Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-22
That Officer Ordered Before
Army Retiring Board
TO DETERMINE FITNESS
Capability for Active Duty to Be
Considered.
ACTION OF SECRETARY WRIGHT
Directions Issued by the President.
Col. Stewart Expected Some
Time Next Week.

Col. William F. Stewart Of the Coast
Artillery, who has been exiled at Fort
Grant Ariz., by order of the President
because of alleged "temperamental IN
f1rmities.' which, In the judgment of the
President, unfit him for the command
of troops, has been ordered by Secretary
Wright to appear before the army re-
firing board at Washington barracks to
determine his physical fitness for further
active duty. Secretary Wright acted by
direction Of President Roosevelt. In an
nouncing his action Secretary Wright
said that the board of army surgeons who
had examined Col. Stewart at Fort Hua-
chuca had found his heart action weak
and also had found serious defect in
one eye. The board accordingly recon-
mended that Col. Stewart be not allowed
to take the ninety-mile army test ride
for which he was ordered to Fort Hua-
chuca
Secretary Wright explained that al
though Col. Stewart had been ordered to
appear before the regular army retiring
board at Washington barracks, changes
would be made in the personnel of that
board. so that all the line officers on it
would outrank Col. Stewart.
Personnel of the Board.
The personnel of the army retiring
board as at present constituted is as fol-
lows:
Brig. Gen. William P. Hall, adjutant
general; Lieut. Col. Isaac w. Littell of
the Quartermaster's department, Capt.
James A. Logan, jr., of the commissary
department.; Maj. William II. Arthur OF
the Medical Corps and Maj. Guy l.. Edie
of the Medical Corps.
Since Col Stewart ranks both Lieut..
Col. Littell and Capt. Logan. other Of
ficers will replace them on the board,
which will then consist Of two cOlOnels
senior to Col. Stewart, in addition to
Majs. Arthur and Edie, serving under
the presidency of Brig. Gen. Hall. AL
though Col. Stewart stands No. in the
grade in the Artillery Corps, he is No.
Il in relative rank in the list of colonies.
Col. Stewart will have the right to chal
lenge any member of the board, and, If
the cause is sufficient. the officer will be
excused and another officer detailed.
Sometimes an officer examined for retire
ment has an idea that member of the
board is prejudiced against him or is
not likely to be entirely fair in his treat
ment. No such officer would be per-
mitted to serve on the board. the gov
erning idea being that the entire per-
sonnet of the board shall be entirely inn
May Arrive Next Week.
Prompt acquiescence in the depart
ment's order is expected of Col. Stewart
and he will probably arrive in this city
about the middle of next week and re-
port his readiness for examination. Tn
der the law and the practice of the de-
partment the question whether Col. Stew
art is physically incapacitated for active
duty rests entirely with the retiring board
which examines him. If the board finds
that he is physically and mentally fit for
active duty it will so report, and the
officer will be restored to duty without
further action. If, however, the board
finds that he is physically unfit for active
duty and further that such disability
was incurred in the line of duty, the
President may then transfer him to the
retired list on three-fourths pay. If,
however, the board finds that the disa-
blity was not incurred in the line of
duty. the President may wholly retire the
officer with one years pay.
In case Col Stewart is reported by the
board to be physically capable for active
duty he cannot be retired, except at his
own request, until he reaches the age
of sixty-two, which in Col. Stewards
case will not be until June, 1911.