The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-30
THE EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS-

l
THE EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS-
There Ia rumor from Washington to
the effect that the President meditates
the recall of his proclamation calling an
extra session Of Congress to meet in
October. We have never been able to
appreciate the necessity of this extra
session, and at the time 1t was called in
obedience to the clamor Of the Repub-
licans, who were 80 terribly outraged at
the measures the Democrats were forced
to In order to defeat military super
vision OF the Southern elections, we
felt satisfied that the temporary excite
ment would blow over and the real
provocation OF the call be forgotten In
the political and party significance
which would be given the extra session.
The only exigency that can be set up
as justification for this special convo-
cation is the need Of an army and navy
appropriation. Since the government
has already stretched point to supply
this deficiency, we see no reason why it
should not assume further response
bility in order to keep up the present
establishment for the other two months
to elapse before the regular session.
The passage Of these appropriation
| bills is the only pretext for this extra
session, and 1t is glibly announced that
this Is all Congress will have to do and
then adjourn. But we all know that
this is not true. There is Speaker to
be elected before these appropriations
can be passed, and the probability, yes,
the certainty, is that this election will
consume all, or most, of the time inter-
vening between now and the regular
session. and the appropriations will not
be fastened at all. The question, then,
is practically whether or not the coun-
try can afford and desires to pay for
two or three months of log rolling for
political prominence between two or
three aspirants for the Speakership.
We are inclined to the belief that this
sort Of play Is not worth the candle
that will have to be paid for out Of the
public purse. It may be argued that
this election has to be gone through
with any way, and 1t may as we'll be
now, so that Congress shall be organized
for immediate work when the regular
session meets.
In reply we say that there is legislation
to be passed which will net admit of de-
lay, that this circumstance may reach
the consciences of our congressman
and serve to abridge the contest over
the Speakership, and, IL this prove true,
it will be most fortunate circumstance
and one we would do nothing to remove
or in anywise render imperative. We
only wish some such exigency could be |
brought to bear upon every new Con- |
gress to shorten the struggle for the |
Speakership, which is always and |
essentially a party contest, and one in
which the country can have no interest,
and out of which it can evolve but |
little, il any, practical benefit.
Even If it were likely that these APP
would be made immedi-
ately, which is not within the bounds Of
the exigency does not JUS
tify the extraordinary expense necessa-
ry to secure them. The government
has managed to pay the expenses Of the
army and navy 50 far, and without even
mourning doubtful obligations or tres
passing on funds which it was even
thought there was authority for using
in the absence Of a special appropria-
ton, and we see no reason why it can
not do this for two more months. Yet
this is the only ostensible and plausible
pretext for an extra session, which will
impose in mileage alone an expense al
most il not quite as great as the sum Of
The army appropriations is likely to be.
1t is notorious fact that the Presi-
lent was not at all impressed with the
necessity for an extra session when he
made the CALL that he postponed the
lime of it's convocation several months
n the face Of a great party cutlery, and
hat he called 1t at all only as conces-
ZION to the Republican clamor. We also
snow that all this hullabaloo was
Kicked up for no other purpose than to
the outrageous conduct Of {
he Democratic House in refusing to
PASS appropriations at the dictation Of !
he Senate, and bring undeserved odium
or party purposes on the Democratic :
Efforts at reform and economy. All this t
8 we'll understood, and we trust that
he President will have the courage to
10 what he has evidently all along :
bought was his duty, and do away $
With this extra session, which promises i
0 be nothing but preliminary party 8
kirmish for position, and which can be t
cry easily postponed till it must come
Ip in regular order.
In Arkansas there is q great agitation {
nd discussion of the wisdom of the act
2 tho lact Io<xiala tho