Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-07
TURNS DOWN STATE COMMISSIONS.
Controller of Treasury Makes An
other Ruling Against Virginia.


The Controller Of the Treasury, who re-
Gently refused to allow the bill to reim-
burse Virginia for supplies furnished
troops at the outbreak Of the war, Is
gaining additional notoriety in a some
what similar direction.
His refusal to honor the military COM
missions of the State Of Virginia in so
far as assistant surgeons are concerned
Is just now an engrossing topic among
Virginia officers in the United States VOL
unteers.
The volunteer army bill expressly pro-
vides that the commissions in State or
CARNATIONS which entered the service Of
the National Government shall be recog-
nized by the United States. So far as
known this has invariably been done in
all cases, save and except that Of as
slstant surgeons. 1t is even stated that
the surgeons from Virginia are the only
ones who have not been allowed to retail
the rank and pay which they had in
the State service. 1t was provided, how
ever, that all officers appointed to sue
coed those in service when the commands
volunteered should have the rank and pay
prescribed by the volunteer army bill.
The rank of assistant surgeons In the
Virginia volunteers is that Of cap
tain, and their pay is that of mounted
captain. The surgeon has the rank. and
pay of major. In the Virginia service
there is only one assistant surgeon; the
volunteer army bill provided for two.
Governor Tyler appointed the additional
assistant surgeon after the declaration of
war.
1
Virginia Regiment, when it volunteered.
was DR.. Richard G.. Simmons, of Roa
noke. He bore the rank of captain. For
the first month or two after entering the
national service he received the pay Of
captain. Then his pay was cut down 10
that OF first lieutenant Captain Simmons
made "A vigorous protest with the result
that he got the pay 10 which his rank
in the State service entitled him. Every
succeeding payday the salary Of captain
was paid him. But within the past few
days Captain Simmons was notified by
the department that he would have 20
refund the total difference between the
salary OF captain and Of lieutenant paid
him since being in the service. From
this there seems no appeal Captain
Simmons returned from Washington last
night. whittier he had gone 10 endeavor
to secure the full amount Of salary due
him. He was utterly unsuccessful. There
was a strong belief in the medical de-
partment that the salary due him should
be paid. The Controller Of the Treasury
refuses 10 allow IL.
THE RULING CAUSES SURPRISE.
There is great surprise manifested at
the ruling Of this Official. He seems 10
be the only man in Washington who OPP
poses paying 10 Virginia the sum due
her for supplies furnished troops at the
beginning Of the war.
IL Is said that the commissions Of Off
GERS from every other State except VIr-
ginia have been sacredly respected. This
last ruling of the department IS unfOrtu-
nate, in that It undoubtedly creates tho
impression that now that the govern
ment is not in need Of soldiers DISPOSE
ton TO treat them parsimOniously and
uniustly is being manifested.
Captain Caldwell, who was appointed
after the regiment volunteered has never
received other than the salary OF first
lieutenant. This can be explained IN
view of the provision OF the volunteer
army bill, which stated that officers an
pointed after State organizations enter
ed the national service should be en-
titled 10 the rank prescribed by the regu-
latons. Rulings similar TO those in the
cases Of assistant surgeons of the Sc
cond Regiment have been made in the
case Of these officers in the other Virginia
regiments.