US SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

1. Civil surgeons appointed by the Commissioner of Pensions under sec. 4777 of the Revised Statutes are not officers of the United States.

2. The Commissioner of Pensions is not the head of a department within the meaning of sec. 2, art. 2, of the Constitution, prescribing by whom officers of the United States shall be appointed.

3. The present case distinguished from United States v. Hartwell, 6 Wall. 385.

The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.