The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-14
AN EXTRA SESSION.
Congress Will Convene Soon
After Election.
The Move Fully Decided Upon by The
President and His Advisers.
The Federal Election Bill and the ReappOr-
tiOnment Of the House Given as
the Reason for the Step.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13.-It is now believed
that Congress will be convened in extra
session about the last of this month. Sev-
eral days ago correspondents of New York
papers telegraphed that the matter had
already been settled, but before the print
er's ink on the papers had dried Secretary
Haltord disspated this belief by dispatch
from Otumwa: President Harrison will issue
his proclamation in advance of the elections.
1t will not be policy to withhold it until
after they have occurred.
As nearly as can be estimated from exist
ing probabilities, the extra session will be
convened on November 11th or 18th, being
the week following the Congressional cleo
tlons. This will enable any member of Con-
greSs, no matter how remote his district
may be, to reach Washington in time, by
leaving after the polls close on November
4th.
After the adjournment of Congress num-
Der of Senators, including Messrs. Hiscock,
Sherman and Hawley, discussed the sub
Ject OF an extra session with the President.
They found that he favored the idea. and
more than half of the Republican Senators
who were consulted were found to be anx-
ious TO have Congress reconvened before
the regular time in December. Subse-
quently, the matter was discussed at the
Cabinet meetings, and a mijGrity of the
Presidents official advisers coneurred in the
deslrablllty OF an extra session in Novem-
ber.
1t was in anticipation of this that the Sem
ate continued its session clerks through the
recess, though the fact was not limited at
when the resolution was put through. When
the President left for the West his inten-
tions were to call an extra session, the prop
ositlon having the Endorsement of the party
managers III Congress, as well as a majority
Of his Cabinet. Since his departure there
has been such a general acceptance of the
proposition that he will have no reason to
hesitate On his return.
The main purpose of the extra session. of
course, is the passage of the Election Bill,
but there is another matter of equal im-
portance namely, the Congressional appor-
ti0nment. This cannot be railroaded through
the House because it affects personally
every member in it, and the special order
OF business, with the previous question at
tachment, could not be operated with any
success. Consequently the reapportonment
VIII occupy large portion OF the time alter
Congress reaSsembleS.
Not one feature Of the proposed bill has
yet been decided upon. Representative
DuEnell introduced bill which was sup
posed TO represent the views Of the Repub-
lican managers as to the relative representa-
ton to be given each State, but that bill
was based upon estimates now conceded 10
be incorrect. the Dunnell bill was con-
structed upon the basis of population of
nearly 65,000,G0o. More recent and accurate
estimates indicate that the official count Of
the Census Office will not reach 64, COG, 600.
This difference will compel complete re-
vision OF the Dunnell bill. The necessity
for an early start on the Apportionment
Bill is apparent, and this is the most prac-
tical argument advanced by those WHO favor
an extra session.