66 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
Mr. Satmon. We have not been doing it, but we ought to do it. 
Mr. Wricut. The owner gets no remuneration in that case? 
Mr. Satmon. If we condemned horses we would have to remunerate 
the owner, because the Government can not take property without 
compensation. aa : , 
Mr. Grarr. In condemning them, the condition of the animals is 
taken into consideration in measuring their value? 
Mr. Satmon. Oh, yes. ; 
The Cuatrman. We will take a recess now until 2 o’clock, when 
Professor Whitney, of the Bureau of Soils, will be here, and we will 
hear him. 
Mr. Scorr. Mr. Chairman, I want to make this inquiry, on my own 
account largely: While I ought to attend all these meetings, and will 
do so so far as I possibly can, yet I should not like to feel as if the 
committee is not able to go on unless [am here. There are only at 
the very first meeting 10 members of the committee, and it occurred 
to me that it might be a very good idea for the committee to take 
action providing that a less number than a majority might constitute 
a quorum for the purposes of these hearings. 
The Cuarrman. I propose to go on with these hearings every day, 
with the earnest hope that the members will be here, but if they are 
not here I will go on with them. Ido not want you gentlemen to feel 
that we can go on without you. By proceeding every day, we can get 
through with the bill ina week. We will meet at half past 10 and sit 
until 12, giving an hour and a half to one of the Bureau chiefs, and 
then meet at 2 o’clock and sit an hour and a half or two hours in the 
afternoon. That will give us from 12 until 2 for lunch and to take 
care of the few things that may come up. 
The subcommittee (at 12 o’clock m.) took a recess until 2 o’clock p. m. 
AFTER RECESS. 
The subcommittee reassembled at the expiration of the recess, Hon. 
J. W. Wadsworth in the chair. 
BUREAU OF SOILS. 
The Cuarrman. Gentlemen, Professor Whitney, the chief of the 
Bureau of Soils, whom we asked to come before us to explain his items, 
is here. 
STATEMENT OF MILTON WHITNEY, CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF 
SOILS. 
Tbe Cuartrman. Doctor, we will take up your salery list in the first 
place. Is that first item on the top of page i8 of the printed bill, ‘“‘two 
scientists, at $1,200 each,” an increase? ; 
Mr. beaks No, sir. 
The Cuartrman. Your first increase is one draftsma 
Mr. Wuityey. One draftsman; yes, sir Seen 
The CHarrman. And one draftsman at $1,000? That is an increase 
of 2. Now, tell us first what is the need of the 2 extra draftsmen? 
Who has been doing that work heretofore? 
