The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-10-08
QUESTION OF RANK
BEFORE SURGEONS
Regulations and Parliamen-
tary Law Involved in
Tangle,

The question OF rank. army and navy
regulations. and parliamentary law
started tangle that threatened to in
volve all OF the members OF the Asso-
cistion or Military Surgeons at the final
meeting OF their annual convention this
morning.
It came about toward the end of the
meeting. Under authority from the ex-
ecutive council Surgeon General RiKey
was appointing special committee TO
look after tEc foi mutation of certain
amendments to the constitution and by
laws. The resolution TO this effect had
been presented by Lieut. Col Walter
!, Il. McCaw. T. s A. Ii was accepted
BY the council In naming the Commit
tee Admiral Rixey appointed Lieutenant
Colonel McCaw. Medical Director J. c.
Wise, L. s. n, Assistant Surgeon Cen
eral Cofer OF the Marine Hospi'a Ser
vice, Major r. a. Foster. of the Dis
trict National Guard. and Surgeon More
hart. OF the District Naval Battalion.
in the order named.
The resolution WAS about to be voted
or when Medical Director Wise. whose /
relative rank is that Of a captain in |
the navy, corresponding TO a colonel ia |
the army. asked that cognizance be /
taken Of seniority Of rank in the ap- I
pointment of chairmen Of committees. !
He said he felt sure the regulations Of
the army and navy should apply To
the formation Of all committees or
boards. and that the seniors should he
chairmen. Major Charles Lynch, l.. S. !
A. objected to any change being made
in the way Of appointing committees
He declared the association was not
governed by the regulations Of the
army and navy. but was body Of pri-
vate citizens. Following This rule Ad-
mirsl RiXey had made Lieutenantj
Colonel McCaw chairman OF the COM
mittee Medical Director Wise objected /
70 such proposition. The QUESTION OF
appointing chairmen by seniority was
finally put in the form Of a resolution (
and on being put TO vote parliamentary
law beSt out the army and navS regtl-
lations by so large a majority that the
presiding officer did not take the
trouble TO count It. DR.. Wise then asked
10 be relieved from duty on the COM
nittee- and Surgeon G. +. Stokes was
appointed
The business OF Inducing the new
president into office. Col. Joseph X !
Weaver OF Pennsylvania was then |
taken up and the combatants of a
few moments before were friends
gain
The paIers read before the associa-
ton this morning dealt with the !
work OF the Marine Hospital Service
surgeon g p Mertenba ker and Sur 4.
geon g. h. Young read essays on va
rious questions arising in public
health work After the discussion |
the mem beTs of the association were |
escorted 20 the hygienic laboratory OF |
Surgeon General " yman's bureau and 4
demonstration of the work in each
OF the departments was given. Surgeon !
John r. Anderson, who has Just been an
pointed director Of the laboratory. re-
ceiVed the delegates and conducted
them through the building. DR. Ander-
son explained the methods and system I
employed. and was highly complimented
on the condition IN which the building
and appliances were found
This afternoon the members OF the as
ISOLATION are the guests OF Surgeon Cen
eral Wymsn on the revenue cutter
Apache.
The banquet last evening was one Of
the most brilliant affairs in the history
military surgeons from everv
section Of the wOrld occupied seats |
about the Handsomely decorated tables
surg. Cen p N. Rixey. L. s y, re-
turing president Of the association, pre-
sided and Medical Director J. G. Wise !
I. :. n. vas POSTMASTER. J.,
Lieut.. Gen Sir Alfred KeOgh director
general Of the medical department OF
the Briush army. made the principal
address Of the evening. General KeOrh
congratulated the United States Gov
eminent on the advantage IL gained
through the work OF the association.
He said the organization was more than
= local ana4r-it Is international he de- !
clared. and its existence meant much /,
Lot only 10 the general Improvement Of
me services its members represent. but
in the promotion or the worlds peace /
he thanked the association for the in
receiving him into membership. and de