Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-12-21
EXTRA SESSION PROSPECTS.
CONTINGENCIES WHICH MAY CALL
THE NEW CONGRESS TO-
GETHER EARLY.
BY Telegraph from a staff Correspoh-
dent of the Philadelphia Press.

dent of the Ihliauelpnla i0os'
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-The
probability of an extra session OF
the next Congress continues to be
discussed by senators and represen-
tatives, but the discussion Is
almost as aimIess and as DEVOID OF
facts on which to base its conclu-
sions az the debate about the Har'
rison Cabinet. Senator Quay the
other day gave the keynote of The
entire speculation when he replied
to the query whether an extra
session is probable by saying: 81
don't know and nobody knows
YETI Aside from peculiar reasons
that may make themselves felt
within the next month or two the
probabilities are altogether against
an extra session. The new Presl'
dent will be burdened with cares
enough when heassumes office with
out having Congress on his hands.
Ii may be assumed that his natural
inclination will be against calling
an extra session. However, should
the next Congress be called to-
gether in March, 1t would be tor
the purpose of doing something
definite. That something would
be either to enact legislation con-
corning the revenue, or to take
action making definite the new
Administrations policy toward the
South. There is no probability OF
a tariff bill passing this Congress.
The failure to revise the tariff,
however, would result in no i'm
mediate inconvenience to the coun-
try so far as present indications 60.
The leading industries would IN.
derstand that the next Congress
would revise the tariff in accor-
dance with the Republican bill as
it passed the Senate, and there
would be no uncertainty about in
vestment, or enlarging particular
branches of trade or curtalliDg
operations, merely because OF an
unknown DOGGY of changes OF
customs duties lurking behind the
screen of the future.
THE RACE QUESTION.
AS for what is expected to be
the other great development OF the
new Administration, the treatment
of the race question and the con-
duct of federal elections in the
South, there is nothing demanding
such speedy action as to call By
itself a meeting Of the new Con-
gress in March. With the natural
disposition of a new president,
therefore, against cumbering his
virgin months OF Office with the
legislative branch of the Govern
ment in full operation, and with
no pressing necessity for immediate
legislation revising the tariff or
putting into force the new South
ern policy, the probabilities would
seem to weigh against an extra
session.
But on the other hand there IS to
be considered the danger arising
from very close balance OF parties
in the House. Should the complet-
ed returns of election certificates
show a Republican majority in the
House of only from one TO three,
the accident of death might easily
defeat the result of the election
One or two deaths among the Re-
publican members select might
bring about serious complications.
The result of the November vote
proved that it was the wish Of the
people of the whole country not
only that there should be Re.
publican president, but that both
Senate and House should be Re
publican also. Should the re.
count now in progress in several
congressional districts leave the
Republican majority so narrow in
the House that accident might
overcome it, there would be good
reason for calling the next Con.
gress together Immediately upon
the end of this one. No pretext
need be presented for such an
extra session. The reason would
be patent and the purpose would
be entirely honorable.
All that such an extra session
need do would be to organize. The
process of organization would in
vOlve scrutiny of its membership,
and that would result IN an e&ami-
nation of contested seats. No one
doubts that such proceeding
would result in an increase OF the
Republican majority in the House
to a respectable and potential
figure, and would do away with all
anxiety about the effect Of the
Wholesale Democratic corruption
and violence in certain congress
nOnal districts in the Carolinas and
Virginias, as well as elsewhere in
the South. This much accom-
plished the worthy task of insuring
the carrying out of the popular
will and having cleared the decks
of congressional contests, which
too often drag along for the entire
two years of the life of a congress
before reaching q decision.
PROSPECTS OF THE SURPLUS.
So far as the surplus in the
Treasury may enter into the reasons
for an extra session, it is quite
clear now that it will not be check.
ed in its growth by any extraOrdl-
nary appropriations made this
session. There are some bills on
the calendar which would cut down
the surplus materially should they
become laws. Such, for example,
are the various plans for coast de-
tense, including the proposition to
arm every harbOr with Pneumatic
torpedo thrOwers, capable of
shatterlng a foreign irOnclad five
miles away ; the River and Harbor
bill, which is always capable of any
amount of stretching among the
millions; the Blair Educational
bill, which need not be considered
in this connection, as it has no
chance in this Congress of becom-
ing law; the bill for post.ofiice
buildings in cities OF 10000 nhabi-
tauts; large appropriations for the
Navy and the Direct Tax bill. This