Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-03-23
Affairs In Washington

The most exciting question just now at
the national capital seems 10 be whether
there shall he an extra session of congress
called 10 meet in May or not. It is said
that the republican leaders in congress
favor such a session hut that the president
is averse to calling one if It can be avoided.
Among the arguments used last month
in favor of called session was that the
apportIonment bill had failed and that
extra sessions of state legislatures would
have to be called in half the states if new
bill was not rushed through at once. This
argument falls to the ground because sew
eral legislatures have adjourned and a
May session would not help them. And
any legislatures that are now in session
can do as the Vermont legislature did last
fall pass conditional bill dstricting their
states There is no state where the num-
Der of representatives is not certain into
one.
The failure of the funding bill is the
main thing brought forward as rea.
son why there should be session.
There are some six per cent bonds that
become redeemable this summer and Of
course It they cannot be called in and
paid fiom the proceeds of bonds issued at q
lower rate of interest there will be several
millions paid out in interest during the
last half of this year that might be saved
could II funding bill be passed.
The sum to be saved is probably between
wer the only question to be considered
there would be no question as to the pro.
priety of calling nm extra session. 1t i:
however seriously claimed that a larg,
part Of the bonds coming due could b.
paid outright and that some arrangement
could be made by the treasury department
whereby there would be no great payment
of Il higher interest than would have TO b,
paid undel a funding act. Fears are ais,
expressed that session would cost more
than it would come to, in appropriation
thrt would otherwise not be made and il
its general effect on business.
The fact is there is in the country a
large no great feeling either for or agains
an extra session and the people are wei
content to leave it to the best judgment o
. those whose immediate duty it is to decid
the matter.
The argument that the one way or tn
other is better rs n political measure i
good for little. A called session is n
liable to help one party rs the other; an
when all is considered it must be remem
Der that there is not in either part,
unanimity rs to what sort of fundin!
measure should be passed and we NIGH
get the session without having hi
passed that would save the government
much in the way ofinterest in the long run
When congress does come together it
probab)e that the Mormon question wi
be up for some settled policy to be deter
mined upon. The president is said to b
earnest in his wish that once for all polye
amy shall he stopped, and that he wi
urge that this be done by some act ths
will secure the Legitimacy of chldre
already born in polygamons wedlock.
Meantime the executive session of tn
Senate will probably close this week. Las
Friday the committees we're appointed
IA" republicans controlling the organiza
ton, Malone voting with them and Davi
with the democrats. Mr.. Morrill, become
chairman of the committee on finance an
Mr.. Edmund5 on the Judiciary agar
There was a very lively debate last wee
when Ben Hill undertook to whip Ger
Malone into the democratic ranks an
couldn't do it. Malone will doubtless vot
rs he pleases, sometimes with one part
and sometimes with the other.