shall be your pleasure. The other regiments, with equal bravery, with equal fortitude, and with equal patriotism, stood ready to go anywhere, at any time, and face any foe, but circumstances permitted their discharge within the limit of the time for which they were enlisted.

I recommend that the state make recognition of the patriotism manifested by the men of the Fifty-first regiment, in thus volunteering their services during the rainy season in a tropical climate, after they were entitled to their discharge under the terms of the act of congress which authorized their enlistment, and their consequent service in two wars, by reimbursing the several banks and private individuals who have so generously contributed; thereby, in fact, returning these sons of Iowa to their homes at the expense of the state.

Lest this may seem to show partiality for one regiment when all are equally worthy, I suggest that both the Fiftieth and Fifty-second regiments, while in camp at Des Moines shortly before their discharge, were granted a furlough, and the men were issued transportation to their homes and return at the expense of the state, and after muster-out transportation was again furnished both officers and men to their respective places of residence. I have assurances from the war department that travel-pay and ration allowance from Des Moines to their homes will yet be paid the members of these regiments. The Forty-ninth is the only regiment for which no gratuitous transportation was. furnished after it was mustered into the service of the United States. If now paid what it would have cost the state to return them from Savannah, Ga., where discharged, to their homes, it would afford an evidence of appreciation of valuable services rendered beyond the United States.

IOWA NATIONAL GUARD.

The experience of the last two years has demonstrated the wisdom of some modification in our national guard laws. Under the call made in 1898, the four regiments of the Iowa National guard were transferred to the United States service under their then existing organizations. This left two brigadier-generals and their staff officers unprovided for. These offices should, I think, be abolished. Otherwise, whoever is advanced to the highest position in the guard will be left at home whenever the

president makes requisition upon the state for regimental organizations.

No better regiments were probably ever mustered than the four contributed by Iowa to the Spanish war. At least two of the colonels were referred to, by different generals of high rank in the regular army, as the best volunteer officers they had ever seen. I have always insisted, and still believe, that if they could have been promptly sent to the front, in view of the training they had previously received, they would have made a record worthy of like organizations in the regular army. The discipline manifested in camp life, as well as the fortitude displayed during all the ordeals through which these several regiments passed, justifies the highest esteem for both officers and men. Nevertheless, they were without military reputation at the time the earlier brigades and corps were being formed, and were therefore left in camp while other regiments with experienced officers were selected for service. No corps, division, or brigade commander will ever choose a regiment with an unknown colonel, so long as he can make selection of officers who have had actual experience, or professional military training.

The government, at no small expense, maintains a military academy at West Point for the express purpose of training men for service in the army. Either this school is a failure,

or it is serviceable; and if the latter, then graduates therefrom may be safely presumed to be better qualified to command a regiment than men fresh from civil life. Iowa has never been slow to keep her full quota of cadets in this school; and the young men who are able to obtain admission thereto are not drones or weaklings, neither do they lose their citizenship by service in the regular army. I see no valid reason why Iowa should cease to respect, or fail to make use of, her specially trained sons to command her troops in case of war. I therefore recommend that the office of colonel be left vacant, to be filled by appointment in case of transfer to the United States service, or that a new election be ordered in case of a requisition from the president, and that the regiment be restricted by statute in its selection of a colonel to a graduate from the government school at West Point, or to an experienced field officer

of a previous war. This should not be understood as a criticism of the officers who have so efficiently commanded the regiments recently furnished. It is not so intended. The proposition simply suggests the choice between sending a regiment forward under the command of an officer who is known to have had military training, and sending it under one of unknown ability.

Very few volunteer regiments in the recent war were given an opportunity to distinguish themselves; and, in each instance, I think, these more fortunate organizations were under the command of men who had previously served the government in other relations, and who were known to possess distinguishing qualifications. Camp duty is the most dangerous detail that a regiment can have. As an illustration of this, the Fifty-first Iowa remained in San Francisco, supposedly the most healthful and invigorating climate in the world, for five months and lost twenty-nine men. It then went to the front, spent the rainy season in the tropics, forcing jungles and wading swamps and bayous, fought in fifteen battles, and in twelve months lost twelve men.

