Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-02-01

lstinE law WIS Dit u HluResnltt, lHtenu-
ed to cover an emergency and not to
serve rs a permanent statute. The
need Of rcorganlzing the army. as well
us OF keeping up Its strength, had been
clearly pointed out by the secretary Of
war, and the committees on military
affairs In both houses OF the Congress
took the matter up at the beginning OF
the session. Without going into detail
they have agreed on bill. and Is has
passed. and probably by the time this
has reached our readers the measure
Will have received the signature Of the
President and be law. As passed the
bill provides for an Increase OF the
army-or rather the maintenance OF
about Its present number. and large
discretion Is vested In the President as
to Its size at any particular time. A
complete REORGANIZATION In the artillery
branch has been made. In compliance
with the suggestion OF the secretary Of
war. and this should add greatly to the
efficiency OF that arm Of the service;
and altogether the measure Is one
which. while IL may have faults, is a
great improvement on the present
makcshiff. and Is likely. with such
small changes ns may b. necessary, to
last lon. time.
Another measure OF great Import
ancc. the pressing nature OF which Is
Indicated In tho Presidents message. Is
the reduction OF the war taxes by the
passage Of new revenue bill. uusu-
ally revenue bill Is nm affair Of the
long session. and II always gives ris.
to great deal Of discussion. To be
sure. what was desired Ia this ease
was not to r-vise the whole revenue
system OF the country-rs ordinary
and fundamental law-but TO reduce
some OF tn. special taxes that We're
levied when war wns declared with
Spain. hut there were such differences
ilon should H.. and such differences nj.
10 u. To how the reductions should bc
made. that the passage OF the bill
seemed FOR awhile doubtful. At last.
however. substantial agreement has
been reached by the House aud the
senate ON this measure also. and !;
will surely become law nj this sc.a
sion. As passed. the hill viii provide
for reduction Of about Siu.sn.o in
revenue. AMI the mos, v-Sntious and
troublesome OF th. stamp taxes will IL
removed. .uch n. those ON iri,-sTaphic
and tricphonic messages. and express
and freight receipts. The Democrats
Of course wanted TO reduce the tvre.
nuc by ;wsc- the amount named. aud
put the country in hole by making
the revenue insu,tielcn, toE the ra-
trascs Of government: hut they
wcrr not able To accomplish this. aud
the ruvrnuc Of the government will
probably H. able to cover proper cs.
jcns-s. while no; sr-at enough to 90
couraEc -xirsvaEabc-.
No; cantcn' with III" passage of two
ETca; measure like these. the Ecpnbii.
can leaders have resolved TO rass also.
IL possible. n blii for the encourage.
men, Of American shipping. For many
years the bulk II American trade with
foreign countries has bc-n rarrici iu
foreign bottoms. ani millions of dol.
lars have been raid ont by American
importers and exporters to foreign
.aip.owucF- for the carrying of their
Eo1,is. II Il time this was TCmctiic,i.
80 far ns ii can H. Tvm-tiic,i by lcxisla.
'iou: nnd the shipping bill now before
the Senate al this writing docs as much
as any measure well could toward
that end.
or cuursC. while these measures arc
under consideration the usual appropFi.
alton bills have mot irryn neglected. bu,
arr ali in forward state. on the
whole. this session i making a r-SuTtl
for efficiency which is not yxcclis,i by
that of any Of its predecessors. had
which its SUCCESSORS will find harf to
equal
hut ColUFado's two representatives in
the House. aud hct senior senator. have
done what they could to delay and de-
feat all these measures. and 10 make
the session fruitlCSs and Improbable.