Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-11-26
sATURDAY.. NOVEMBER 26, 1892
The Extra-session Question.


Democrats as to whether there should or
should not be On extra session OF Congress
next year. Experience has not taught
acme of them that an extra session IS more
dangerous TO the incoming Administration
than 10 the outgoing one-to the success
ful marty than TO the defeated party. 1t is
feported. too that the southern members
of Congress hold that the people having
exnressed themselves as opposed to the
MCKINLEY tariff are entitled to relief from
It's burthens at the earliest possible mo-
ment. The people certainly expressed
themselves at the late elections as unmis-
takably opposed to the Republican party
hut in thus voting they were not thinking
more OF the tariff than of the new force
hi, Indeed. the proposed force bill is en-
titled 10 the honor of having reunited the
.outhern people in the Democratic party
and stopped tho "Iavsges" of the third
nsrties of various names. 1t IS Az odious
bnl., A good many of its features are
already On the national statute book.
These features of the proposed force bill
ought to be repealed at once. If an extra
session Of Congress is needed in order to
lid the country Of JOHNNY DAVENPORT let
us have one.
We doubt. too, whether it would be safe
for the Democrats 70 repeal the MCKINLEY
law in toto, and revive the tariff as 1t stood
before that law was passed. For example,
the duty on sugar would thus be revived,
and the free breakfast table would cease
TO exist. We cannot but doubt whether IT
L - no N QnOnf
such a policy The best tariff cannot be
blocked out" by single statute. Such
a tariff must be the product of much study
mad much labor. IL must grow into the
best form gradually. 1t must be evolved.
il must be considered in committee. and
De made TO conform to the teachings OF
experience.
1t is supposed that Mr. CLEVELAND does
not look with a favorable eye upon the
proposition to hold an extra session next
year. We are glad to hear this report. and
trust that II Will prove to be true. 1t would
not comport with propriety for the Demo
cratic members Of Congress TO try to COM
pel the President-elect to begin his admin
is;ration by calling an extra session. lie
- too wise 10 allow himself to be coerced
into doing what his own Judgment does
not approve.
The DISPATCH and the New York Times,
each without any knowledge that the
other would suggest such compromise,
have proposed 10 yield to the wishes of the
friends of an extra session 50 far as to
agree TO the holding Of an extra session OF
Congress beginning IN September or there
-.
about. THIS proposition ought to be &C
cep.able to all the Democratic congress
men. The postponement will afford both
the new President and tho new Congress
an opportunity to survey the path they ex-
pect to travel before they begin their jour
bey. The Commercial Bulletin, OF New
tork, good authority. Saws that az conces-
sion on both sides is demanded by the cir
cumstanoes of the case the postponement
TO September list Is probably the most pru-
dent course. The Ttmss says 1t il con-
ylnced that September or October ses-
sion Is what the country needs.
The Chicago convention which nomi-
mated Mr. CLEVELAND was cautious IN It's
tariff utterances. 1t went no further than
endorse the efforts made by the Demo-
Gratis of the present Congress TO modify Its
1.-THE MCKINLEY act's) most oppressive fea-
lures in the direction of free raw materials
and cheaper manufactured goods that en-
ter into general consumption"
The present House of Representatives
has hitherto acted prudently. Ii passed
bill placing wool on the free list and re-
ducing the duties on articles made of
wool; bills placing cotton ties. binding
twino, and bsgging on the free list;
bill reducing the duty on tin plate to the
ante MCKINLEY figure. and bill reducing
the duty on lead ores In word, at the
last session OF Congress the Democratic
House of Representatives pursued exactly
the policy which we now recommend TO
the Congress to commence on the Attn OF
March next. II was this policy, therefore.
tina, the people approved of by their votes
ia the recent elections.
II an extra session shall be called and 1t
shall afterwards appear that the senators
from the silver States are the same Repub-
icans they have always been except upon
the silver question, somebody will have
committed AL irrepsrable blunder. Let rs
be wise aud wary.