The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-04-11

Il ~ oHL tAat nE 10 " Ei06fOEoitE $500
capital P. Recently the Kansan Ia
his lectures has been talking about
the Modern Crusade" and he has
had good deal to say about progress
sive achievements and also. 1t is said.
good deal to say about the Progress
sive party. This does not mean that
Mr.. Murdoch is ready to drop the
designation Republican. but taken Ia
connection with statement from him
some time ago that he would not en-
ter any party caucus, 1t may possibly
mean that, not caring to affiliate with
the Republicans. he will make up his
mind to join the Progressives in
their legislative endeavors In the
house
| PrcsressIves Hope for Thirty.
II ~ today one OF the expressed
hopes OF the Progressfves who will
have membership In the next house
that before the session ends there will
be thirty odd members ready to write
themselves down in their biographies
as members OF the new party. This
hope OF the Progressives. it is said.
Is not likely to be fulfilled, but there
Is seemingly sound reason to believe
that on nearly all matters OF legisla-
ton the Pregressives and most of the
progressive Republicans will act to-
gether
| Mr.. Underwood, the Democratic
leader in the house, was not inclined
at one time to recognize the Pro
gressives as Progressives, but he has
announced nov that he will do SO.
1t Is said by some of the Democratic
leaders that this will be good politics,
and moreover the progressive Demo
Gratis apparently desire the aid OF
| such Progressives and progressive
Republicans as they can get to assist
them In putting through Mr.. Wilson's
progressive legislation In case there
should be a conservative Democratic
| detection.
| Honors for Goethals and Aids.
President Wilson and the Demo
cratic congress will be confronted
with the question of what special
honor to give to Col George w,
GoethalJ and his assistants when to-
| gether they have completed the work
of digging the Panama canal and
have turned 1t over to the commission
| which will operate it. 1t will be re-
membered that when Mr.. Taft sug-
gested special consideration for Goe-
thals there was opposition in the SEN
ate to immediate consideration of a
reward for him, and the matter was
put over until another session.
| Before long new water will be turn
! ed into the big ditch, and inside of six
months 1t is probable that huge
barge will be sent through the canal
for the purpose of testing the locks In
| actual operation. AS a matter of
fact, the canal virtually will be COM
| pleted about ten months In advance of
the time which Colonel Goethals at
first fixed for the completion of the
| work
/ May Be In Charge OF Operation.
| 1t was thought for a long time that
President Wilson might make Colonel
Goethals secretary of war, but the
colonel seemingly preferred to stay
on the Panama job, and it may be, of
course, that he was not offered the
/ cabinet position at all. Democratic
leaders, and Republican leaders, with
them, seem perfectly willing to give
some specific honor to Colonel Goe-
thals when his work is done, but as
yet there is no suggestion of what it
/ will be, excepting the hint that he
may be put in charge of canal opera.
lions after the waterway is opened.
and that salary several times larg-
er than that of any army engineer
shall go with the position.
| Goethals has three chief army as
| sistants engaged in the work with
| him. Hs is the director and the 9TH
ers are the actual workers, although
of course directing constitutes work
and carries with 1t a huge burden OF
responsibility.
The three chief army assistants of
| Colonel Goethals are Col. Harry F.
/ Hodges, and Lieut. Coils. David Du B.
Gaillard and William L. Sibert. Gail
lard and Sibert have been on the 18TH
mus ever since Goethals took charge,
and Hodges joined them not long aft
erwards. 1t Is understood that hon
ors are to be shown by congress to
these three army engineers and also
I to the chief naval engineer, Harry H.
Rousseau. Rousseau is carried on the
navy list as civil engineer.
What Others May Receive.
Nobody knows what these officers
junior to Cocktails will get in the way
of honors, but 1t is supposed they all
viii be promoted, or, If this is found to
be impossible under the law, that they
will receive the thanks of congress.
distinction which carries with It the
floor privileges of the house and SEN
ate at any time. The thanks of con-
gress have been rarely given and the
honor being so unusual. it is extreme
ly highly priced.
The Panama canal will be found,
when it is finished, to have cost more
money than the government at first
| thou Oht IT was To cost The army off