Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-11-06

WAsuINGToN, Nov. 1 1881

ASlllNdION, NOV. T. lSoU.
II is stated on the authority of men,
Der of the Presidents official family
that it had been decided to call an extra
session of Congress to meet early in No
vember after the elections. There has
been a good deal of gossip afloatlng dnr-
ing the last week rs to the likelihood of
an extra session, but it was generally be-
lieved that it was pure speculation. The
few members and Senators in town were
inclined to so regard it, and at the Re-
publican Congressional Committee head
quarters last Friday it was stated with
posltlveness that no extra session would
be held. But something seems to have
occurred to make the administration con-
clude that an extra session was necessary.
This something is believed to have been
the advice coming in from all parts of
the country regarding the prospects of
the Republicans in the pending Con-
gressional elections. These advices are
believed to have been to the effect that
the Republicans could scarcely hope to
secure a majority in the next House of
Representatives, Notwithstanding the
immense amount of work they were
doing in the doubtful districts. The eff
feet of the Mckinley bill in causing a
raise i'll prices of many Of the neces-
sites of life proved very discouraging
to their campaigners, and instead of the
bill helping the party it seems destined
to do more damage than any other ele-
ment in the pending struggle. When
Congress adjourned the question of an
extra session was held in abeyance. The
President did not want to call one if it
could be avoided. If the Republicans
could retain their hold on the House in
the next Congress then they could pass
the Force bill at their leisure in case the
short session of the present Congress did
not afford them time to do it. There is
no absolute unanimity among the Re-
publican leaders as regards the eX-
pediency of calling an extra session.
1t being necessary to issue the proclama-
ton in advance of the election, the idea
arises that it would be taken up by the
Democrats, who would charge that the
Republicans did not expect to carry the
Congressional elections, and were fore
stalling their defeat This might work
injury in some of the close districts,
which the Republicans are now en-
deavoring to carry.
80
No problem that has confronted our
Congressional legislators, not even that of
suffrage, has been so troublesome or has
promised in future to be so troublesome
as the problem of pensions. And it is
not because the nation or any consider
able part of it begrudges to the deserv-
ing veteran the small sum he individually
receives as the reward of his patriotism
and self-sacrifice. If the deserving pen
sioner were all there would be no prob
| lem. But between the undeserving APP
| plicant for pension and the still more
undeserving agent in such application
the Republics Congressional committees
and the Republics Golfers have a hard
time. That this time is not likely for a
great many years to be any easier let
these facts and figures based on Com
missioner Raum's recent report, show tC
the incredulous: The number of pen
sioners on the 30th of June last wal
537 ,944, the net increase in twelv,
months having been 46,2l9. Up to Sep
tember 80 there had been filed 460, ,2S:
claims under the new disability act, il
addition to several hundred Thousand
pending on other grounds before the
law was enacted. OF course all these
are not to be set down to increase in tn,
number of pensioners, since they are il
many cases merely for an enlargement
of pensions. But thousands of them are
!
approXimating 100000, and with pros
pect of adding Immediately 100000
soldiers and widows under bill which
has been recommended by the commits
sioner, and which has already passed
the House, it is seen that the time is no
far off when the large sum annually de
voted by grateful people to their pre-
servers will have to be largely increased
In addition to the duty of devising the
ways and means of paying off the
unquestioned Indebtedness to the
survivors of the Union army and thei
widows and orphans, if there is such
thing as paying off such indebtedness il
coin, there is the necessity for watch
fulness in legislation which shall preven
the unworthy and undeserying from
coming in as benefciaries.
*x*
Mr.. Cleveland, who is at present II
Washington, spent a quiet day at his
| hotel yesterday. During the afternoon
he saw a few friends, but was practically
free from the rush that set in when it be-
came known that he was in the city.
The eX-President has said but little
about politics, and appears to be wholly
| absorbed in his law practice. To-day he
will argue before the Supreme Court, and
expects to conclude his business in Wash
ngton and return to New York on late
afternoon train. r.
Practicing for the Eisteddfod.
,,1,, ,e Il