The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-08

There were some articles of which they
were nver able to get sufficient supply.
Army trousers. for instance.
In the making of contracts with the
railroads, olonel Hecker and Bird, in the
Washinton headquarters, had manifested
a disposition to interfere with him by pre-
scribin impossible conditions. He had pro-
tested IN sharp and vigorous language,
and thereafter there was no trouble.
The passover rates had been made at
Washinton and were very low, but when
he tried to ct freiht rates they were too
hin. He had felt that he could i've results
If allowed to make both lines of contracts,
as with one rate already made the gov
eminent would be in the power Of the rail
roads. He had contended for this right
and it was onceded to him. He did not
believe that any actual suffering had arisen
on account of the ineffciency of officers.
The contiguity of Chattanooga. with its
saloons, and the freedom with which the
selling of pies and cakes and bee ri the
amp was permitted, was. he said. "a far
more prolific cause of disease to my mind.
than the sleeping of the men on the ground
or any other cause that had been sug-
gested."
SURGEON GENERAL STERNBERG.
Surgeon General Sternberg has sent to
the committee investigating the conduct
of the war the following memorandum
relating to the medical department of the
army:
The number Of medical officers allow
ed by law is inadequate in times of peace.
The total number allowed is 1872. There
are at present thirteen vacancies The
administration OF the surgeon generals
office and the army medical museum re-
quires six. Eleven are on duty at medical
supply depOts and as chief surgeons Of
military departments. One is at the Sol
dierS' Home: fifty-six are at general hos
pitfalls or hospital ships. and at garrison
ed posts. -Four have been disabled since
the commencement OF the war by sickness
Five are On duty as chief surgeons of
army corps. This leaves ninety-seven
medical officers available for duty with
troops in the field Of these thirty-six
have been appointed brigadier surgeons
of volunteers and are distributed among
the various army corps. Since the declar-
alton OF war the loss by death has been
two, and twenty-three are now absent
from duty on sick leave
This deficiency in regular medical ON
GERS has made Il necessary to employ
more than go contract surgeons. Most
OF these doctors from c5vl life are doing
good service and many Of them are thor
oughly web equipped physicians and sur
geons, with ample hospital experience:
but it has been impossible to make a care
full selection owing 10 the greai pressure
OF busius - n the surgeon generals Once
and the urgency has baen so great THAI
r. has not been practicable TO have exam
hing boards 70 pass upon their quaEhca-
ions. I have endeavorered, 50 far as pos
slbie. TO obtain satisfactory professional
endorsement before making a contract
with an applicant. The number OF app.i-
cations has been go great. ard the person
a. visits % applicants and their friends
so numerous as to constitute q serious
embarrassment IN conducting the business
Of my Office
In addition 70 this. there nave been
appointed by he president eight corps
surgeons with the rank % lieutenant COLO
mel. twenty-four division surgeons with
The rsa nix OF major. snd sighty-six brigade
surgeons: also three medical offers FOR
each OF the regiments % United States
infantry. cavalry and engineers. Al vol
uu;esr regiments have three medical Of
Ecers appointed BY governors % sta,es-
The very small proportion % expert
enced medical officers aas seriously en-
oarassed the sftcieney % the medical c.
partuent. but many y the division end
brigade surgeons from civA life have
shown great aptitude foC re service ana
have already become valuable u1saicai o.
acers The same Is true q many q IRE
doctors employed under contract
Referring 20 ;hs alleged deficiency e
acontInusa % Thsra Pasr.l