Federal File: Nomination imminent?; By my count; Criticized camel

America has gone nearly a year without a Surgeon General, but the Clinton administration is nearing a decision on a new nominee for the job.

Administration officials "have several candidates under consideration, and I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a nomination sometime soon," Mike McCurry, the chief spokesman for President Clinton, told reporters at a daily briefing late last month.

The Clinton administration's first surgeon general, Joycelyn Elders, was known for her outspoken comments on such topics as sex education, welfare, and drug legalization--remarks that were a continual source of embarrassment for a White House trying to position itself...