract.
1At this point objection was made to
the further consideration OF the bill, al
though Mr.. Black intimated his willing
ness to amend it as suggested by Mr.
Dingley, The house took up the sundry
civil appropriation bill in committee of
the whole, and the remainder of the ses-
sion was devoted to its consideration.
Mr.. Black, Democrat, of Georgia, read
from the agricultural bulletin to show
the technical character of the language
used. and created considerable amuse-
ment by repeating some OF the terms
and subsequently explaining their mean
ing in plain English.
Mr.. Sickles, Democrat, OF New York,
suggested that dictionary be furnished
to each representative, in order that the
language Of the bulletin might be made
more clear.
Mr.. Black explained that he read these
extracts to show the f1agrant and mex
cusable misuse of the peoples money.
Mr.. Bowers, Republican, OF California.
| said the publications of the agricultural
department. especially the one criticised,
had been of vast benefit to the people of
| his state. The country was OF vast pro-
| portions. and publications which might
| be of little interest or value to one sec
| ton might be valuable to others.
The committee recurred to section
making an appropriation for the coast
survey, and MIR. Enloe, Democrat, OF
| Tennessee, offered an amendment abol-
| ishing the bureau and transferring it's
| duties to the Navy and Interior depart
ments. The amendment was thrown out
| on a point of order that it changed ex-
isting laws without showing that II
| thereby reduced expenses.
| Mr.. Enloe then moved to amend the
| appropriation for the survey OF the At
| lantic coast by instructing the Dockery
commission to investigate the work OF
the survey, and if found that it could be
done more effectively ard economically
IN the Navy than the Interior department
to report by bill or otherwise. This
amendment was pending when the
House adjourned.