The times., 1899-08-10
BHAqfY'S MEN IN ANGER
Many of them Visit Surgeon Gen.
eral Sternberg.
Alleged Hardship Inflicted Upon the
Rejected-LacIS of System in the
First Physical Exnmination-Con-
tract Surgeons Looking for the
Fifty Cents Per Head-Better Ser
vice Needed.

The War Department was besieged early
yesterday morning by several of the men
who had passed the examination at the re-
eruiting station here and Joined the COM
pany which Charles l.. Beatty was recruit
ing for service in the Philippines, and who
had been rejected upon being examined by
Surgeon McGraffan at Camp Meade for final
acceptance. The men declared they had
been rejected without a fair examination
at the camp, and as the number rejected
was so large it seemed to give color to thei-
report. To satisfy the men and to test the
examination, Surgeon General Sternberg
made provision for the re-examination of
five or six of the disappointed recruits by
surgeons of the department, and stated that
il it was developed that they were fit SUBJ
jects for enlistment, that the whole number
rejected would be given a examination.
The matter was also taken up by the
Adjutant Generals Office, and Colonel
Ward, Assistant Adjutant General, stated
that he would ask a special report on the
men of Captain Beatty's company from the
examining surgeon at the camp.
Colonel Ward, in speaking of the matter
yesterday said that this case was only
repetition of what was occurring all over
been discharged at every regimental head
quarters.
AT Fort Thomas Colonel Petit has dis
charged $50 men. Colonel Rice at Piatts-
burg and Colonel Bell at Fort Meade have
also found it necessary to reject many re-
crIits who have been accepted on the ex-
animation of the physician where the men
were recruited. The discharge is III no
way regarded as dishonorable and trans
portation is always furnished the rejected
applicant back to his home.
The causes of the Iaxness in accepting
recruits in the first instance is first, the
desire of the captain to get his company
flied up, as this is necessary before he can
get his commission, and second, the fee OF
so cents each paid by the Government
TO the local examining physician for every
recruit he passes
different state of affairs exists, how
ever, at regimental headquarters, as the
colonel is held responsible for the physical
condition of his men and, although the ex-
aminations of the regiment are made un-
der the same regulations. they are admin
istered much more rigidly.
Men with fiat feet or deformed fingers
or with any deficiency in sight are re-
jected. Lack OF weight is also another
cause OF rejection, and many men have
been refused on that account.
Colonel Ward said thu sams trouble was
experienced during the Spanish war, and al
that time many applicants for enlistment
in the District were found physically lack
ing 9
report on the discharge of the District
men recruited under Mr. Beatty is expected
at the department within a day or SO and
will then be made public
The rejection of such a large number Of
the District boys brought the subject of
the notice OF War Department officials yes
terday, and criticisms We're made of the
prevailing system of having the first ex-
animation made byoa private physician
who had no interest in the matter other
than his fee of so cents per head for every
recruit passed
A prominent officer who was connected
with this branch of the service during the
time the volunteers for the Spanish war
were being raised declared emphatieally,
that the present system had proved a sig
nal failure then, and would continue to do
SO until Regular Army surgeon should
be detailed at every recruiting station to
make the physical examinations There
would then be no need OF second exam
ination," continued the officer. in this
way much financial loss and inconvenience
would be saved to the individual who is at
present accepted and then rejected few
weeks later upon arriving at regimental
headquarters.
Most of the men who are willing to go
into the service are not men of means.
They gave up their employment in most |
cases and during the time they are thus in
suspense these places are filled by others, |
and on their final rejection they are landed |
back in their home town without money |
and without employment. This will con-
tinue TO be the case as long as the first |
examination is allowed TO be lax and the |
final examination rigid. There is, of |
course. no fault to be found with the de-
partment for wanting to get sound men
For the service. The fault simply lies in
The way it takes TO do it,