Chapter 311. to organize the Hospital Corps of the Army of the United States, to define its duty and fix its pay
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CHAP. 311.— An Act to organize the Hospital Corps of the Army of the United States, to define its duty and fix its pay.March 1, 1887. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Hospital Corps of the Army.Established. That the Hospital Corps of the United States Army shall consist of hospital stewards, acting hospital stewards, and privates; and all necessary hospital services in garrison, camp, or field (including ambulance service) shall be performed by the members thereof, who shall be regularly enlisted in the military service; said Corps shall be permanently attached to the.
Medical Department,Attached to Medical Department. and shall not be included in the effective strength of the Army nor: counted as a part of the enlisted force provided by law. Sec. 2. That the Secretary of War is empowered to appoint as manyHospital stewards to be appointed. hospital stewards as, in his judgment, the service may require; but not more than one hospital steward shall be stationed at any poster place without special authority of the Secretary of War. Sec. 3. That the pay of hospital stewards shall be forty-five dollarsPay. per month, with the increase on account of length of service as is now or may hereafter be allowed by law to other enlisted men.
They shall have rank with ordnance-sergeants and be entitled to all the allowancesRank. appertaining to that grade. Sec. 4. That no person shall be appointed a hospital steward unlessExamination. he shall have passed a satisfactory examination before a board of one or more medical officers as to his qualifications for the position, and demonstrated his fitness therefor by service of not less than twelve months as acting hospital steward; and no person shall be designated for such examination except by written authority of the Surgeon-General.
Sec. 5. That the Secretary of War is empowered to enlist, or causeEnlistment of privates. to be enlisted, as many privates of the Hospital Corps as the service may require, and to limit or fix the number, and make such regulations for their government as may be necessary; and any enlisted man in the Army shall be eligible for transfer to the Hospital Corps as a private. They shall perform duty as ward-masters, cooks, nurses, and attendants in hospitals, and as stretcher-bearers, litter bearers, and ambulance attendantsDuties. in the field, and such other duties as may by proper authority be required of them.
Sec. 6. That the pay of privates of the Hospital Corps shall bePay. thirteen dollars per month, with the increase on account of length of service as is now or may hereafter be allowed by law to other enlisted men; they shall be entitled to the same allowances as a corporal of theRank. arm of service with which on duty. Sec. 7. That privates of the Hospital Corps may be detailed as actingDetails as acting hospital stewards. hospital stewards by the Secretary of War, upon the recommendation of the Surgeon-General, whenever the necessities of the service require it; 436 and while so detailed their pay shall be twenty-five dollars per month, with increase as above stated.
Acting hospital stewards, when educated in the duties of the position, may be eligible for examination for appointment as hospital stewards as above provided. Sec. 8. That all acts and parts of acts in so far as they contravene[R. S., secs. 1179, 1180–1181, p. 211](/us/rs/t/s1179/1180–1181/p211). the provisions of this act are hereby repealed. Approved, March 1, 1887.