Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-12-18

TO thep' the thanks OF congress, the
highest honor which can be given to
an American citizen.
Under the terms Of the Adamson
bill these men are named eB deserv-
ing that the thanks of congress- which
means of course the thanks OF the peo-
pie Of the United States, be given
them for their work: Col. George w.
Cocktails. chairman and chief engi-
neer; Col. William c. Gorgas, sanitary
officer; Lieut-Col. II. F. Hodges.
Lieut-Col William L. Sibert Lieut.
Col David Du b. Gaillard and Com
mander II. II. Rousseau.
Promotion With Retirement.
There is a second provision to the
Adamson bill which provides for pro-
motion on retirement of the officers .
who are named, but promotion and
retirement which are to come only at
the will of the president OF the Unit |
ed States. In other words, what may |
be called a material reward provision |
Of the bill is dependent upon the wish |
of the president and dependent also /
upon the interests of the service. I'm |
der this second provision the presi-
dent is authorized to retire two OF
the army officers, who OF course will
be Colonel Goethals and Colonel Cor
gas, with the rank and pay OF major
general, and to retire the other three
army officers, Colonies Hodges, Sibert
and Gaillard, with the rank Of briga-
der general. The retirement OF Civil
ofn xryhp tc
naval officer, is authorized with adj
vancement to the rank and pay OF
rear admiral.
One of the features of the second pro-
vision is that while 1t promotes the
builders of the Panama canal and
gives them material reward. the pro-
motion can come only with retire
ment and this means that the advance
in grade will not In any way inter-
fere with the promotion of other Of
ficers of the army and navy in the
regular order of the service. They
will not be jumped over the heads Of
any of their brother officers who to-
day are their superiors In rank. The
bill seems to be carefully drawn, and
| the belief seems to be that 1t will
meet with the approval OF the people
OF the country.
Lawmakers Kept Busy.
Congress passed without so much as
a pause from the special session to the
regular session and 1t has ahead OF 1t
| as much hard work as ever confronted
a law making body Of the United
States. The Democratic majority will
find all kinds of matters to engage its
attention from this time henceforward,
and 1t may be that when the present
administration has ended 1t will be
found congress virtually has been in
continuous session.
II President Wilson follows his es-
tablished rule he will keep senate and
house working away until the COM
pletion of the legislation which the
Democrats have promised The rep
resentatives in congress show at times
a sort OF a desire to be slow In their
work, but Mr.. Wilson kept on prod
ding and there are few symptoms to
show that he intends to stay the hand
that prods.
It is a long list of legislative mat
tiers which the Democrats have pre-
pared In accordance with their duty
of obedience to the commands OF the
platform which was adopted at Balti-
more.
Program for Congress.
Here is a list of things to be done,
only partial perhaps, but containing
the main subjects Of legislation which
are now in sight:
Finish up currency legislation.
Amend the Sherman law to make
imprisonment certain for violators,
and to restore competitive conditions
to the business Of the country.
Establish a system of rural credits
which will help the farmer financially
and keep him from the clutches OF
the grasping money lender.
Authorization of government con
struction OF four hundred miles Of rail
roads In Alaska, and the opening VI
under government supervision of the
wealth of that territory.
Legislation which will give the Fill
Pine people larger measure Of home
rule, with a definite promise Of future
independence with a time set for theii
Z first Fourth of July"
The extension of the parcel pos
r system. There is already Legislation
| which will make this possible, bu
congress must bulwark It with appro
priations.
4 Authorization of congressional in
, quiry into the high cost of living.
! Proposal of a resolution for So }
hitting to the people a constitutions
!. amendment making the president In
n eligible for reelection.
a Legislation to honor fittingly thu
!. men who have built the Panama Cana
4 Cocktails, Gorgas. Hodges, Gaillard
a Sibert, Rousseau.
!. Authorization of two new battle
, ships for the United States navy.
:. These are the principal pieces o