The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-03-25

Those forces which are likcly.to prove
potential seem to be in motion in behalf
of an extra session of Congress; there
does not now appear to be much doubt
that n call for such session will be issued
within n short time. The President was
at first avcrse to the proposition, for he
was shrewd enough politician to see that
it was not n good way to begin an nd
minstraton of which the country was cX-
pccting everything good, and which
could afford less than any of the admin
ministrations to make mistakes Extra
sessions of Congress have ruined parties
before now, and they are uuquestionably
heavy loads to carry.
But the arguments which have been
presented to President Garfield in behalf
of IN extra session are, fiom partisan
standpoint, very powerful. The Demo
cratic purpose, undoubtedly, is to go be
fore the country with the veto of the
funding bill for an issue. That
would not only answer the purpose
of au issue in the coming election, but
the loss which the failure of the measure
must be to the National Treasury will
serve as an issue of real Importance in
the Congressional election of 1882. The
funding bill rs it passed the last Congress
was n popular measure, it was vetoed at
the dictation of few headlong national
banks, and the advantages which the
Democrats get from it must be regarded
with some concern by the administration
party. If that party has any defined
policy regarding which seems now to be
doubtful, it could destroy this Democrat
ic issue by prompt action in favor of a
popular and at the same time safe re
funding measure. 1t would save the now
anticipated losses to the Treasury and
repair the mistake made by a Republi-
| can President with his veto.
An extra session is wanted by the old
extremists and stalwarts of the party,
who have been in back seats during
Hayes administration, for purpose like
ly to prove of greatest peril to the party.
The intention is to revive the Southern
question, with all its manufactured hor-
rors as political issue. A dozen or more
Democratic members representing South
ern districts are to be unseated on the
ground of intimidation and outrage. An
extra session would set dozen sub-com
mittees at work IN various parts of the
South, and inconceivable horror would be
spread before the people of the country
in such way sand at such time rs
would make the hair of the voter stand
as the fall elections come on. The ia
miliar scenes of the first six years oi
Grants reign would be re-enacted, and
the seat of no Southern Democrat could
be considered safe, if any one could be
found to make contest. The party
extremists cannot be made to believe that
the Southern question is worn out yet
An extra session will enable them to fix
up the changes which it may be desira
BILE, from party view. to make in the
House and get secure working major
ity without much delay when the regular
session begins in December.
The apportionment Of Representative:
under the late census has not yet beer
made This affords another pretext fol
an extra session. An apportionment
made within few months would save 9
number of States the expense of an ex-
ira session, which would be inevitable
were the apportionment delayed till next
winter This is as much as anything 9
matter of policy, the Republicans having
filibustered against and beaten an unden
iably fair apportionment measure in the
last House. They finally got through
their own measure at the last moment, bu
when nobody expected it to pass finally
The responsibility for the failure of the
apportionment is upon the Republican.
and they will be very willing to repair
the damage as far as possible.
There are four vacant seats in thu
House, two for New York and one eacl
for Michigan and Maine. The Michi
gan vacancy will be filled now within /
short time by special election, which
has been called and the candidates named
Nothing has been done toward filling
the other vacancies and if an extra sess
ion is called the meeting will b
so timed as to admit of the election o
new members. The Republicans coulC
not organize the House without assis
lance from members elected as Green
hackers, unless they should secure thre
of the four vacancies. They are likel,
to do this, but it is an additional part
san argument for an extra session tina
| they can much more safely risk thes
{ elections now than to take the chances
next November.-Phila Times.