The Washington herald., 1916-04-30
WOULD EXTEND
REMOUNT PLAN
Senatar Pittman Wants
100000 Appropriated for
Breeding Army Horses.
GOOD STEEDS LACKING
iOf 24.000.0O0 Animals in U. S. Less
Than 225.000 Are Suitable
for Military Service.
By JOSEPH p. ANNIN.

With a view to improving the breed Of
throughout the country. Senator Pitt
man. OF Nevada, has introduced an
amendment TO be proposed 20 the agri-
cultural appropriation bill calling for an
immediate appropriation Of $4,000 for
the extension Of the so-caIled army re-
mount system.
OF the 4OOO.0o0 horses in the United
States, less than 1900 would be suitable
for military service II the United States
should become embroiled with foreign
power, and there is no reason 70 believe
that any large number Of these could be
easily purchased for military purposes.
A few months after the commencement
| OF hostilities, the cavalry field artil-
| lery and stan officers Of the army would
begin 70 depend upon half-broken, Ill
trained scrubs. and heavy draft horses
similar 10 those used for extremely heavy
hauling. Thus, the efficiency Of the cav
airy and srtillary would be attacked at
its very keystone, its mobility
These figures have been compiled by
army heads after a census IN which two
| leading bankers in every county in the
United States were asked TO send q list
OF horses suitable for military uses in
their communicable qualifications be
| ing carefully specified. The figures tell
the fun story Of the wocfuI decline Of
that ancient friend OF man-the hose
that carries him. hauls him. tIls for
him, and keeps him company ss his Ia
vorite dog.
Horses Have DeEeBerated.
/ The United States. which produces more
horses than any other country. with the
exception Of Russia, has permitted her
I horses 70 degenerate into a race OF scrubs
| with the exception OF tho heavy draft
( type. And it is the heavy draft type
which the automobile and motor tractor
I is displaCing-not the lighter type now
represented almost exclusively by iII-bred
scrubs
This Is the condition which Il is hoped
legislation at this session will seek 70
improve. Representative Scully. Of New
Jersey, has introduced a bill with similar
provisions. and Senator Pittmsn hopes 10
carry his amendment through on tho
agricultural bill The purpose is TO eN-
4 tend TO the East and West the system
| for improving the breed OF horses which
| has worked so successfully In certain
Southern and New England Ststes Al
| though known ss the army rcmouut sys-
| TEN. the army Is a SECONDARY considers-
| tion. and receives only an incidental beae-
| ht.
Thesresl benefit sccrues to the small
owner OF sound mares, who is unable or
unwilling to afford the eervics OF a PURE
bred stallion standing commercially. In
DER the system which the Pittms n-SCuuy
| bill proposes 10 extend. pure bred staI-
] lions Of various types are loa ned to the
owners Of sound mares. without cost. and
the resultant offspring, II not purchased
! by the government, are at the disposal
/ Of the owner.
Although all other world powers have
found II necessary and wise thus 70 pro
/ tect the breed Of their horses on a large
scale. the United States has refused TO
! more thsa flirt with the system. At pres
! ent there are about thirty-fve pure
bred stsllions-thoroughbr MorEans.
standards and registered ssddles-beinE
used under direction Of the Department
| Of Agriculture. Only SIX OF the forty
eight States in the Union have been given
an opportunity TO observe the workings
| Of the system.