Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-17
The Extra Session.

The question Of an extra session Oh Congress
is still open, but will probably be decided the
first of next week. There seems to be an al
most unanimous feeling among the leaders Of
both parties in Congress in favor of avoiding
the extra session if the money necessary to
support the army can be legally used ia the alb
ssnce of an appropriation therefor 90 this
point there is a difference Of opinion. The
Vice President has thought up i plan which
he thinks is feasible. whereby the extra session
can be avoided, and has been asked 10 reduce
it to writing 10 ordor that it may be submitted
to the Cabinet at its next meeting. The glst
of the plan is to have some strong National
Bank ia New York which has on hand . sui
foient surplus Of Government bonds. forward
to the Treasury Department au amount 10
bonds equal TO the amount Of currency needed
to pay the army. For these bonds the Treas
ury Department will send to the bank currency,
of which it has. Of course, sufficient amount
always on hand. Virtually the baak will then
be simply depository of Government moneys,
position held by numerous National Banks
wherever United States moneys are collected
aad temporarily deposited, When the army
payments fall due the several paymastcrS, act.
ing under orders, OF course, will draw on th;
National Bank Which has been chosen Is such
depository, leaving, as collateral, their respcc'
tive certificates that 50 much money has been
drawn by them and devoted to the support CT
the army in the regular way. In this way tie
troops would be paid as usual; aGd when Com
gress meets aud passes the army appropriation
BILL the Secretary Of War would sign rcqui.
sitiou upon the Secretary OF the Treasury in
the usual way, the amount payable to the Fay.
master General. He, 10 turn, would forward
to each payma'ter his respective portion, and
they would hen forward the same to the Ma
tional Baok which had already advanced the
money and take up their certificates left as COL
lateral. The bank would. Of course, be left 10
lurch if the next Congress should refuse to
make any appropriation for the support Of the
army, but there arc plenty Of banks ready TO
advance the money on the certainty that the
government will not refuse to support the army.
MIR. Wheeler, to guard against all possible
emergencies, however, has consulted leading
demo in both Houses. who all assure him
that DO trouble would DO made. Secretary Of
State Evarts, to whom he has also submitted
his proposition, thinks'it is feasible. Secretary
Sherman doubts the legality Of such an expo
dent, and it is understood that Attorney Gen
eral Deveus, who is considering the case, has
similar doubts. The President fasors it If it
is legal. The adoption or rejection Of the plan
doubtless rests on the decision of the Attorney
General.
LET Us HAVE PEACE" Now for business.
The country has accepted the settlement OF
this presidential question, with all its wrongs,
10 order that the long and dangerous uncer-
taiaty might be ended. Every department OF
business has suffered the parayziog Influence
of the uncertainties that have beclouded the
political atmosphere. Men of business may
say it was bad settlement of the question, but
it was better than no settlement; now let's go
ahead and restore the Industries OF the country: |
Let our rusting machinery be oiled up aud |
the merry plunge of water power; let US hear
the thump OF pouderous engines and the hum
of busy commercial centres. The best claim
which the new administration has upon the
support OF the people is its promise of peace
and good will. If this promise Of peace and
justice to the South be fulfilled, prosperity will
revisit her impoverished people, and the North
will have another market for its wares The
business men of the North have long ago dis
covered that the destituioU Of the South due
to it's misgovernment and its iarceuous rulers,
had deprived the manufacturers OF the North
IF their best customers; and that the uncertain
les attending ali things there kept out foreign
capital aud hindered the energetic employment
IF what was already there. Now all parties
except a few ambitious politicians, wan. to
nave an end of political intrigues, and reso
ute and cheerful face addressed to business
Gazette. i