Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-09-16
A DESPERATE STRAIT.
3sr-.-81 Change OF Programme il Regard ID
li Extra Session o Coagrsss-Hopo
bon the Nsw States,
s,-s T,srcm TO is Rsg.asr.

sec-s, ue~cn to as Rsstssr
WASHINGTON, D. O., September Is
The change Of programme by the Rspub-
lcsn leaders and managers with regard to
an extra session of Congress was based en-
trsly upon partisan considerations, which
bad also irgpired them in virtually de-
termiuiue upon an extra session. Uatil a
few weeks ago there was scarcely q prOmi-
ueut Republican leader who did not pro-
clsin himself in favor Of en- extra session;
and these leaders proceeded to set forth
reasons why the public interest required
lhe assembling Of Congress before its regu-
ls- time. They asserted that q revision Of
the House rules was absolutely necessary
or OBJ put it more exactly, that il would be
nlCs-8ry tO adop, a Sc, Ol rules for the
next House dids ing very materially from
those govegnoriug lis predecessors. They
proceeded that for years the rules had act
ualIy hlmpsrei and hindered business, in
stead of facilitating it, snd that the first
duty of the next House would be 30 repair
all lhis, and obtain a code OF rules that
would enable the peoples business 70 be
p.ouerlF dlae.n It was further as
serted, ord with entire plausibihiy,
I that the preparation, confederation and
l adoption CT neE rules would necessarily be
Ia work OF some tima and the main object
| OF the extrs session would be to complete
/ lh.s work end have everything in smooth
order De the time of the regular assembling
oil Congress.
DANGER IN THE SCHEME.
This was the phase Of the question pre-
seuted 90 Che public, bul there was a par
Gsan scheme involved which was carefully
. concealed. With a narrow majority Of bnt
three Co start with. the ingenuity Of the
I Republican leaders was taxed % devise a
/ scheme whereby this sioriiy could be en-
I hrzld ss speedily as possible. How could
some Of ths contosri1g Republicans be seat
ed without having Co await ail the formal
. i-os 8ni delays attending upon a regular
. judicial investigation by The properly ap-
r..rted committee? That was the all-im-
. po-.snt question. IL was determined that
I under toe guise Cf improvi1g and perfect
Iin. lde rules. a code WOnld bs framed snd
I Iuu. hr1uCh which would vest the speaker
with csrtsin arbiiraiing powers tina. would
deprive the minority Gifts power 90 prevent
the adoption of oppressive partisan
/ LEGISLATION Then with this code OF rules
nr. pared 90 meet partisan eXigency, the
I ID Huocrats would he esiopped from exer-
cug the right of self-protection and O
/ d.zal or eo of the contestant Republicans
/ would De seated upon resolution deClar-
\ linz them entitled TO seals upon prima
/ acia st0w.1s. I was designed 20 inc.ude
/ tho Yves Virginia contestants ia this
scheme To railroad defeated members into
| selis
The frsl obstacle encountered was the
\ |decarltion OF Democratic members that
/ they would resist 90 the very last the
adoption Of any rulss not fair and just
Let them resist, said the Republican
/ sohemers, 'and We viii charge them with
obsuuctiDg the organization Otthe House. "
WAY Ut WAS GIVEN UP.
Democratic an,1gonisn vas anticipated
and was stil determined % 20 ahead with
\ |tEep,an. re.Jily upon an unsCrupu.ous
/ Republican speaker % fnd SOME way to
pu through his party proiec. Then
Icam 'he death Of Laird, Of Nebraika, a
Ip8r i,an Republican, who would have
supported any measure against the D5mO
Icrats. Next followed the d5fss. OF the
Republican candidate in the Third
| L1aisiAua district, which the plotters
bad counted upon carrying. Inee two
blows were followed By authoritative med
I ical evidence to the elsc. that Representa-
tive Nuttiug could not possibly be able to
lend his aid To- an organization Of the
House this fall, even should be live that
| long. This would rsduca the Republican
I minority Co one, snd that was too small
margin to venture upon. Then there were
hurried secret conferences and the project
+ OF en- extra session was hastily abandoned,
/ 30 being argued that by December Laird g
successor that being a sure Republican
dstrict-wouid be on hand and the Con-
grsssmen from the new States would be
ready for admission and work.
THE NEW STATES.
{ In thus basing their hopes upon the new
STATES the Republicans have nothing sub
| slandal TO encourage them. The i've new
members will increase the membership to
800 requiring 165 for quorum. II the
Republicans should carry all four Of the
States they would then have but l69 mem
I bers. four more than a quorum. Bat they
will not get more than three Of the States,
with four additional members, making
their strength stand at los, or three more
/ than a quorum, Just Wha. they had when
\ the extra session scheme was concocted.
/ B1l suppose they lose Washington, as Is
nos improbable, then they would have l67
members 90 163 Democrats, or but two
mere than a quorum all told. 10 is some
thing oi e desperate strait for the Repuoh-
caus aud the don't know lust what to DO.