Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July,  19 1 9. 
Hospital  Corps  of  the  Navy. 
453 
H.  R.  4760. 
A  Bill. 
to  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  medical  department  of  the 
United  States  Navy  and  to  improve  the  status  and  effi- 
ciency of  the  Hospital  Corps  of  the  United  States  Navy. 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled,  That  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  is  hereby  authorized  to  appoint  and  com- 
mission, by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  officers 
in  the  Hospital  Corps  of  the  Navy,  in  addition  to  . chief  pharmacists 
and  pharmacists,  at  the  rate  of  one  for  each  two  thousand  of  the 
total  authorized  number  of  officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  Navy 
and  Marine  Corps,  with  ranks  of  lieutenant  commander,  lieutenant 
(junior  grade),  and  ensign,  which  ranks  are  hereby  established,  who 
shall  perform  such  duties  in  the  Hospital  Corps,  as  part  of  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  Navy,  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy.  Original  appointments  to  fill  vacancies 
shall  be  made  in  the  rank  of  ensign,  Hospital  Corps,  United  States 
Navy,  by  selection  from  the  total  number  of  chief  pharmacists  and 
pharmacists,  United  States  Navy,  the  board  of  selection  for  naval 
medical  officers,  whenever  convened,  to  constitute  a  board  for  this 
purpose.  Chief  pharmacists  and  pharmacists,  so  selected,  shall, 
prior  to  promotion  be  required  to  successfully  pass  a  physical, 
mental,  moral,  and  professional  examination  before  medical  and 
professional  examining  boards  appointed  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  and  shall  have  been  recommended  for  appointment  by  such 
board.  Officers  so  appointed  shall,  after  serving  as  ensign,  Hos- 
pital Corps,  United  States  Navy,  for  three  years,  be  eligible  for 
promotion  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant  (junior  grade),  Hospital  Corps, 
United  States  Navy,  and  when  so  promoted  shall  take  rank  and 
precedence  with  officers  of  the  Naval  Medical  Corps  of  the  same 
rank  according  to  the  dates  of  their  respective  commissions,  and 
such  officers  shall  be  eligible  for  advancement  in  rank  in  the  same 
manner  and  under  the  same  conditions  as  officers  of  the  Naval  Med- 
ical Corps  with  or  next  after  whom  they  take  precedence,  and  shall 
receive  the  same  pay  and  allowances  as  officers  of  corresponding 
rank  and  length  of  service  in  the  Naval  Medical  Corps  up  to  and 
including  the  rank  of  lieutenant  commander.    Officers  of  the  rank 
