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

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civil war in the '.sunHower" commonwealth,
President Pierce became alarmed He deter
mined to break the record of the previous If
teen years and on August II, 1856, Congress
convened to talk the matter over. Nothing Of
moment was done, however, beyond having
salutary moral effect on the growing fuss, and
until the civil itself came In no special ses-
sion was ordered. That couvocation, which
was called for July 4, 1881, was undoubtedly
fraught with the most intense national issues
Of any among its forerunners In the extra line,
and barring short recesses Of few days Ut q
time the special finally merged into the regular
on the first Monday Of December following.
1t was then that Congress appropriated $780,
000, 900 to put down the rebellion and author
lied Mr.. Lincoln to call out 500, 900 troops. be-
sides directing him to use the strictest measures
possible to further the object.
With the war at an end no need Of the kind
arose for nearly fifteen years after the surrender
at Appomattox. Congress adopted series Of
peculiar tricks in Johnsons administration and
practically held special sessions for the purpose
Of keeping strict watch on the chief executives
appointments, whom the impeachment proceed
ings had failed to remove him from office. Ac-
cording to the Congressional Record the
weightier class Of introduced bills had all been
disposed Of by June 1868, the long term being
In session, but congressman were as well versed
then as now in the prolongation business, aud
1t was an easy matter to take recesses Of q week
or ton days occasionally in order to Al the time
until the short term needed to begin by law
While to all intsuts and purposes special ses-
sions, these weekly and bi-weekly meetings
were not In reality such Is the Constitution men
tons as extras to be called by the President,
and President Hayes was the first ruler after
Lincoln to avail himself Of the privilege.
TO Owe THE ARMY MONEY
The first occurred October Is, 1877, during
the initial year Of Hayes term, and the second
March 10, 1879. Both had as their object the
passing Of Apr OPERATIONS, which met the fate
that came within ace of being meted out to
the sundry civil bill la st summer, but with one
special session there 10 connected quite bit Of
unwritten history, and an immense amour Of
pressure was brought to bear upon Hayes, DO tn
pro and con, In relation to the projected extra
convention. 1t was at the time of the former
of the two occurring during his adminstra-
tion and the only difference between what
Hayes did and Cleveland may do next year is
that just now both sides on the issue are doing
their declaimiug publicly, while In 1877 those
who opposed an extra session did 80 to the
President in private. II the authority Of a
man prominent in official life there is ample for
the statement, Hayes was on the point of Civ
ing up the idea of a special session in response
to the arguments leaning that way, and only the
day before his proclamation was issued decided
that nothing short of young revolution would
result il he yielded. Had he done 80 there
would have been no regular army in the United
States, at least not until Congress met again in
regular session and appropriated money for its
maintenance. 1t would have been an absolute
disbanding process for few months anyway,
and the ultimate outcome very much Of piece
of guesswork. However, the special session
furnished the needed millions by legislation
and that ended the trouble, which had all come
about in this way:
The regular session of Congress finished its
deliberations in March, 1877, without passing
the customary army bill. on account OF dis
agreement over several involved pieces of
legislation, which contemplated various
changes in the system Of promotion. The con-
ference committees could not strike medium
properly and neither side appeared willing to
pass the appropriation without coming to
definite decision on the side clauses attached.
There the concern dropped, and when the
fiscal year ended in July the supply Of cash for
officers and soldiers also ended, being
legally unavailable. or course a camor at
once arose for an extra session, while more
than one man urged the President to take ad-
vantage Of the fact that there WAS no appropri-
alton for the army and disband it. Such
move would have a wonderful effect on foreign
powers, it was argued, and state militia could
look after the constantly recurring Indian
troubles in the north west without particular
expense to the government. The chase after
the Nez Percss in their long fight through
Idaho and Montana. SO goes the story, was
what decided Mr.. HAYES and determined him
as to the absolute necessity OK regular troops.
The following day The requisite proclamation
went out and the extra session was fact.
Nevertheless, it was nearly December before
the Senate and House came to terms on the
bill and gave the army its pay. The session of
1879 met only two weeks after the short term
closed, and little time lost in getting the
sundry civil bill through and scattering the
members t. their homes.
resume of the ten sessions called by Presi