William Clarence Braisted to Josephus Daniels
Title
William Clarence Braisted to Josephus Daniels
Creator
Braisted, William C. (William Clarence), 1864-1941
Identifier
WWP16050
Date
1919 October 28
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
(Copy)
PFD MIC P-1242022
MEMORANDUM ON THE DRARROW BILL FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
1. This bill does not create a new Corps but simply adds commissioned grades to the present Corps. The Hospital Corps, as it is at present constituted, is the only Corps of the Navy whose members are denied commissions along the lines of their previous education and training.
2. The need for commissioned personnel of this type has been amply demonstrated during the present war by the efficient work of temporarily commissioned warrant pharmacists. These men as Temporary Lieutenants occupied responsible positions which relieve medical officers for their more distinctly professional duties in the service.
3. The highest rank in the Hospital Corps as it is at present constituted is Chief Warrant Officer. Member of other branches of the service, as the clerical branch (yeomen) may be promoted to Pay Clerk and from there to Paymaster. Not only is this a possibility but it is the present policy of the Department to obtain Supply Officers from the warrant grade of Pay clerk. The enlisted personnel of the Line may be promoted to warrant rank and from there qualify for commissions along the lines of their previous education and training. No such opportunity is possible to members of the Hospital Corps.
4. The principles of the Darrow Bill are sound, logical, fair and along the lines of the policy of the Secretary of the Navy in allowing enlisted men to qualify for commissions.
5. The present Secretary of the Navy and Surgeon General, have previously, by legislative measures equalized the enlisted ratings of the Hospital Corps with those of other enlisted men, which was of material aid to the enlisted men of the Hospital Corps. The next step in equalizing the Hospital Corps is to give the chance provided by the Darrow Bill for qualifying for commissions along the lines of their previous education and training.
6. Attached hereto is a parallel table showing the enlisted ratings of the Hospital Corps and those of the Line, with Warrant Officers and Commissioned Officers of the Line, which shows that the Hospital Corps stops at Warrant Officer.
PFD MIC P-1242022
MEMORANDUM ON THE DRARROW BILL FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
1. This bill does not create a new Corps but simply adds commissioned grades to the present Corps. The Hospital Corps, as it is at present constituted, is the only Corps of the Navy whose members are denied commissions along the lines of their previous education and training.
2. The need for commissioned personnel of this type has been amply demonstrated during the present war by the efficient work of temporarily commissioned warrant pharmacists. These men as Temporary Lieutenants occupied responsible positions which relieve medical officers for their more distinctly professional duties in the service.
3. The highest rank in the Hospital Corps as it is at present constituted is Chief Warrant Officer. Member of other branches of the service, as the clerical branch (yeomen) may be promoted to Pay Clerk and from there to Paymaster. Not only is this a possibility but it is the present policy of the Department to obtain Supply Officers from the warrant grade of Pay clerk. The enlisted personnel of the Line may be promoted to warrant rank and from there qualify for commissions along the lines of their previous education and training. No such opportunity is possible to members of the Hospital Corps.
4. The principles of the Darrow Bill are sound, logical, fair and along the lines of the policy of the Secretary of the Navy in allowing enlisted men to qualify for commissions.
5. The present Secretary of the Navy and Surgeon General, have previously, by legislative measures equalized the enlisted ratings of the Hospital Corps with those of other enlisted men, which was of material aid to the enlisted men of the Hospital Corps. The next step in equalizing the Hospital Corps is to give the chance provided by the Darrow Bill for qualifying for commissions along the lines of their previous education and training.
6. Attached hereto is a parallel table showing the enlisted ratings of the Hospital Corps and those of the Line, with Warrant Officers and Commissioned Officers of the Line, which shows that the Hospital Corps stops at Warrant Officer.
Original Format
Letter
To
Daniels, Josephus, 1862-1948
Files
Collection
Citation
Braisted, William C. (William Clarence), 1864-1941, “William Clarence Braisted to Josephus Daniels,” 1919 October 28, WWP16050, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.