Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-03

himself Is, OF course,
the only man who can
tell with certainty now whether a special ses-
sion will be convened that is II he has made
up his mind on the subject. Everybody
knows that opinions differ as to the advisability
Of calling Congressman together before the
usual time, year hence, while some in favor OF
the scheme want the opening postponed until
October, 1893 But whether an extra session is
called or not, and no matter at what particular
period Of the coming year, the reason for SO
doing in case Of special convocation will GER
tainly be the revision of existing tariff laws.
Undoubtedly the Mckinley bill will come in
for the first round share of attention, and it
is just family probable that a prospective
bond Issue to cover possible deficit in Uncle
Sam household expenses for the ensuing fiscal
year will likewise be on the list Of events for
that much talked-of special session. However,
in any event the gathering is bound to be at
tended with more than the usual degree of
political interest, and a comparison with other
special congressional sessions in the history of
the country will not be ont of order.
To begin with, Mr.. CIevelands proclamation,
if be issues one, will be the eleventh of such a
nature. and Mr.. Harrison'5 successor at the
White House will me ninth chief executive to
avail himself Of the privilege Of calling Con-
gress to meet at the Capitol before the first
Monday of December. review OF the Con-
gressaondl Record shows that two Presidents
Madison and Hayes-convened special sessions
twice each during their administrations, and
since the latter term none have taken place.
-Four of the ten file had as their object
some ultimate legislation relating to wars
already inaugurated or in immediate prospect,
and one, that called by Jefferson, decided
upon to avert any threatened complications
arising over the purchase Of Louisiana from
the French with Spain frowning upon the deal.
THE FIRST EXTRA SESSION.
The special session fathered by John Adams
through the active hostile preparations then
authorized against the 'tri-color" republic,
but only two had any bearing upon the financial
condition Of the country. These were called
by Van Buren, and "Tippecanoe' Harrison, and
some of the treasury laws then passed are still
recognized methods of handling currency. IfMr
Cleveland listens to the plea of the ultra-tariff
refOrmers and proclams in their direction next
spring, the extra session then called will be the
third IN the history Of the United States, which
may possibly consider public financial matters
per Sc, providing, of course, the free silver
business and Senator PETERS new subtreasury
idea are left untouched.
Barring the long jump from 1918 to 1897,
extra sessions have been regularly convened at
intervals of from six to fifteen years, but the
last on record occurred in 1879, the middle OF
Hayes administration, and since then the con-
gressional law has been ''long term, short term
and specials" so that the list up to date
covers period of eighty-three years, from 1887
to 1879, and the flibustering which made the
latter necessity shows how the political OAR
winIan theory had worked its evolution since
the statesmen of three-fourths of a century be-
fore legislated upon giving the French dose of
retaliative medicine.
President John Adams had only been in the
executive chair q month when official word was
received that France had openly insulted the
American ENJOYS. who requested the frog eat
ers to stop their piratical work on United
States merchantmen or take the consequences.
The ambassadors were informed that big brides
to the French directorate would do the work
together with a national loan to the Gallo
public. but the proposition was spurned and
President Adams directed Congress to meet
on May Is. 1887. 1t didn't require very much
organizing for the legislators to set their minds
ard bill was It once passed to form a new
army and place Washington at the head. APP
preparations were voted to increase the navy
and carry on a strong maritime warfare should
1t become necessary; the various treaties with
France were ordered abolished and French ves-
sells to be captured whenever possible. This
done the special session was at an end and their
legislation evidently had wholesome effect
Tor the expected war never materlailZed.
THE PURCHASE OF LOUISIANA.
Jefferson did not want to take the RESPONSE
when there was every prospect of the United
States becoming involved in a row with foreign
countries over the then discussed purchase of
Louisiana from Napoleon. So on October II
of the same year the democratic founder gath
cred his corps of law makers, and in a few days
a bin was passed authorizing purchase at the
figure Of Sl5,000,000. Spain was disposed to
growl at the sale by the little Corsican, and the
British hon roared, but that session wasn't bow
ing to John Bull and the program was carried
out on the schedule time. From then until
May %. 1909, members of Congress we're pot
compelled TO exert themselves particularly, but
Madison first proclamation suggested the pro-
priety of some action to remedy the growing
discomfort over the embargo act. which had
been passed number of months previously and
had for its object the practical abolition of any
American commercial relations with European
powers. The non-intercourse act then took the
place of the repealed embargo decree. and Eng
land and France were the only countries pro-
hibited from receiving United States exports.
The war OF 1872 came on. however, in the next
few years, and Madison called another special
session Oh May 81. 1913 during his second term
for the purpose of reorganizing the army, which
seemed to have become demoralized bv several
defeats along the Canadian frontier Through
out the next twenty-four years no special
emergency arose, ard it not until Van
Bureu's time that Congressman were again
called ulon to earn their salaries more COM
pletely.
VAN BURENs FINANCIAL CRISIS.
Owing to the wildcat banking schemes
which held full sway in the latter part of Jack
sons administration President Van Buren, had
national financial crisis to face soon after his
Inauguration. panic had spread over the
entire country and specie payments were every
where suspe nded. In New York alone business
failures were reported to an aggregate amount
of Sl00, O00, 600 for two months. and the govern
ment found itself unable to recover revenues
which had been deposited in state banks. Under
these circumstances Van Buren, laid the matter
before an extra session of Congress, and that
body responded by passing a law which author
lied the treasury to issue its own notes to the
amount of SlO.OOO.OO0 The present SUBJ
treasury system WAS also inaugurated and the
looked for relief was obtained, although a great
fight, which took place near the close of the
special convocation, to re-establisha new United
States bank, the institution whose charter Jack
| son vetoed. resulted in the final defeat of that
| pet scheme of the wings.
| In spite of all this matters were not in very
much better shape when William Henry Harri-
| son came to the White House four years later,
and the finances of the country were still in
/ such shaky condition that the party leaders
easily persuaded the President TO follow the ex-
ample of his predecessor and call Congress to-