New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-08

the Girl would do herself some injury. There
are various things to show that he seemed TO
be irving, with strangely limited intelligence
and with an utter lack of natural feeling, to
do his duty.
There seems to have been absolutely no
foundation for the statement recently sent
out by the British Consul at Philadelphia 0t
an endemic of hog cholera in this country
The investigation just concluded by the state
Department shows that, on the contrary the
health OF American hogs at the present time
is exceptionally good. The fact that similar
reports have been spread through other coun-
tries suggests the suspicion, at least, OF an
Interior design, and it is a question whether
the British Legation ought not to do more IN
the matter than content itself with transmit
ting the denial, which, it must now be seen, ID
entirely accurate.
The death of Mr.. Brennan, the chairman OF
the Assembly Committee of Ways and Means,
seems 70 have been one of the tragedies of
public life It has been we'll known that his
strength was seriously impaired by his labors
In the last campaign, and that coming in this
condition to the responsible position to which
Speaker Sharpe had appointed him, his con-
scientious desire to perform its duties prop
erly had caused him to do an unnecessary
amount of work and induced a degree OF anx-
iety inconsistent with the preservation OF MS
health. tt is easy to understand how, with
man of extremely sensitive organization, TINS
might happen. When Mr.. Brennan took q
leave of absence and went to his home, 1t was
thought that rest would restore his strength,
but the event sadly disproves these hopes.
Hrs career in the Legislature had not been
long one, but it had been in every way credit
able to him, and his friends can take some
mournful pride in the thought that he may
be said without exaggeratiOn to have sacri-
feed himself to his duty.
SHALL THERE BEAN EXTRA SESSION.
The most important question which the new
Administration is called upon 10 coneioer at an
early day Is whether there shall be an extra
session of Congress. A good deal Is to DE said
on both sides of this question, and the reasons
pro and con win no doubt receive careful con-
alteration at the hands of the President and
his Cabinet advisers To secure the passage oil
Funding bill would, of course, be the chief
motive for calling the new Congress together in
advance of the date of its regular meeting IN
December next. The mischievous purpose OF
the Democrats to break down the National
banking system by an undetermined attack
caused the failure of the bill in the last Con-
eress. President Hayes refused to be party
to scheme for upsetting the present safe and
well-tried system OF currency and banking; he
vetoed the bill, and the Democrats were too
stubborn to pass it without the Objectionable
Il Abapo IA
sion of law by which the Secretary OF the
Treasury can redeem the bonds which fall due
in May. As these bonds cannot without iegls-
latlon be converted into new bonds bearing
lower rate of interest, and as the Treasury is
unable to take them up by paying their face IN
cold. it follows that without an extra session TO
pass Funding bill they must remain outstand-
ing and draw the old high rate OF interest uGul
next Winter. 1t Ia SAID, and we doubt not on
good authority, that the loss TO the Govern
ment in such case will amount to abOut
twelve millions Of dollars.
An extra session may be desirable on other
accounts If the ApportionInent bull, when
failed because the Senate refused TO pass IT IN
hot haste and without days consideration, is
not acted upon until next winter several otstes
which only have biennial sessions OF their Legis-
latures will be put to the expense OF special
session next winter to give effect to the measure
by rearranging their Congressional Districts.
This is not, however, SO serious matter as
might be supposed, because II the Legislatures
of tn ose States wait for the passage of the bill
at An extra session of Congress beginning In
April, they will have to prolong their usual time
of sitting month or two, and the cost will be
about as great as that of a SPECIAL session next
winter. New-York is almost the only State
whose Legislature sits as late as May, and in
New-York there is not likely to be any change
in the number of Representatives assigned by
the new apportionment.
OF greater importance is the appointment OF
the House Elections Committee, in order that
testimony can be taken during the summer in
the contested cases in number of Southern
Congressional Districts. A fair and thorough
investigation ought to be made of the methods
by which large Republican maorties in certain
Districts in South Carolina, Alabama and
other States we're wiped out and converted into
maiorities for the Democratic candidates. Such
An investigation will require time, and II not
beoun until next winter its results cannot he
renorted in season to do justice to the Repub-
Id IN to al