ARMY VETERINARY LEGISLATION. 
777 
of death and disease among the horses there. It is an old saw 
that every man’s business is nobody’s business, and if you want 
the horses and mules of the Army to be taken care of—if you 
think they are worth taking care of, as I certainly do—it is ab¬ 
solutely necessary to have a bureau to take charge of this sub¬ 
ject, with a competent head, and with persons under him quali¬ 
fied for the peculiar work. 
There is only one way to get men who are properly qualified 
to take charge of horses or to give general directions for that 
purpose, and that is by giving qualified men rank in our Army. 
It requires educated men to take care of horses. Perhaps just 
as much education is required in this line as in taking care of 
men. And, as I have just said, the only way to secure proper 
service in this line is to give rank to the officers who have 
charge of such work. It must be a badge of honor. I am not 
only pleased to vote for this proposition, but I think it is the 
duty of every member, especially as the expense of the proposed 
amendment, is certainly not great—though if it were five times 
as much I should favor it—I believe it to be the duty of every 
man who has at heart the creation of an efficient Army to vote 
for this provision. 
Mr. Bit tier. Mr. Chairman, I desire to say one word -in 
favor of the most faithful animal that ever moved a foot or 
served a master. I would go further than the present proposi¬ 
tion ; I would require, if I had the power, that these veterinary 
surgeons should go into places of danger to attend and treat 
horses, in the same way that a medical officer is required to go 
on the field of battle under the present regulations. I think 
this regulation will overcome the distinction made by the gen¬ 
tleman from Wyoming in answer to a question which I put to 
him a few moments ago. 
Mr. Steele. Mr. Chairman, it has been staged bv the gen¬ 
tleman from Pennsylvania that the total cost of this service, in 
the pay of the officers provided, would be $33,500. I find by 
looking at the pay table that a colonel who has just entered the 
service is entitled to $3500 ; and this bill provides for 1 colonel. 
A major (one such officer being provided by this bill) receives 
as pay proper $2500, allowing nothing for longevity service. 
Then the amendment provides for 4 captains, the pay of whom 
would be $2000 each, without any additional allowances, 
amounting to $8000. Then there are to be 10 first lieuten¬ 
ants, at $2000 (saying nothing of allowances), making $20,000. 
Then there are 20 second lieutenants at $1500 each (taking 
