Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-12

That there is to be an extra session Of the
a foregone conclusion by republican Congress
men, that they have almost ceased 10 discuss
the probability. Probably four-ffths of the
republicans in the House LOOK upon it as GER
tain that Gen. Harrison will call a ses-
sion to convene about the first part
of April. Members who have talked
with Gen. Harrison on the subject are firmest
in this opinion. Representative Posey, Of In
diana, who has Just come from his home TO sue
coed Gov. Hovey, and Is supposed to know
something of Gen. Harrison's feeling on the
subject, said to a STAR reporter this morning
that he almost knew that there would be an
extra session called. He is not the only one
recently from Indiana, however. who is i'm
pressed with the idea that a called session is
certain.
The only argument that has been made
against 1t is that 70 have Congress in session
during the first months of his term would be a
source of annoyance to the new President. But
it is understood that Gen. Harrison himself
feels that the necessity of
AN IMMEDIATE ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE
is too pressing to be overbalanced by any con-
sideration of mere inconvenience. He is said
to feel that the most important thing for the
republicans now is to hold the two houses Of
Congress and to clear away all the perplexing
matters of legislation that are pressing for
consideration early in his term, that they may
not drag on throughout his administration to
embarrass 1T, or remain to complicate matters
as the next election approaches.
Besides this, large majority of the repub-
lcans in both houses of Congress are con-
WINGED that a special session is necessary to the
weil-being OF the party, and they are urging
upon the President that he call them together
abOnt Anril slafin h.
accomplished before the close of this session,
and then will come the next Congress with
heavy responsibilities and so small and SO I'M
certain majority that, during the time be-
tween the 4th of March and the first
week inDecember, it might be wiped
out, so that the republicans could
not organize the House at al But even if this
should not occur there would remain for the
republican Congress, with hardly a working
majority, great deal of important legislation
being embarrassed by many contested-election
cases over which
THERE WILL BE HARD FIGHTING
and probably some ilibustering. But to start
with they are threatened with hard fight over
an adoption of new rules. 1t is important, if
the republican House is to do any,
thing during the next two years,
that the rules should be amended SO az 10 ex-
tend the powers of the majority IL all these
Things should be held over until December a
great part of the first session would
be taken up in effecting organization,
In adapting new rules, and in
settling contested-election cases. If the tariff
territories, and other matters of that sort re-
manned for action the Fiftv-frst Congress
would find itself in as unsatisfactory state at
Its close as the Flftieth Congress now is
All these things force the party leaders to
the conclusion that an extra session must be
called whether they want it or not, and they
are so sure that such a session will be held that
no plans are being made that do not include
the consideration that they are most likely to
be In Washington during April and May, or
longer.
REPORT ON THE SENATE TARIFF BILL.
The majority of the ways and means COM
mittee will give their report to the republican
members of the committee tomorrow and will
report to the House the next day. This report
will conta in very savage attack upon the Sem
ate bill, and there Will not be very much time
for the minority report. A lively debate
is expected to occur on the floor of the
house, during which many things will be said
about the Senate bill that it will require some
time to, reply to. What is to be done with the
ways and means substitute, and how the mat
ter may stand at the close of this Congress no
one knows, but il cannot be said to be "a popu-
lar idea that any action will be taken by this
Congress. Withal, an extra session is regarded
as certain