Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-10
Extra Session Talk.

The talk about an extra session Of Con-
gress increases as the time for adjourn
ment approaches. There appears to be
much uncertainty whether or not the Re-
publican leaders want an extra session.
There are those who think they see IN the
movements Of the minority in the House
tina guiding hand of the willy Blaine.
They. therefore, jump at the conclusion
that Blaine and other leaders of his party
want an extra session because they think
il will embarrass Mr.. Cleveland's admin
istration.
The leading Republicans i'll the House
saw that they do not want an extra ses-
SION. and there is not very much reason
to doubt that they speak truthfully. If
they do want it they can very easily bring
il about. because the appropriation bills
are in. such a backward state that it would
not be difficult to make it impossible to
get them passed by the day of adjourn
ment.
The Republicans are not to blame, how
ever. because the appropriation bills
have not been brought forward more rap
idly. As far as known, they have not
attempted 10 delay them in the commit.
tee. II there is reason for blaming any
body Mr.. Randall must be blamed. Tie is
the Chairman Of the CGi;iimittee on ApprO-
priatiOns. 1t is probable. however, that
he Is bringing the appropriation bills for
ward about as fast as he deems advisable.
1t mas been stated several times that Mr..
Randall prepared the appropriation bills
with such care that he dlsliked to have
them changed by amendments, and that
therefore he brought the bills before the
House late in the session so that the
shOrtness Of time for their consideration
would afford him an excuse to cut of de-
bate and hurry the bills to final vote.
1t is probable that this statement OF the
situation is about as correct as the as
sumption that under the direction Of
Blaine the Republicans are plotting to
embarrass Mr.. Cleveland's administra-
ton. Blaine isn't directing the affairs Of
the country now, and it is useless for the
Washington correspondents to try to
make the country believe that he is.
An extra session might be rather
troublesome to Mr.. Cleveland, and the
Republican papers doubtless would use
it in an effort to discredit the Democratic
party with the country, but, after all, it
would not be an unmixed evil. An o2-
portunity would be afforded for the dis
posaI of several very important measures
that cannot be considered by this
Congress for want Of time. If
an extra session becomes necessary,
however, it will not be probably
because the Republicans want 1t but be-
cause bills that must be passed were not
reported to the House in season to give
the House the time that it desired to con-
slider them.
The Committee on Rivers and Harbors,
Tor instance, although it refused to give
Representatives a hearing with respect
to the wants of their respective sections,
failed to report its bill until late in the
session. 1t found then that it had framed
a bill that it could not pass without great
changes, although it wasted week of the
Houses time in trying to pass It. NOT
withstanding the present backward con-
ditiOn of the appropriation bills, however,
the chances are against an extra session.