New-York tribune., 1875-02-22
WASHINGTON.
TALK OF AN EXTRA SESSION

TING POLITICS BEFORE BUSINESS SECRETARY
BRIsTow's INTENTIONS AS TO REVENUE MAN
AGEMENT-PRosPEcT OF TAR TAX AND TARIFP
BILLS
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRBuSrl
WASHINGTON. Feb. 2l.-The prospect Of an extra
session Of Congress after the 4th Of March has bees
for the past few days Of the principal topics OF
discussion in Washington. Early in the season the
Democrats concluded that ii would be better for the
meeting aud orgsnization of the next House to be
postponed until next December. and their whole
policy in the House has been to facilitate the tram
saeton Of the necessary business No motion to 90
into Committee of the Whole for the consideration
of an appropriation bill has been made this
session in the House that has not had the
support Of the Democrats masss and when the
money bills have been taken up they have shown
no disposition to debate them at length The only
instances in which the Democrats have delayed
business have been when they flibustered 46 hours
against the Civil Rights bill, and when Mondays,
they have called for the reading Of bills introduced
during the morning hour TO prevent call for House
resolutions, which might be passed without suspend
ing the rules by majority vote. In the Senate, the
Democrats have been equally willing to promote the
transaction Of the necessary business and the only
delay they have caused was on the Pinehback case
last week.
II the House puts the appropriation bills ahead OF
all other business it can easily dispose Of them and
give the Senate also sufficient time TO act upon them
IT, on the other hand the Tariff bill should occupy
another day-as it is likely to do-and that Is fol-
lowed by discussion the Caucus bill for the
management of the South, another on tho Louisiana
question, and still another on the Arkansas ques-
tion the Appropriation bills may yet fail. 1t is the
opinion of some of the members Of the Ways and
Means Committee that if the Tariff bin should fail.
and no v!sion should be made for more revenue,
the President would call an extra session for that
specfc purpose, even should the Appropriation
bills all pass. II the President has any such inten-
tiOn, he does not propose toIact on the advice OF
Secretary Brstow for that officer Is not In favor OF
calling the Congress together to pass TariH
bill He says that he shall obey the law as he un-
derstands it, and pay the first revenue he gets into
the Sinking Fund and the remainder he will use, as
far as it will CO. for those expenses Of the Govern
uent that are absolutely necessary stopping work.
If he is short Of funds. Notifications and all pub
lie works, and cutting down expenses wherever it
4 possible,
But the pfesest indications are that the Tariff and
Tax bill VIII pass the House The vote on the sixth
teoten. in the Committee OF the Whole. yesterday,
was considered as a kind Of test, although 1t may
be reversed when the Ayes and Noes are called. Ii
this bill goes to the Senate as it was reported TO the
House by the Committee, the prospect is that IT VIII
eass The Finance Committee has had no formal
discussion Of the subject but it Is learned that Son.
ator Sherman, who has been opposed to an increase
of the tax on whisky and In favor OF restoring the
old duties as proposed in the sixth section, is now
disposed to accept the bill q whole and he
will probably be able to carry the Senate
with hum. Leaving tho Tariff bill out ct
the account. the necessity for an extra session viii
depend on the action of the Republicans on what
are known as the political measures. The Caucus
Committee on Southern Affairs, of which Mr.. Nor
ton is Chairman Will. it is understood report at the
Senatorial Caucus tomorrow in favor of taking up
the Civil Rights bill at once. and holding the
Senate together until it passes If this is done an
extra session will be more than probable. 1t is re-
ported that if an extra session is called the time for
meeting will be about the 1st of June.
CONGRESS TO APPROVE THE RING LAWS.
ACTS OF THE LATE DISTRICT LEGIs1ATURE--A BILL
FOR THEIR APPROVAL BY CONGRESS WITHOUT
EXAMINATION.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNs
WAsurNGToN Feb. 2l.-Chief Justice Cartier Of
the S.lpreme Court of the District of Columbia de-
cded recently that the passed by the late Legs
iative Assembly of this District were not valid un-
less ratified by Congress Much Of this legislation
was of the most preposterous character and was adj
dictated by the old Ring Congress now has an op-
portunity to review these acts, approve those
winch were Just wise. and disapprove those that
were vicious and in this way undo some OF
tue work of the Ring. But this is not what is pro-
posed The Senate Committee District Affairs,
which was always apparently controlled by the
Ring has agreed to bill approving all the laws
that the District Legislature ever passed. without
.ny careful examination or selection of them IL
such bill as this should pass, Congress would be-
come responsible for all the rsscalty perpetrated
nv the legislative branch Of the Ring. The follow
ing is the text of the bill:
BE II enacted &C. That all laws passed by the Iegis
,aye uby OF the District OF Columbia as consti-
tute1 by the act OF Congress OF the United 5taes en
tied IAN act 10 provide governments Ior tne Ds.rc,
with the Constitution OF the Uued States shall bo In
force and effect in sad District except 50 rsr as any
Congress may hereafter be so repealed or mo0neo
STRUGGLES FOR PACIFIC MAIL SUBSIDY.
LOBBY AGENTS swARMING IN WASHINGTON
POWERFUL INFLUENCES AT woRK-PRoGRAMME
TO SECURE THE GRATUITY.
IDY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRmUrnl
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2i.-Tbe Pacific Mail subsidy,
which by a vote of the House was left out OF the
Post-Offce Appropriation bill, seems to manifest
much strep 9Th in the Senate and the lobbes swarm
with agents and retaners who are doing all In their
power TO influence the Judiciary Committee to re-
port against the repeal Of the $4,000 year gra-
tuity Mr. Clark Bell has issued pamphlet Of 100
pages addressed to the Senate Committee and all
the influences that can be brought to bear being
put forward II would seem that there is q larger
lobby influence at work 10 retain the subsidy than
there was to secure it originally. IL " even known
that members Of the House who voted to discontinue
tue increased subsidy when the POst-Ofhce bill
was before that body, are now endeavoI1ng TO IL
fuence Senators to vote for it's restoration TO the