New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-12
AS TO AN EXTRA SESSION
FEELING m CONGRESS ON THE sUBJECrI

PREPoNDEHANCE OF SENTIMENT AMONG IN
PuBLIGANs IN IT'S FAvoR-A SPRING SEES
s1oN, THEY THINK, BOTH NECESSARY
AND PROBABLE = DECIDED oPPo-
sIrroN BIZ RESPECTABLE
MINORITY.
far xsLxsnAPH 70 TIE rsIBrxE1
Washington Jan. I1-There is considerable talk here
about the probability and advisabinty Of special
session of the List Congress Ever since tAe cleo
ton thare has bscn sentiment in favor Of It, snd
within tho last fortnight indications have appeared
that good many Republicans have begun to regard
1t as among the political probabilities VINO would
deprccae the pecsssiies which caused II Some pains
has been taken to obtain the vews Of Senators ana
Representatives on the subject and tho result VIII
be found below.
1t should be stated that these optnicns arc largely
based upon the assumption that tho present conno9
will neglect refuse TO do cortnn things respecting
which early and prompt action rs expected BY ths
country especially revision Of the tariff and informal
laws and legislation for the admission Of te
Dahotas and Washington and probably Montana The
narrow Republican majority in the next House. tho
possibility that 1t may be lost by Illness death.
the demand for prompt decision IN Of the election
contests and the need of legislation in regard to The
election Of Representatives In Congress among the
other chief reasons assigned 10 prove tho necessity
or among the arguments used to maintain the de-
sirabily of special session. There Is no doubt
that tho feeling that special session VIII be neccs
sary IL not desirable, has been grestly strengthened
by the obstructive flbustering policy Of tho Demo
cratic majority In the present House While the pre-
ponderancs Of sentiment among Republicans fsvors
the probability and. perhaps. the dcsra5ilty Of
special session. that view Of tho is strongly COM
bated by a respectable minority. 1t is contended
that special session. especially In the spring, would
seriously embarrass the new Administration, both as
TO policies and measures and by tho opportunities Of
oiceseekers, and that the failure Of Congress to &C.
compish what might be expected or desired Of II at
special sesAoD would strongly react against the Ad
minfstraton and party in power Opponents Of
special session also insist that there Is no pressing
necessity for revision Of the tariff and internal rev-
enue laws.
AS less imortant factor may bc mcntioned the
personal disinclnaHon of members 10 omain IN Wash
ngton for indefinite period after having been In
almost continuous attendance for fifteen months.
The views of the 81 Republican Senator's and 80
Republican Representatives which given below
may be briefly summarized follows: Fourteen sens
ators regard special session desirable or probably
necessary, both, while Senators opposed to
special session and regard as improbable Of 50
Republican Representatives 30 consider that special
session Is desirable necessary both, and regard 10
as probable, while IA are opposed 70 and ro
gard special session improbable. An
Of the men who generally regarded ayowed can
dldates for Speaker Messrs Reed Mckinley, Burrows
and Henderson, OF Iowa, favor special session.
So do Messrs. Perkins, Of Kansas, Henry Cabot
Lodge and Major Farquhar whose names have bean
mentioned as among the aspirants for that honor
without their consent Tho expressions herewith
presented fairly representative Of the sentiment
among Republicans in both branches Of Congress on
this subject -
SENATORS ON AN EXTRA SESSION.
n taf, -.
ira session win be necessary. 1t rests with tho
present Congress to say whether must be called
II they will enact the pressing logslasSen IN extra
session be avoided.
Senator Allison--we can't tell yet It all depends
upon what Is done during the balancof tho session.
II none of the necessary legislation IS accomplished
and things go on as they going now, VIII havo
to have an extra session. The next few weeks will
tell
Senator Sherman--I can't say whether there win be
an extra session or not That is matter that rests
entirely with the Executive. There arc still
nearly two months of the present session remaining.
What will be done during that time 1t Is impossible
now to predict The situation ct the close Of tho
present session will probably guide the President in
determining whether there shall bo extra session Of
the new Congress.
Senator Cullom--The indications now that therc
will be an extra session. The situation is such, at
present. that 1t almost impossible 20 avoid one
Perhaps personally, shall regret It, and IDiAsps one
will not be called. But the existing condition OF
affairs points to the necessity of early action on
pressing and important legislation.
Senator Plumb-I don't know thing about IT, OF
course, on general principles extra session Is
thing to be avoided, and all want TO escape one II
possible. The situation looks bad now but It may
change. Events may turn out 50 that we won't hayo
to come back But We can't tell yet Tho remain-
ing weeks of the present session win probably decide
the matter.
senator Manderson-Things are drifting now IN such
helpless aimless way in the House that It looks very
much as II would be necessary for the President TO
call an extra session. l certainly am not pleased
with the prospect Of coming back here TO work Iut
the present session is doing nothing
Senator Blar-Yes, think there certainly should
be an extra session called after tho present
adjouns. We ought to find out at once whether tho
Democrats or the Republicans have majority in mo
next House. Tho Territorial legislation should be at
tended to, and ths great industrial questions given
pcrmanency Noifing has been done BY tho
present session and everything is unsettled The
people OF tho country want TO know how thing are
going TO stand for the next few years and as this Com
grcss won't dispose Of the tariff question, the noxt
must do so.
Senator HIscock--I think that an extra session
Is not only desirable but absolutely necessary. The
the tariff question is got out of tho way The
better We cannot hope for ssrevision Of the tarf
until 01, and possibly 92. II We don't begin work
upon II as soon as the Administration comes In.
Senator Chace-T against holding an extrs
session There is necessity for it, neither IS 10
desirable. 1t would be unwisc, and don't think
that General Harrison will call
Senator Hawlcy-On general principles an extrs
session is, doubt, undesirable. Still, there may
be reasons which will make IL necessary to call one in
March / should not like TO express an oprion
until know what the present session viii accomplish
1t may be that we viii reach agreement on tho
tariff. That would reduce tho surplus and rearovs
one Of the chief arguments now made In favor Of
extra session.
Senator Chandler-A called session is unavoi aplc-
1t is certain to be had Tho logic OF tho sita:ion
points TO It, I can't the harm which such
session might bring with it, as some seem to fs'nk
The admission of the Territories alone is sufficient
reason for having one.
senator stockbridgc-Yes, look for an extra
session. and / think ought to have one The
ciosencss ~of the next House makes IL desirable In
odx ANA II, ,tsvr h