The Delawarean., 1900-05-16
kENNEY Gets
VETERINARIANS.
His Bill to Provide rIedicsI Corps
for Army Horses.
ADMINISTRATION OPPOSED BILL.
Supplies Veterinary Staff for Each
Army and Fixes Pay.--Would
Have Saved Hundreds of Ar
tillery Horses in Florida.

On Friday, May A, Senator R. R.
Kenney had called up and passed by
the United States Senate measure to
which he had given much personal eff
fort. 1t establishes veterinary corps
for the army with officers ranking from
colonel down, and makes the corps eff
fective and recognized. The Delaware
Senator had heavy ollds to contend
against, the Administration and Secre-
tary of War being against it, and the
committee having even reported un-
favorably, but he won out and the press
of the country as we'll as leading mill
tary men heartily endorse the measure
as one of great import, and of much
benefit to the service.
Mr.. Kenney's amendment to the
Army bill which establishes the corps
is as follows:
"That the Veterinary Corps shall
consist Of
"A chief veterinarian with the rank,
pay, and allowances of a colonel Unit
ed States Army.
can assistant chief veterinarian with
the rank, pay, and allowances of a
major United States Army, to be pro-
NOTED in 1905. after competitive satis-
factory examination, from the grade
of veterinarian and captain.
"Four veterinarians with the rank,
pay, and allowances of captain of cav
airy, to be promoted in 1908, after COM
petitive satisfactory examination, from
the grade of assistant veterinarian and
first lieutenant.
"Ten assistant veterinarians with
the rank, pay, and allowances of a first
lieutenant of cavalry, to be promoted,
after satisfactory examination, from
the grade os assistant veterinarian and
second lieutenant after one years SER
vice in this grade.
Twenty assistant veterinarians with
the rank, pay, and allowances of a Sec
ond lieutenant of cavalry, to be ap-
pointed after satisfactory examination:
Provided, That these twenty positions
shall include the veterinarians, first
class, provided for in the act of March
2, 1S99 who have passed satisfactory
examinations, and also the six veteri-
narians, second class, who are now en-
ployed in the Army under said act of
March 2, 1899
''Al rules and regulations governing
the Veterinary Corps shall be made by
the Secretary of War, and the chief
veterinarian shall report directly to
that officer.
''For pay of officers of the Veterinary
Corps, $SS,5OO."
Addressing the Senate Mr. Kenney
said:
Mr.. President, shall not detain the
Senate at any length by remarks on the
amendment which / have just offered.
In any scheme for the reorganization
OF the Army of the United States there
is no question that desires more con-
sideration than does that of a properly
organized and commissioned veterinary
corps. This country is alone in all the
world in maintaining "a great army
without properly organized and COM
missioned veterinary corps. In our
Army to-day veterinarians are nothing
more than civilized employees, hired
from day to day, without any respon-
sibiIity, and practically without au-
thority.
The amendment which has just been
read would increase the expense neces-
sary TO that corps over what lis to-day
being expended for the civilian service
not more than $4,000, while 1T would
give to the service corps commission
ed and with ALL the responsibilities and
with all the powers that go to COM
missioned officers.
fail to understand what legitimate
objection can be urged to the substi-
tuition in the Army of the United States
OF corps like the one proposed by the
amendment just read for that which
to-day obtains in our service.
Am amendment offered by me to the
Army appropriation bill and also one
offered Ito the bill introduced by the
distinguished Senator from Con-
necticut QMr. Hawley) went to the
Committee on Military Affairs, but had
MO consideration, as 4 understand. /
now propose this amendment to this
bill, which, understand, is for the
reorganization of the Army and for the
betterment of the service. II its title
means anything, then there is NO
branch or arm of the service THAT needs