I prefer to see subsequent regiments from this state, should other wars ensue, serve on the firing-line, under the command of sons of Iowa who have been educated at West Point, or who have seen actual service as field officers, rather than have them languish in camps, and I know of no plan to insure the consummation of this wish other than the one suggested.

DISEASED CATTLE.

Some years ago the government effectually eradicated pleuro-pneumonia among cattle. This was not accomplished, however, without much apparent loss to the owners of stock, but the result inured greatly to their benefit. More recent investigation has demonstrated the presence, to some considerable extent, of tuberculosis among all grades and conditions of cattle in this as well as in foreign countries. Some students of the disease insist that its eradication would successfully check the ravages of consumption in the human family. It is but natural, however, that others repudiate and scoff at these voices of warning. The disease is admittedly deceptive. Outward appearances seldom give any indication of its presence.

Only in severe cases is the meat so affected as to render it unfit for food. Recently, a herd belonging to the state and kept at one of our institutions was examined, and twenty-four out of thirty-eight gave evidence of disease, and were ordered killed. Out of this number, the government inspector, after examining the carcasses, condemned thirteen as wholly unfit for purposes other than the manufacture of fertilizers. Not long ago one of the principal packers of the country purchased a carload of apparently healthy steers, which bore no outward indications of disease, but when they were slaughtered the inspector condemned eleven of the carload to the fertilizer tank. Some quite startling results have followed the feeding of milk from cows affected with tuberculosis to pigs, and the injection of it into the veins of rodents. I have the promise that an extended series of experimentation along these and kindred lines will be prosecuted at the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts during the current biennial period. Until it shall be demonstrated that the offspring of cows thus affected is likely also to be diseased, I am not ready to advise the slaughter of breeding stock, at least of beef herds. I do, however, believe it not only wise but very important that the sale of milk from cows affected with tuberculosis be prohibited by statute, and adequate penalties provided for its violation. Whatever risks one may be willing to take himself in the use of untested milk, certainly none should hesitate to protect unsuspecting families and helpless children. Provision should be made, I think, for the annual examination of all cows from which milk is sold or offered for sale. A moderate fee should be fixed by statute for such examination. I think provision should also be made for the preservation, under quarantine regulations, of such animals as may be required for scientific experimentation. The effect of the disease upon milk products and the danger from contagion and infection must be speedily and scientifically demonstrated so that future general assemblies may act intelligently. In the meantime, the public should be protected from what is now claimed to be a very fruitful source of disease.

The frequent and constantly increasing demand for the services of the state veterinary surgeon suggests the wisdom of providing permanent quarters for this officer at the state house

I therefore recommend that he be permanently located in connection with the board of health, and that requests for his services be directed to that department. It is probable no additional clerk hire would be occasioned, and the needs of the public would be much better served.

FISH AND GAME WARDEN.

The report of the fish and game warden is worthy of your perusal, and his recommendations should receive consideration. Formerly the state expended considerable money in the propagation of different species of game fish. This has been largely superseded by a resort to natural sources of supply. There is a large number of bayous along the Mississippi river, which fill at certain seasons of the year, and as the water recedes the outlets are closed and the bayous are left swarming with game fish, from a pound or more in weight to the smallest fry. The state warden has, during the last few years, seined from these bayous an estimate of 4,000,000 of these fish, which have been transported in a car constructed for the purpose, and placed in various streams, lakes, and ponds in different parts of the state. Many of these were large enough to take the hook. The supply is inexhaustible, and affords a much cheaper and a more effective method of stocking the waters of the state than propagating in the old way. The fish, if not seined out, perish during the winter, and notwithstanding the large number taken tons of them decay every spring on the banks of these bayous. Additional facilities for transporting these fish ought to be provided, and the biennial appropriation should be increased sufficiently to save to the state a considerable portion of this annual loss, the value of which it is impossible to estimate. The railroads, or at least many of them, generously offer free transportation for these fish when they are enroute for waters along their respective lines.

In view of the fact that the supply of these fish is so extensive, I think it would be safe to lodge with the fish and game warden authority to dispose of any surplus not required for our waters to other states, or to private individuals, thereby preserving a large quantity of wholesome food and at the same time affording some slight revenue.