The Washington times., 1913-12-18
By THEODORE TILLER.

Oy 4A&VOVNS 4AkS6As
Sometimes busy members Of Con-
gress pause to pay tribute to ono
who has accomplished things OUT
side the realm of politics. An In
stance worth while is seen in the
action of the House Of Representa-
tives. which adopted, by a unani-
nous vote. q joint resolution to
honor. through his widow. the late
Lieut.. Col. David DuBose Gaillard.
Tho name of 'Gaillard possesses a
charm for those who watched the
parting Of strip Of earth that the
Panama Canal might take its place
among the wonders Of the world. he
was the man In charge; Of the Cuie-
bra. Cut section Of this great prolecr
undertaken by one nation. but affect-
ing every nation with ships upon the
seas. Recently Lieutenant Colonel
GaiIlard died in the Johns Hopkins
University Hospital, at Baltirnores
and those who know call him mar
tyr to his work.
ACTION WILL SHOW
A NATIONS GRATITUDE.
Now that Lieutenant Colonel Call
lard is dead and cannot receive the
homage which the nation eventually
viii pay to the men who have helped
make the Panama Canal reality,
one branch Of Congress has taken
action to show that Americans are
not ungrateful; that they appreciate
seif-sacrifice, and are ready to accor1
to the man who does his Work wen
unstinted recognition.
The isdnt resolution which has
passed the House, and undoubtedly
win receive favorable action In the
SenatA proyides that the widow OF
the dead army officer, who died just
a. his work was finished, shall re-
ceive from the United States Govern.
ment an extraordinary pension. ossee
upon the nationwide sentiment tnat
nothing which this Government may
do would be undeserved.
Ordinarily, when . COMMITTEES OF
CONGRESS reports q bill, its recon-
E:endations are In stilted phrases.
devoid of sentiment Because u ID
Gjnerent, the report Of the House
Coumittee on Interstate and for-
eaSn Commerce, which sponsored the
Gafilard Joint resolution, Is q docu-
Irent which should live In the dry
ragee of the record Of the Sixty
third Congress.
BRING ABOUT CHANGES
no MAKE WORLD NARVEL.
The report shows, a. has been said.
that there are times when men who
are engaged n solving such ques-
tions as the tariff. the trustA inter.
state commerce., conservation, ana
other national problems. pause and
turn to the labors of public servants
who ton far frcT the shadow OF the
Capitol dome. and yet who bring
-ns,x .Sou~>~ ~hfrh rauSA the rf1-
lions of the world to marvel.
There IL q heart-throb In the docu-
ment filed with the House by the
Interstate Commerce Committee 1t
tells of the days spent by Lieutenant
Colonel Gaillard and his wife In the
glare Of a tropical sun; OF the grad
CaI decline Of the army engineers
health: Of the peculiar malady Of
the brain which brought about his
ceath as the waters were let Into the
Panama Canal: of q dream unreal
lied by its co-maker, but made real
to men who look on from a distance.
Lieutenant Colonel Gaillard died as
the Panama Canal became an actual
hy. He lay Unconscious when the wa
ters whiried through the ditch in part
O. his making. His death came while
the echoes of this accomplishment
echoed round the world. and when
Tie gates are opened eventually to
all the ships that care to enter his
f9ure will be missing among the list
O! wonder workers who will receive
the plaudits of civilized mankind.
PROPOSES A PENSI0N
FOR OFFICERS WIDOW.
The Congress Of the United States.
however. would pay q tribute to the
work Of Colonel Gaillard. It pro-