Year: 1879

up tree officers were seen sliding over the bluff into
the river if they didn't at all about the high
price of uniforms the adutant made good time toward
the fort sergeant began throw up breastworks with
his bayonet the major rolled over and groaned In
moment two there whs a puff of smoke, and duh
thud, and the mue--oh where was he? solitary
brute might have been turnirS successfully back
somersaults over the bu only to rest at another finally
with his howtzer at the bottom of the river while the
ball went off toward the fort hit the chimney in the
jors quarters ratng the adobe bricks down into the
parlor and frightening the majors wife into commissions
They do not aude to it now and report of the result
of the experiment sent TO the War Depart
ment


The following is an exact copy Of Mr. Bentleys
Sixty Surgeon Bill


BE enacted By tie Senate and House Of Representatives.
of the United States OF Anefica Ia Congress assembled
That the Commissioner of Pensions shall divide the United
States and Territories into such number of pension dis
rcts he shall deem not exceeding sixty and
designate posts III each OF said districts where the
mission provided for by this act shall attend make
medical and surgical examinations and to collect est-
mouy pension Such posts shall be established
at convenient places in each district having regard
the distribution of population and the convenience of
travel and the commission shall attend at each of said
posts least each year. and wherever practicable


frequent attendance shall be provided for, The
designation of posts for each district with the time of the
attendance OF the commission at each shall be embodied
order orders of the Commissioner of Pensions,
and published in newspaper having general circulation
in the district Whenever any change in the posts the
of attendance therea by the commission made it
shall be published in the


SEC. q That of the pension surgeons and
petent clerk appointed the Pension Office be desig
mated and detailed for the purpose by the Commissioner
of Pensions shall constitute commission in each of said
districts TO make medical and surgical examinations
thorzed by the pension laws and to collect the testimony
pension cases. under the direction of the Commissioner
of Pensions and in pursuance of rules and regulations
prescribed by him. The pension surgeons and clerks who
shall be detailed upon any such commission shall be
thozel to administer oats to claimants their witnesses
and the pensioners who shall appear before them either
of them, and they proceed together separately in
the performance of their duties, the Commissioner of
Pensions shall direct The testimony collected by the
commission in the shall be reduced writing and
subscribed and by the witnesses presence of
the commission some member thereof. When the
claimant shall have produced all the proofs he desires to
furnish the shall be forwarded to the Commissioner
of Pensions for the settlement and adjustment of the
claim If it shall appear to the Commissioner of Pensions
in any that the attendance of claimant his wit
nesses before the commission impossible, would be
extreme hardship the testimony be taken med
ical examination made in such other Com
missioner of Pensions shall prescribe but additional
EXPENSE to the government shall thereby be incurred
And whom in his opinion the interests of the government
requires it, justice will better be subseryed thereby the
Commissioners of Pensions may equle not exceeding


three OF said pension surgeons TO meet together for the
purpose of making medical and surgical examinations of
pensioners and claimants


SEC B. That the Secretary of the Interior shall appoint


to the Pension Office many pension surgeons who have
had not less than five years active in the prac
tce OF medicine and surgery shall be necessary TO carry
out the provisions of this act not exceeding sixty ia
number and when practicable and not inconsistent with
the interests of the service surgeons who have had
perience as Army Navy Surgeons shall be appointed
Such surgeons shall hold their commissions the pleasure
of the Secretary of the Interior and when any vacancy
shall occur by removal death resignation otherwise
the same may be filled by appointment The sal
ary of pension surgeon shall be dollars per annum


SEC. A. The Commissioner of Pensions shall cause to
be examined by surgeon often in two years.
all Invalid pensioners whose disabilities liable TO be-
of less degree than that for which the pension
allowed and he may any invalid pensoner to be
examined by surgeon at such times and often he
shall deem foc the interests of the government If


the medical examination of any invalid pensioner it shall
appear that the disability account of which his pension
allowed is less than the degree pensoned the Com


missioner shall readiust and the pension Justice
may require. In rating pensions, the disability arising


from simple anchyloss of the elbow shall be the standard
of total disability, upon the basis OF rank.


SEQ 8. If after pension has been allowed the Com
missioner of Pensions shall suspect that the has been
procured through fraud misrepresentation for any
other is of opinion that it ought not to continue he
the payment thereof to be suspended and
suspension he shall the to be investigated by
the members of the commission for that district by
clerk detailed TO assist them and he shall suspect that
d fraud the m