The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-12-20

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Obviously the men whom congress
expects to honor cannot say anything
in support of the bill. It can be said
definitely, because it goes as a matter
of course. that there will be no objec-
ton entered by any member of the
engineering or sanitary forces on the
isthmus to a measure which extends
to them 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 as 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. +. Hodges,
Lieut.-Col William L. Sibert; Lieut.
! Col. David Du b. Gaillard and Com
mander II. H. 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 visa
of the president and dependent also
upon the interests of the service. Tn
der this second provision the presi-
dent is authorized to retire two OF
the army officers. who of course Will
be Colonel Cocktails and Colonel Ger
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
Engineer Rousseau, who is a civilian
naval officer, is authorized with ad-
vancement to the rank and pay of
rear admiral
One of the features of the second pro-
vision is that while it promotes the
builders of the Panama canal and
gives them material reward. the pro-
molten 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 Supporters in rank. The
bill seems to be carefully drawn, and
the belief seems to be that il 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 it has ahead of it
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 it may be that when the present
administration has ended it will be
found congress virtually has been in
continuous session.
1t is 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
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-
reads in Alaska, and the opening up
under government supervision Of the
wealth of that territory.
Legislation which will give the Fill.
Pine people a larger measure of home
uiC, WIN a uchiitS piOulloc vi luluTe
independence with time set for their
first Fourth Of JULY"
The extension of the parcel post
system. There is already legislation
which will make this possible, but
congress must bulwark it with appro-
priations.
Authorization of a congressional in
CURRY into the high cost of living
Proposal of a resolution for sub |
hitting to the people a constitutional |
amendment making the president in
eligible for reelection,
Legislation to honor fittingly the |
men who have built the Panama Canal |
-Goethals. Gorgas. Hodges, Gaillard,
Sibert. Rousseau.
Authorization of two new battle |
ships for the United States navy.
These are the principal pieces of |
legislation which the Democrats have |
in view. If they are as deliberate in |
enacting each important measure into |
law as they were in sending the tariff |
bill through to a passage and in dis |
cussing the currency. it will be |
Thanksgiving Day again before ad.
1ournment comes, and even If il shall |
come then, the chances seem to be.
in view of the present state of things
legislative, that the record of accom-
DliShmpnt at turkev fima paxt poor