Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-21
Proposed Promotion Of Ex-
Surgeon General Sternberg.
BILL IN BOTH HOUSES
FoRTY-oNE YEARS IN THE MEDI-
CAL DEPARTMENT.
Served Through the Civil and Spanish
American Wars-His Inn
portant Works.

Senator Fairbanks has introduced a bill
In the Senate providing for the selection
of one from such officers of the army on
the retired list as have served forty-one
years or more in the medical department
OF the army, nine years of which shall have
been as surgeon general. and, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, APP
point him major general upon the re-
tired list of the United States army
similar bill has been introduced in the
House of Representatives by Mr.. Watson.
The. bill as it stands. is drawn for the
purpose of promoting Gen. Geo. NJ. Stern
berg to be major general as he is the
only retired medical officer possessing the
qualifications outlined in the measure. the
only one who has had forty-one years
service. nine of which has been as surgeon
general of the United States army.
Gen. Sternberg's Career.
Gen. Sternberg was born in Otsego coun-
ty, n. T.. June 8, 1898 He was appointed
an assistant surgeon IN the army May %,
1851, and served continuously until retired
for age on June 8, 1902 He was appointed
surgeon general of the army in May 1893,
and continued to perform the duties of this
office until retired. His service therefore,
includes the entire period of the civil war
and OF the Spanish-American war, the sub
sequent insurrection in the Philippine Is
lands and the expedition to Peking
Cen Sternberg was also on duty in the
neid In two indian wars-campaigns against
the Cheyennes and Arapahoes in 1863 and
the Nez Perces in 1877. He was brevetted
captain and major for faithful and meri-
torlous services during the civil war and
lieutenant colonel for gallant service in per-
romance of his professional duty under
fire in action against Indians at Clearwater
Idaho. July II, 1877.
Gen. Sternberg was elected president of
the American Public Health ASSOCIATE ton in
1885. of the American Medical Association
In 1857 and of the Association of Military
Surgeons in 1900. He Is an honorary mem
Der Of many medical and scientific societies
In this country and in Europe and is the
author of several volumes and numerous
papers relating to subjects connected with
preventive medicine and the public health.
Establishment Of Hospitals.
During his administration as surgeon gem
eral of the army Gen. Sternberg established
the army medical school and the hospital
Tor tuberculosis cases at Fort Bayard New
Mexico
He greatly improved military post hos
pitfalls throughout the country and many
new institutions were built upon plans
drawn under his direction. During the
Spanish American war general hospitals
were promptly established upon his recon-
mendation and equipped by him at Fort
Myer, virginia; Washington barracks Dis
trict of Columbia; Fort Monroe Virginia:
Fort Mcpherson, Georgia: Savannah, Ga;
Key West. Fla; Chickamauga Park, Tenn
Fort Thomas, Kentucky; San Francisco
Cal. The hospital ships Relief and Mis-
souri, were purchased upon his recommenda-
ton and equipped in the most complete
manner under his direction. He organized
the board of medical officers to investigat e
the and the nf
fever In camps during the Spanish-Amer-
lean war and the board of which Maj. Wal
ter Reed was president, which made the
imp ortant discovery that yellow fever is
transmitted by mosquitoes.
Bill Passed by the Senate.
A bill having the approval of the Secre-
tary of War was introduced in the Fifty
seventh Congress to retire Gen. Sternberg
as major general. This bill passed the
Senate without opposition and was favora-
bly, reported by the military committee CT
the House in the following language:
your committee, in view of the long
faithful and distinguished service of Gen
Sternberg, believe the bill should become a
law. and accordingly recommend its pas
sage" When called up under suspension of
the rules, on June 2 1902, the bill was OPP
posed from the floor Of the House on the
ground that 1t would afford precedent
for similar legislation in other cases. and 1t
failed to receive the necessary two-thirds
vote.
Since the retirement of Gen. Sternberg
the policy OF retiring veterans Of the civil
war with an additional grade has been
adopted, and several of his former col
leagues In the War Department have been
retired with the rank Of major general.
Secretary Roots Recommendation.
Secretary Root, in January, 1904. for
warded communication to the chairman
of the military committee of the House
recommending the revival Of the bill which
that committee reported favorably in 1902
The medical profession throughout the
United States, as represented by the Amer
lean Medical Association, has earnestly
commended Gen. Sternberg for the rank of
major general.