The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-12-19

engineering or sanitary forces on the
lsthmus TO 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 or course the thanks OF the PEG
| pie OF the United States. be given
them for their work: Col. George w.
Cocktails. chairman and chief engi-
neer; Col William @. Gorgas, sanitary
officer; Lieut.-Col. II. f. Hodges,
Lieut.-Coi. William l.. Sibert: Lieut.
Col. David Du b. Gaillard and Com
mander Fl. II. Rousseau.
Promotion With Retirement.
There lie second provision to the
Adamsou 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 provfsion
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
Engineer Rousseau, who is "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 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
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
pause from the special session to the
regular session and 1t has ahead OF 1t
as much hard work as ever confronted
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 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 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 system of rural credits
which viii 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 up
under government supervision Of the
wealth of that territory.
Legislation which will give the Fiji.
Pine people larger measure of home
rule, with definite promise Of future
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 apprC-
| priations.
| Authorization OF a congressional in.
quiry into the high cost of living,
Proposal of resolution for sub
hitting to the people constitutional
amendment making the president in.
eligible for reelection.
/ Legislation to honor fittingly the
men who have built the Panama Canal
Cocktails. Gorgas. Hodges. Gaillard.
Sibert. Rousseau.
Authorization OF two new battle.
ships for the United States navy.
These are the principal pieces Of