New-York tribune., 1877-05-05

To GIVE THE BUSINESS or THE COUNTRY
CHANCE-MR. RASDALL's CHANCES.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRfPUNEl
WASHINGTON May 4.-The Cabinet at its session
to-day voted to postpone calling the extra session OF
Congress till the 10th of October. For several
weeks past many prominent members OF Congress Oh
both parties and leading business men from all parts
of the country have been urging the Administration
to avoid an extra session during the Summer if pos
sible Members of Congress have expressed great
unwillingness to come TO Washington during the
heated term and business men have been almost
unanimous in the opinion that if the extra session
could be avoided for the present all business enter
prises would have a better opportunity to reeu-
perate.
The Secretary of War, after considering all these
Matters and taking into account the authority given
him by law to make contracts for subsistence &c,
even before appropriations have been granted, as
well az the fact that the army paymasters do not
generally get around with their last install
ment for the fiscal year until SIX weeks
or two months after its close, reported ON
the subject to the Cabinet to-day. He said that
while postponement of the extra session to the
18th of October would be attended with some neon
yenience TO officers and who would be required
to wait for their pay, that Inconvenience would
probably be less than would be felt by the country
al large as a result of an early meeting Of Congress
This report was considered by the Cabinet, and
formal vote was taken to postpone calling the extra
session as indicated. The meeting of Congress,
therefore will not take place until after the OCTOBER
elections i'll Indiana and Ohio.
Leading members of the Administration say that
no political considerations had weight with the
Cabinet in determining this postponement. The
President and his constitutional advisers do not
fear any discussion of the policy of the Admlnlstra-
ton but rather prefer to obtain an early expression
of the sentiments of prominent men upon IL, ana TO
have an opportunity to meet such arguments a. may
be brought against it. The postponement was
wholly in the interest of business, and to promote
the convenience of members of Congress.
In regard to the effect OF a postponement OF the
extra session of Congress npon Mr. Randals chances
for reelection as Speaker Mr.. Randall says: ut viii
only make it more certain that combination can
make no difference in the world. IL VIII be
formed against the regular Democratic candidate;
and il will probably diminish the numbcrof Demo-
cratic candidates" Mr. Randall thinks it Will help
TO consolidate the Democratic party, and evidently
believes that his chances Will be better for the de-
Law. He said it wOuld enable the Republicans To
become thoroughly organized if they were to be or
ganized at ALL but would destroy all possibility OF
electinga Republican Speaker even If there were
anv at present, which h. does not believe
| Mr. Randall insisted that there must be some
| political object which has induced the AdninlStH-
ton to postpone the session. One reason "hlch ne
Thought governed the Administration was that the
President fears to 20 TO the country with ms pocy'
ard is afraid of his own party Mr. Randall ,s not
sure that Secretary McCrarys Interpretation OF the
law IS correct and lie very plainly intimatcd that
the Democrats might find it necessary to cFlteI'e
sharply the Administration for taking the respona-
biltv of postponng the extra session beyond the
fiscal year. He said be understands that the FreS'-
dent wrote letter to Gen. Garfield some time ago.
in which he requested Gen. Garfield TO be the Re
pnbican candidate fol- Speaker, and for That Reason
70 retire from the Senatorial contest III ONO ana
rot 10 run against stanley Matthews. Mr.. kahCal'
thuucht that the postpOnement would Nc'y mhch
weaken Mr. COX's strength, when he very h*"ly
estimated.
Some OF the implacabe Bourhons say that the
postponcment is in entire violation OF tn" C'hN'Iu-
tiou and that IL the Democratic party ia the next
Iouse has any courage il viii say so bu' this talk ~
confined to a very few people. There are, however,
| = GOOD many Republicans who do not fully under
stand how the session can legally be post, med 'e-
vond fbe fiscal year. The greatest difficulty they
I find is that the law specifically provides tIat no
/ officer Of the Government shall contract dvLt or
pledge the faith of the Government 10 the payment
Of any debt for any purpose whatever IA the "'-
sence of a definite appropriation. The toroWins -
tbc section of the law under which 1t is probable
that the Secretary of War understands thai nc can
make contracts for all the necessities OF 'hc " ar
! Dcpartment:
SECTION 1892 70 contract or purc!as' "1 bol2i ,l
| the United states shalt na made AM 3S tic iI. 'o
author LcJ b, Iav, under an approp3'ilu H 'l"
10 s fufi, Ht, except IN the War ASA NHty hti at
mont. s.. for clothing, Subsistence, fofi%, iu.J pii
or i,n which, however shall not exceed the
| necessities OF the current year
The assertion is made that in This section clothing
subsistence forage, fuel, quarters, aud tfdnpora'
/ tiou can be contracted for the sane as II an APP
propriaton bill had been passed. Some OF the law
yers. however, insist that the words, The current
vs,rv - couId not be 50 construed. But it viii I'M
d,ubted!y be claimed that TO ge!a!n the officers ana
men IN thc service il contract and obligation ana
a pl.lge Of la!lh of the United States, IN the
/ absence of an appropriation which is distinctly
prohibited by law. The law upon this subject Is the
/ following:
| SEC 3679 No department of the Government shall
nm Iu q