Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-10
EXTRA SESSION TALK.
Revival of the Report That Harrison
Will Initiate Campbell.
SECRETARY HALFORD DENIES 1T,
But in Such Manner as to Still Leave
Some Room for Doubt.
FEDERAL ELECTION BILL PROSPECTS
Landlord Mortons Guests Leave Him Because BE Sells
No More Liquor.
IFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT /

WAsHING GToN, October "a positive
announcem ent in certain quarters, to-day
that an extra session OF Congress would be
called speedily brought out, not only denial
from Secretary Halford, who is at Ottumwa
with the President, that such action had
been decided upon, but also statement
that 80 days notice must be given by the
proclamation, and that if the call were not
issued at once the expiration OF 80 days
would bring the beginning OF the extra ses-
sion so near that of the regular session as to
make the former useless.
If this be true nothing to that effect can
be found either in the Constitution, the Re-
vised Statutes or in precedence. In 1856
President Pierce issued proclamation on
August IS for Congress to convene August
q, on account of a failure at the previous
session to make an appropriation for the
maintenance of the army. In 1879 Pres
ldent Hayes called an extra session on March
to meet March Is, because of failure at
the previous session to make appropria-
tion to meet the expenses of the Legislative,
Judicial and Executive Departments.
PLENTY OF TIME YET.
Congress must be convened in extra ses-
sion for specific purpose only, and if the
President has such movement in view he
can await the result of the November elec-
tions, and yet have Congress in session the
10th or 11th of November, which was the
time suggested at the close of the last ses-
sion by the advocates of the extra conven-
ton.
e IL
Congressional elections and the general
absorption in them. great deal of cores
pondence is in progress among Republicans
in regard to the treatment OF the Federal
election bill when Congress meets. The
President and many of the high officials have
been in daily receipt of letters from leading
Republicans in every part of the country,
and in some important instances these have
been answered at length, and in a manner
tnat would be very interesting to recite if
that could be done.
These officials admit that the politicians,
the local leaders. the rank and file of the
workers, and almost undoubtedly the great
bulk of the party, favor the enactment of
even more stringent law than that pro-
posed, while on the other hand business
element which has intimate relations with
the South is opposed to any such law, and
expression OF the newspapers which are not
strict party organs, and which quite gener-
ally antagoniZe the law.
THE REPUBLICAN SENTIMENT.
A Cabinet officer showed to the corre-
spondent Of The DISPATCH to-day letter
just received from an eminent Republican
leader of the Northwest which recited this
phase of the question at length and very
eloquently, and declared that every Repub-
lican of influence, everyone who had any
regard for the principles and promises Of
the party should declare, in season and out
of season, that the mere mercenary element
Of the party should not control it in a
matter which affects the franchise and de-
Velopment OF more than a million colored
voters OF the South, to say nothing OF the
salutary effect of the law elsewhere. 1t is
evident from the activity with regard to
this question that it will be an exceedingly
vexing one when Congress meets.
The most powerful influences are being
brought to bear to make it the first question
of Importance taken up by the Senate, that
the desire to make long and numerous
speeches upon it may he gratiied without
endangering the passage of the bill. The
administration will add its influence to
that of eminent leaders in every part o.; the
country, and all Of the influential Repub-
llcans of the House will join in the demand
Tor the enactment of the law.
Opposed to this almost overwhelming in
fuence is one which usually gains its point.
no matter what it undertakes, and that is
the commercial interest. 1t has had its
effect already in weakening a number of
Republican Senators, and it is now inde-
fatigably at work to insure the defeat of the
bill. 1t will be pretty fight from the be-
ginning, with the result in doubt till the
polls is closed. LIGHTNER.