Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-06
EXTRA SESSION GOSSIP.


There is still uncertainty regarding
an extra session OF congress. 1t has re-
Gently been reported from Washington
that republican senators have been ad-
vised at the white house that it will be
important for them to be within call in
October. On the other hand, the be-
lief is expressed that the president will
not call an extra session. The proba-
billty is that no very serious attention
has yet been given the matter by the
president, there being no urgency for
its consideration. Shortly after the
incoming OF the administration there
was very general feeling among re-
publican members OF congress that the
situation imperatively required an extra
session, but there has at no time been
any intimatiou from the president as to
what view he held. II majority OF
the republican members deem it eXpe-
dent to call congress together in Octo-
Der the president will doubtless acqui-
esce; but he will very likely not act in
the matter except upon such represen-
tation. The only consideration that
now has any great weight upon the
question is the certainty of q protracted
fight over the rules. These the repub-
licans are intent upon changing so that
the minority can not block and thwart
legislation desired by the majority, and
their effort to do so will be met with
stubborn resistance. III the contest
thus assured is not entered upon until
tho roou1nr ~ mo nf tpnotinn IN napan-
Der month or two of the regular ses-
sion will certainly be consumed in this
way, whereas it is possible that if con-
gress were to meet in October the fight
might be brought to u conclusion by the
date at which the regular session would
commence.
There can be no doubt as to the de-
to soidly and persistently resist any
change in the rules. On this, If on
nothing else, they can be depended
upon to get together" and to remain
united. Under the existing rules they
possess an advantage for the obstruction
| and defeat of legislation objectionable
to them, which these propose to hold on
w. IL ~ Dc DOSolDlC w uo oo. ~ uCtho-
| cratic senator is quoted as saying that
| a parliamentary struggle, such as
| the county has seldom witnessed,
| will begin the moment almost the house
comes together. ''It will be con-
gress," said this senator, ''of partisan
bitterness from the start, and give the
| republicans notice that it will be i'm
f,,, +h,, To hoN pf
| their men present from the beginning.
| Our people do not intend to make any
surrender of position or of principle. "
| This unquestionably represents the feel
ing Of every democratic member of con-
gress, and the party whip will
be vigorously employed, if nee
| essary, to keep all of them
in line. The principle they will con-
tend for is simply that of enabling
the minority to defeat the will of the
| majority.
Unfortunately, that majority will be
so narrow that it will be very difficult
matter to defeat the purpose of the op-
position by the usual method of pro-
| cedure. AS the roll of the house has
| cSSh otiiSioiiy up w SlOi n
the republican majority is three. The
| election of representatives in the new
states will probably increase the ma
| iority to eight. This Is a very narrow
margin IN a house composed Of three
hundred and twenty-five members,
and in order that the repub-
licans may carry out their
| plan, every one of their men, as the
democratic senator already quoted said
will have to be present from the be-
ginning. Having thus in view the cer-
tainty of a prolonged contest, the ques-
tion is whether it shall be entered upon
amonth or two in advance of the regular
date for the assembling of congress, or
deferred until the constitutional time OF
meeting and thus be allowed to consume
| perhaps months of the regular session.
A FEW FIGURES.
| Mr.. Hitchcock was very careful, in