The Helena independent., 1892-12-28
FOR AN EARLY SESSION
Crisp In Favor Of Meeting in March
For the Purpose Of Organ
izlng
He Would Start the Ways and
Means Committee on q
Tariff Bill.
And Then Adjourn Until the Following
Fall-The Contest for the Speaker
ship -Washington News.

OF the fact that Speaker Crisp and Don M.
Dickinson held an important conference
the other day aroused great interest at the
to the organization OF the next house. Fol-
lowing close upon the heels OF the confer.
ence. Speaker Crisp is quoted as being in
favor Of tho early meeting of the next con-
oress, 80 that the organization may be
effected, the committees appointed. and
desks cleared for prompt tnriff-reducins
legislation in the fall. The speaker is
quoted in the Evening News as saying:
II think there is no doubt that the ma
jority of the democratic members of both
houses of congress favor the proposition
of an early extra session limited in
its objects. They would be perfectly
willing to meet and sit hero for three or
four weeks il that amount of time
was necessary to organize the house and get
the work on the tariff satisfactorily started.
The prompt revision of the law on this SUBJ
ject is recognized as the great duty of the
democratic party. The sooner it can be
commenced the better.''
By this statement the speaker means that
he 10 in favor of tho adjournment of the
new congress as soon as the wheels are set
in motion for tariff investigation by q
house committee, and the preparation of a
bill to be presented to the Fifty-third con-
gress as soon as it convenes In regular ses-
sion. The speaker says. moreover, that the
house could not do any work at an early
session if they wanted to. He says on this
point:
IF the plan suggested of calling an early
session only for the organization of the
house and its committees was adopted,
there would be absolutely nothing for the
members to do. even if they wanted to. It
would be impossible to get the estimates of
the departments for tho next years ex-
penses so early. and it would follow, there
fore. that the members could not prepare
or pass appropriation bills. 1t would be
foolish to spend the time in discussing the
tariff in glittcring Reneralities. That has
been done in the last few years to such an
extent that the public is perfectly familiar
with the differences between the two parties
on that subject. II will undoubtedly take
the ways and means committee several
months to prepare well-considered meas
ure upon which to base a direct discussion.
The house has never refused to adjourn or
take recess when so recommended by the
ways and means committee, and the Fifty
third coagress will not be an exception to
the rule"
It is reported that at the conference be-
tween Speaker Crisp and Mr.. Dickinson the
fact was developed that the plan endorsed
by the speaker OF a session of the new house
in March and an adjournment until fall,
after arranging for the tariff investigation,
is Mr.. Cleveland's plan, and that he is
warm advocate Of 1t, provided he can be
assured that the adjournment will promptly
f~Il
elect. it is said, does not want congress
here. but ia willing that they should come
together to prepare for the real work of the
regular session. The speaker is confident
that large majority of the members will
be quite willing to order the adjournment
as soon as the ways and means committee
has been clothed with the necessary author
ity to pursue its preliminary tariff work.
Recent political events have orystallized
on the speakership question, and
the friends of Judge Crisp now ioyfully an
nounce that he will be the only candidate
of the democrats. The result of the can
vass in behalf of his reelection is stated to-
day by Representative Cultivate. of Ohio,
one of hlB lleutenants to be as follows:
'Tbs friends of the speaker have ascer-
tain ed the views of large number of the
house, and out of total membership of
PIT democratic members in the next house
l40 have signihed that they will vote for
Mr.. Csisp. 1t will take only 100 to give him
the caucus nomination"
The anti-Crsp men, or at least the men,
bers of the old Mills faction, are not ready
to acoept this rosy view of the situation.
There are several anxious candidates among
them who dispute the claim of the Crisp
men to the possession of 140 votes. One
of these possible candidates. Mr.. Brecken-
ridge. of Arkansas indicated the unwill-
ingness of the Mills cotingent that Mr..
Crisp ia sure of re-election.
"Will there be any opposition TO Mr..
Crisp. or has the matter yet taken shape?''
he was asked.
IL could not at this time give you any
definite information one way or the other"
he replied. II think it is too early to
sneak Rbouk the next eakership