Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-05-29

targets and they resented What lhey
said was the throwing on their shoul-
ders by the other representatives OF the
blame for inaction. The committee
resolved to let the house fight the
matter out for itself. and 1t has re-
ported both amendments. although no
recommendation was made for pas
sage or for non-passage of the two
proposals.
There is some humor in the situa-
ton in which the house finds itself
today. There are plenty of members
of congress who think that prohibition
may be a good thing and yet who
fear that If they vote for the amend
ment all the forces of the liquor IN
terests in the United States will be
used to compass their defeat. On the
other hand they are afraid that If they
vote against the amendment all the
forces of prohibition and of the tenn
perance cause generally will be used
against them at the polls,
On the proposed suffrage amend
ment to the constitution the position
of the representatives is much like
that in which they find themselves
on the question of prohibition. Wom-
en- vote in a good many states al
ready, and woman has a tremendous
influence in whatever state she lives.
Representatives do not like the idea
of having the suffrage influence
against them and they do not like the
idea of having the anti-suffrage In
fiuence against them. They are IN
peculiar position and 1t seems to
some observers in Washington that
they will do what all representatives
ought to do, vote as they believe and
"let the consequences be what they
may"
Recognition for Canal Work.
Congress apparently is prepared
finally to take action on a bill which
makes provision for the recognition
of the services of the officers of the
army and navy who held membership
on the Isthmian canal commission and
to whose hard and devoted service
the completion of the waterway is due.
The proposed legislation will give
the thanks of congress to the army
and navy officers concerned and will
give authority for their promotion. II
the bill becomes a law George w.
Goethals, chief engineer of the canal
project, will be made major general
of the line. and Brig. Gen. William G.
Gorgas, sanitary expert of the zone,
will be made a major general in the
medical department. Lieut.. Col. VIII
liam l.. Sibert, the builder of the Ga
tun dam, locks and spillway and the
creator of the Gatun lake. and Lieut.
II Il hn nf
operating machinery of the canal. will
be made brigadier generals in the en-
gineer corps. Commander II. II. Rous-
seau. the civil engineer of the navy
who did constructive work on the sea
approaches to the canal, will be APP
pointed to the grade of rear admiral
"of the lower nine in that corps"
Thanks of Congress to All.
What doubtless will be more grate-
full to all these officers than promotion
is the provision in the bill which gives
to all of them the thanks of congress
for their distinguished service in con-
structing the Panama canal"
Care was taken in framing the bill
to avoid interfering with the promo
tion of officers of the army and navy.
either senior or junior in grade to the
men whom it is proposed TO advance.
The bill provides for the promotion
of Colonel Goethals and Brigadier Gen
eral Gorgas to the rank of major gen.
erals, the one of the line and the other
In the medical department, but in or
der to accomplish this without inter
fering with the promotion of other
men the existing number of major gen
erals of the line and the number in
the medical department are increased
by one each. Thus it will be seen
readily that this not only will not in
terfere with the promotions of men OF
junior grade, but actually will advance
the junior officers of the engineer
corps one grade. because of the va
cancy caused by the promotion of
Colonel Goethals, who is now an en-
gineer officer.
In order that the promotion of
Colonels Sibert and Hodges shall not
interfere with the regular promotions
of junior officers in the corps of engi
neers, two additional brigadier gen.
eralships are provided in the corps
of engineers. The promotion of Sibert
and Hodges to these ranks will pro-
mote every officer. junior to them in
the engineer corps, one file.
Extra Grade Is Temporary.
William C. Gorgas, now the sur
geon general of the army with the
rank of brigadier general. has only a
little more than four years to serve.
When he retires or leaves the service
from whatever cause the extra grade
which 1t is proposed to provide for
him shall cease and determine" A
similar provision is made to fit the
cases of the other nfficers of 1rhnsa