Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-15
AS TO AN EXTRA SESSION.
The Question Depends Largely on the
Amount of Appropriations this Session.
IF THE SURPLUS Is GREATLY REDUCED AT THIS
SESSION THE NEXT CONGRESS Is NOT LIKELY
TO BE CALLED TO MEET BEFORE THE RKou-
LAR TINE FOB ASSEMBLING.

The republicans in Congress who most dread
the calling Of spring session Of the Fifty-first
Congress look to large appropriations this year
to relieve Mr.. Harrison OF the necessity for
such call. The principal thing to bring about
a special session is, of course, the tariff. Other
reasons come to the support of this
that without it would not furnish sufficient
excuse. If the republicans should have five
majority in the next House, and the
surplus should be got rid Of in suf-
fcient quantities this winter TO tenn
porarily relieve the country from danger
on that score, it would obviate the necessity Of
an extra session. Last year, as was shown by
The STAR at the time. expenditures for the cur
rent year were authorized nearly up to the esti-
mated revenues. OF course, some of these were
continuing in their character and do not of ne
cessity come out of this years revenues. but
they were sufficient to make q pretty heavy
draft upon the surplus, together with the bond
purchases. Corresponding appropriations this
year would be great relief to the surplus to
be turned over to Mr.. Harrison's administra-
ton.
THE OPPONENTS OF AN EXTRA SESSION
hope to see large regular appropriation bills;
to see the direct tax bill become a law, taking
about S17 900 600 from the Treasury; to see a
large river and harbor bill 60 through, besides
liberal provisions for coast defenses and for the
navy, and, il possible, the Blair educational
bill and the bill for post-ofice buildings in
cities of ten thousand inhabitants. There
really appears to be no considerable chance
for any tariff legislation this session, though
many would favor the idea suggested by Mr..
Browne of passing temporary measure COM
prising features to which there is no especial
objection. Large expenditures is the only
other way of reducing the surplus. But there
appears to be little to encourage them in this
plan. The democratic House and democratic
administration will be responsible for the ex-
penditures authorized this session, whatever
mild encouragement they might get from the
other side. There will be an effort made by
the democrats
TO KEEP THE APPROPRIATIONS DOWN,
and they promise to amount to less by consid-
cradle than they did last year. Last year there
were some extraordinary appropriations. The
deficiency amounted to more than 10 million.
and extra miscellaneous expenditures amounted
to 10 or IL million. and the river and harbor
bill to nearly % million Nearly all this may
be subtracted from the probabilities Of this
session. The general deficiency bill has not
yet been prepared. but the indications are that
it will amount to very little. There will prob
badly be no special deficiencies, and there is a
very common feeling that the river and harbor
bill of this session. though scarcely more than
Bnt in this connection it must be considered
that argument is being made to convince the
members of the Senate commerce committee
that it is not the duty Of republicans at this
time to offer more than a mild protest against
democratic extravaganza"
PENDING APPROPRIATION BILLS.
To offset these extraordinary appropriations,
not apt to be repeated this session. the direct
tax bill, with its seventeen million, in confer
ence. But there is no certainty of.that bill be-
coming law, since it appears to be threatened
with the Presidents veto. II there is any large
sum appropriated for public buildings this ses-
sion, or if the Blair bin passes, il will not be
with the assent of the democratic managers,
but because they cannot help II. The appro-
priations committee of the House has been
pressing its business to the front with vigor
Two bills-the District and pensions-have al
ready passed the House. The legislative bill is
on the calendar and will probably pass early
next week. The only others in the committee
are the sundry civil, the fortifcation and the
general deficiency. The last will be extremely
small, and the others are not expected to