The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-07
OPPOSED BY MR.. ROOT.
4 Corps OF Veterinarians Not Want
ed in the Army.

The military authorities are concerned
over the proposed amendment to the
Army bill to create corps of yeteri-
narians. Secretary Root believes the
amendment 10 be bad, although he is not
opposed to having provision made for CIV
ing rank to veterinarians in the military
service He has sent a protest against
the amendment to Senator Hawley, Chair
man of the Committee on Military At
fairs. It is evident that army officers Re
ieve that powerful influence is being
brought TO bear on Senators by those be
hind the measure, and an officer of high
rank said yesterday that the situation
presents features new and startling 20
lhose longest experienced in legislation"
Secretary Root recently received let
ter from Claude d. Morris. Y. s, OF Bing-
hamton. " Y Secretary of the New York
state Veterinary Medical Society, in
which he said that the profession at
large is not at heart asking for the en-
actraent of this measure lie said that
veterinaries all over the country had
been advised by those who were fajhering
the scheme to urge il on Congress. DR..
Morris intimated in the letter thar DR..
Huidekoper, of Pennsylvania. who served
in the war with Spain. attended a meet
ing of the New York society presumably
TO enlist support for the amendment but
found that there was opposition to it, and
no doubt considered that no endorsement
from the society vas safer ;han an ad-
verse resolution"
In transmitting Or. Morris letter to
Chairman Hawley, Secretary Root wrote
the following communication.
sir: I send YOU herewith q copy OF a letter
lust received by me from the Secretary OF the
New York Veterinary Medical society. commend
ing the position taken by this department in re-
gard to the proposal 20 create veterinary corps
in the army.
Let me also recall 70 your attention the paper
which / left with your committee time
since signed by a number Of the chief yeteri-
narians in the service, taking substantially
! the position. Let restate the position
] in order that there may be no misunderstanding:
This DEF artmcnt is not opposed 10 suitable rec
Ognition Of veterinarians. II has no serious oh
Z lection 10 giving them military rank although
do not think il IS wise coursc 10 give military
rank to civilian employees.
What ] do object to is the creation Of a new
I corps with a colonel ar the head reporting
! directly 10 the Secretary Of War. and thus nee
cssarily creating a new bureau in the War De
pagtment and . body Of officers who. CGmmuui-
eating directly with the Secretary Of War through
their chief. are necessarily independent Of the
commanding officers Of the cavalry regiments and
/ the horse artillery organizations. one of the
recognized defects Of our present army Organi@l-
tinn is that Of slitlhl" command and division
Of duties and responsibilities between the Of
Gccrs commanding troops and territorial depart
Incnts on The one hand and staff officers respon-
siblc to d head iu Washington the other
/ The result is that If is impossible 10 FIX re-
spoiisibility ior any failure 90 remedy defects
OF abuses The proposed organization OF vet
ciinsry corps is but anutue. step lu The wrong
direction and VIII increase Tie evils which ought
20 be TgWedifd.
IIIe general officer in command Of troop- ought
TO be able to mold the oficcfs OF tie cavalry and
artillery regiments responsible for having teir
Orsanizat ion ready for active and efficient duty
at al times il the horses OF these orgsuiza ion
are under the charge OF a veterinary corps, with
the chief reporting to the Secretary Of War there
can be no such responsibility. Give the yeteri-
narians rank if you want TO, but / most car
nestIy urge that you do not impose upon Us an
other bureau Of the War Department, another
independent corps, another element Of disintc-
grafton divided responsibility, and consequent
incificcncy.
Very respectfully
ELIHU ROOT. Secretary of War