Chapter 167. To provide for recognizing the services of certain officers of the Army, Navy, and Public Health Service for their services in connection with the construction of the Panama Canal, to extend to certain of such officers the thanks of Congress, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 167.— An Act To provide for recognizing the services of certain officers of the Army, Navy, and Public Health Service for their services in connection with the construction of the Panama Canal, to extend to certain of such officers the thanks of Congress, and for other purposes. March 4, 1915.[[H. R. 16510](/us/bill/63/hr/16510).][[Public, No. 316](/us/pl/63/316).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Isthmian Canal Commission.
That the thanks of Congress1191 are hereby extended to the following officers of the Army and NavyThanks of Congress to specified Army and Navy officers serving on. of the United States who, as members of the late Isthmian Canal Commission, have rendered distinguished service in constructing the Panama Canal, to wit: Colonel George W. Goethals, chairman and chief engineer; Brigadier General William C. Gorgas, sanitary expert; Colonel IL F. Hodges, Lieutenant Colonel William L.
Sibert, and Commander H. H. Rousseau. Sec. 2. That the President is hereby authorized, by and with theIncreased rank authorized. advice and consent of the Senate, to advance in rank Colonel George W. Goethals to the grade of major general of the line, United States Army; Brigadier General William C. Gorgas to the rank of major general in the Medical Department, United States Army; Colonel H. F. Hodges and Lieutenant Colonel William L. Sibert to the grade of brigadier general of the line, United States Army: and Commander H.
IL Rousseau to the grade of rear admiral of the lower Nine, United States Navy. Sec. 3. That such officers of the Army and Navy as were detailedOfficers detailed on Isthmus three years advanced one grade when retired. for duty with the Isthmian Canal Commission on the Isthmus of Panama for more than three years, and who shall not have been advanced in rank by any other provision of this bill, shall be advanced one grade in rank upon retirement: *Provided*, That any officer*Proviso*.Officers now retired included. of the Army or Navy now on the retired list with similar service shall be immediately advanced one grade in rank on the retired list of the Army or Navy.
Sec. 4. That the President is further authorized, by and with thePublic Health Service.Officers detailed three years advanced one grade. advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint such officers of the Public Health Service as were detailed for duty with the Isthmian Canal Commission on the Isthmus of Panama for more than three years to the grade next above that at present held by such officers. Sec. 5. That the numbers in such grades provided for in sectionsTemporary increase in grades. two and four of this Act, except where vacancies occurring in any grade by the provisions of this Act can be filled by such officers in a lower grade as are entitled to the benefits of this Act, shall be temporarily increased during the time such offices may be held: *Provided*,*Provisos*.Medical Department.Suspension of detail restriction for major general as head of.Vol. 31, p. 755.
That the officer who may be advanced and appointed major general in the Medical Department, United States Army, shall thereupon become the head of such department, and the operation of so much of section twenty-six of the Act of February second, nineteen hundred and one, as limits the term of office of the head of the Medical Department, United States Army, shall be suspended during the incumbency of the head of the department who may be appointed under this Act: *Provided*, That whenever the head of the Medical DepartmentRank restored to brigadier general. appointed under the provisions of this Act shall become separated from the active list of the Army, by retirement or otherwise, the extra office or grade to which he shall have been so advanced or appointed shall cease and determine, and thereafter the rank of the head of the Medical Department, United States Army, shall be that of a brigadier general: *Provided further*, That nothing in this ActPromotions not affected. shall operate to interfere with or retard the promotion to which any officer would be entitled under existing law: *And provided further*,Status of officers advanced.
That the officers advanced to higher grades under this Act shall be junior to the officers who now rank them under existing law when these officers have reached the same grade. Sec. 6. That at any time after the passage of this Act any officer ofRetirement authorized. the Army or Navy to be benefited by the provisions of this Act may, on his own application, be retired by the President at seventy-five per centum of the pay of the rank upon which he is retired. Approved, March 4, 1915.