ARMY VETERINARY DEPARTMENT. 
o.J t 
provements at home and abroad, and can always furnish correct 
and timely information when needed. But the mere idea of a 
chief veterinarian seems to remain abnoxous to the powers that 
be in this department of the U. S. Government. O. S. 
THE RECAST, MODIFIED FORM OF THE ARMY 
VETERINARY BILL FAVORED BY THE MILI¬ 
TARY COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRE¬ 
SENTATIVES. 
We present below a reprint of the recast, modified form of 
the Army Veterinary Bill (H. R. 16843), which is favored by 
the Military Committee of the House of Representatives. Much 
legislation is in the nature of a compromise, and the bill here 
printed is the one which is not only favored by the Military Com¬ 
mittee, but also by the Quartermaster General of the army, who 
approves of the measure in its new form. This is important, 
as the understanding is that all veterinarians of the army will 
be attached to the Quartermaster’s Department. It is too early 
to make too definite statements based upon legislation which is 
still in the making and which has not reached finality. This bill 
may be further modified and, we hope, improved by restoring 
certain parts of the original bill, before the measure reaches the 
President’s hands for approval—that is, in the Senate commit¬ 
tees, on the floor of the Senate, or in the conference between 
representatives of the Senate and House. Nevertheless, some 
of the main features of the recast may be pointed out: 
1. No chief veterinarian is provided for. 
2. Rank and commission of first lieutenant is given, but no 
captaincies. 
3. No specific mention is made of the various offices men¬ 
tioned in Section 1 of the original bill—veterinarians as in¬ 
structors in remount depots, as purchasing officer of veterinary 
supplies—except the number for each part of the service where 
veterinarians will do duty, with the regiments, in the Quarter¬ 
master’s Department, in the Subsistence Department. 
4. Fifteen veterinarians are provided for the Quarter¬ 
master’s Department. A total of 62 veterinarians is called for 
as against 55 in the original bill. 
5. Five years is required in the grade of second lieutenant 
as against three in the original bill. 
