480 
EDITORIAL. 
vantage of would interfere with the rights of other graduates from other colleges 
equally good if not better. 
It may be claimed that their men knowing the wants of the Bureau could 
train their men better for special work. I should say that this would be further 
infringement of private rights, it would also tend to narrowness of views in 
graduates of the proposed college and a deterioration of the profession. Thai 
the professors of a veterinary school, not a government school, should have such 
an immense patronage derived from the Government as officers of the most 
powerful Bureau of the Agricultural Department is of itself an inducement tc 
students to attend. Add to this a short course when other schools are preparing 
to raise their standard, and there is attained the combination of short time grad¬ 
uation with the strongest possibility of an appointment in government service 
accompanying the diploma. 
The mere fact that such things might be is, in my opinion, to effect: that 
not only should the men designing such a step look very carefully into its 
results and the appearance it may present to those of the profession on the out¬ 
side, but the Secretary of Agriculture also should investigate the apparently, 
harmless move which gains strength from the fact that men of high standing ic, 
the Bureau are its promulgators inevitably linking the fair name of the Depart¬ 
ment with their destinies whether the business be conducted fairly or not. 
That the veterinary profession should take every interest in either promot-| 
ing the enterprise as an additional educational institution for the welfare of th(, 
profession, or in opposing it as being founded against the best interests of th( 
people and the profession follows without saying. 
It must be remembered, sir, that I write this without reference to th( 
integrity of any of the promoters of the scheme proposed, for among the Bur 
eau are men whom I esteem my best of friends. » It is simply as an institutior 
that I write of it, judging that its originators merely misjudged the effect that 
the creation of a new veterinary school under their auspices would product 
upon the public. 
Is there not something behind all this which is suggestive ? Unless we wist 
to ascribe the motives of the proposed faculty as benevolent we must believt 
them mercenary. It is true that many government employees living in Washing 
ton feel the stress of the normal living expenses upon their salaries, and to pre 
pare for the rainy day embark into one or another enterprise to add to theii 
income. 
It is also true that members of the Bureau are paid comparatively low ai 
compared with other departments of service, and as compared with professiona 
men of equal attainments in other walks of civil life. It is, moreover, true tha 
various colleges of Washington draw upon the various branches of the govern 
ment for many of their professors. 
Have not the promoters of this enterprise plenty of precedence for theii 
action, and an added stimulus in the fact of insufficient salaries ? 
Is not the remedy for the Department of Agriculture in employing its mer 
to pay them amply for professional services, and exact of them that they shal 
expend their strength and energies in the work, and above all not engage in en 
terprises which may involve the good name and the patronage of the Depart 
ment. 
