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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1782.
On a report of the Secretary at war, to whom was referred a memorial of Dr. Glentworth and others:
Resolved, That it be, and hereby is recommended to the State of Pensylvania, to settle the balance of pay and depreciation due to Doctors G. Glentworth, W. Smith, J. Fallon, S. Duffield and S. Halling, late physicians and surgeons in the general hospital, on the same principles they settled with the other physicians and surgeons of the army, citizens of that State.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 63. So far as Halling is concerned it superseded the following resolution sent to Congress by the Secretary at War December 18:
Resolved, That the Comptroller be and he is hereby directed to adjust the accounts of Doctor Halling for pay and depreciation on the same principles as the accounts of Doctor Allison were settled. This resolution is on folio 53.]
An Ordinance amending the Ordinance ascertaining what captures on water shall be lawful, was read a first time.
Ordered, That Monday next be assigned for the second reading.
Ordered, That Wednesday next be assigned for the second reading of An Ordinance establishing courts for receiving and determining finally appeals in all cases of captures, and An Ordinance regulating inferior courts of admiralty in certain cases.
On a report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell and Mr. [Isaac] Motte, to whom was referred an arrangement of the medical department:
The Committee to whom was referred the ordinance respecting the Hospital Department, beg leave to report--
That they have considered the same, and are of opinion that any ordinance for a new establishment of the hospital, [on] the plan proposed, is unnecessary and at this time for many considerations improper they have therefore returned the same in the manner they received it.--Your Committee are nevertheless of opinion that sundry alterations and amendments are necessary to be made to the
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plan for conducting the General Hospital, passed on the 30th day of September, 1780, and accordingly have herewith submitted such alterations and amendments for the consideration of Congress, in case they shall be of opinion with the Committee, that a new regulation of the Hospital by an Ordinance is at this time unnecessary or improper.--
Resolved, That for the more regular conducting the general hospital, the offices of chief physician and surgeon of the army, and of chief hospital physician, be, and hereby are abolished; and that the chief physician and surgeon to the army, eldest in appointment, be continued in service, under the title of physician, with the pay and emoluments heretofore allowed to a chief hospital physician:
That the number of surgeons to all the military hospitals of the United States, be reduced so as not to exceed fifteen:
That the director have the general superintendance and direction of all the military hospitals, and of practice both in camp and in hospitals:
That in the absence of the director, his duty devolve on the deputy director or physician, and in their absence on the hospital surgeons, according to seniority:
That the director, or in his absence the senior medical officer, with the approbation of the Commander in Chief, or commanding general of a seperate army, be, and hereby is authorised and empowered, as often as may be judged necessary, to call a medical board, which shall consist of the three senior medical officers then present; and it shall be the duty of such board to appoint all hospital mates, to examine all candidates for promotion in the hospital department, and recommend to the Secretary at War such as they judge best qualified; and generally to take cognizance of, and give their opinion and advice on every matter relative to the department, which may be submitted to them by the Commander in Chief, or commanding general of a seperate army: provided always, that no regulation, plan or order of the board, shall be valid and take effect, until approved by the
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Commander in Chief, or commanding general of a seperate army, and issued in general orders:
That all returns heretofore ordered to be made by the director or deputy director, to the medical committee, be made to the Secretary at War:
That the stewards may, in the first instance, when the purveyor or his assistant is at a distance, be appointed by the director or senior medical officer, but shall be removeable at pleasure, and others substituted in their stead, by the purveyor or his assistant. And although in their purchases and issues, they are to obey the order of the prescribing surgeons, yet for the faithful discharge of their duty, they are to be accountable to the purveyor, who shall in like manner be accountable to the United States. Wherefore, the said stewards shall keep seperate accounts of all they receive, and of what they themselves purchase; and shall render an account monthly of all their issues, with their stock on hand, to the purveyor, who shall render the said accounts, together with a particular account of the supplies furnished by himself or his assistants to each respective hospital, once every three months to the Superintendant of finance:
That the Secretary at War be, and he is hereby empowered and directed, on or before the first day of February next, and hereafter, from time to time, as the service may require, to arrange the department agreeably to the foregoing resolutions, and to issue his orders to such as he thinks proper to remain, paying a due regard in his first arrangement to such of the chief physicians and surgeons as may choose to continue in service in the rank of surgeons, and in his subsequent arrangements to such of the senior officers as may choose to remain in service:
That such of the officers as shall not be called into service agreeably to the foregoing resolution, be considered as reduced by Congress, and be entitled to the emoluments granted by the Act of Congress of the 17 January, 1781:
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That when by reason of vacancies or otherwise, any officer hereafter to be appointed in the hospital department, and whose appointment is reserved to Congress, it shall be the duty of the secretary at war to recommend the person or persons best qualified, provided that, in the recommendations for director, deputy director and physician due regard be paid to the officers next in rank; and that the appointment of hospital surgeons be from among the regimental surgeons and hospital mates: provided that no regimental surgeon shall be so appointed, who shall not have submitted himself to an examination by the medical board, and obtained from them a certificate that he is well qualified for the office of regimental surgeon, by which certificate the regimental surgeon shall be considered as superior in rank to an hospital mate, but not otherwise.
Resolved, That the director, deputy director, physician, surgeons and mates, as well hospital as regimental, receive their pay out of the military chest, at the same time and in the same manner as the army with which they serve; the abstracts to be signed by the director, deputy director or physician, or in their absence by the senior hospital surgeon; and the warrants to issue in the same manner as for the pay of the army.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folios 43 and 63. The paragraphs preceding the resolutions are in Abraham Clark's writing, the rest is in that of Charles Thomson.]
[Report of Committee of the Week, Mr. Oliver Wolcott, Mr. Henry Wynkoop, Mr. Silas Condict]
The Committee of the Week Report,
That so much of the letter of John Reynolds late Agent Clothier as respects the taking the Clothing belonging to the United States out of his hand, by an order of the Council of War of the State of Rhode Island, be referred to the Secretary of War.--And that the other part of his Letter which respects his accts against the United States be referred to the Superintendant of Finance.
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That the letter of Jeremiah Wadsworth respecting the accounts of the late Colo Aylett Deputy Commissary of Purchases be referred to the Superintendant of Finance.
That the Letter of John Fallon and his associates Iron Masters in the State of Pennsylvania respecting their debt due to them from the United States be referred to the Superintendent of Finance.
That the Memorial of Francis Hagan late Surgeon in the Hospitals respecting his pay be referred to the Secretary of War.
Jany 3rd 1782.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Oliver Wolcott, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 303. It was agreed to on this day, as the indorsement states.]
The Committee of the Week [Mr. Oliver Wolcott, Mr. Henry Wynkoop, Mr. Silas Condict] Report,
That the application of the Chevalier de Seguond, late Captain in Count de Pulaski's Legion, relative to some honourable Testimonial of his Services, and also respecting his pay, be referred to the Secretary at War.
January 3d., 1782.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Oliver Wolcott, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 301.]
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