The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-12-14
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
CONGRESS HAS BEEN SPECIAL
LY CONVENED TEN TIMES.
Mr.. Cleveland Gets 800 Letters n Day
The First Assistant Postmaster General
and His Axle Controls 22G 900 Place.
People Who Want Offices.
Extra Sessions.
Washington correspondence:

| Democratic side OF the political fence.
to the exclusion almost of probable
members OF Cleveland's cabinet. The
President elect himself is, of course,
the only nan who can tell with GER
! Ia nty now whether special session
will lie convened; that il, If he
has made up his mind Oh the subject.
Everybody knows that opinions differ as
to the advisability OF calling Congress
| men together before the usual time, n
J year hence, while some n favor OF the
scheme want the opening postponed
until October, 1923 But whether an
extra session is called or not, and 10
mater at what particular Ierlod of the
comm year. the reason for 50 doing in
case OF spe, ial convocation VII GER
talnly be the revi: ion OF existing tariff
| laws.
Undoubtedly the Mckinley bill will
| come in for the first round share OF at
tcntion.. In any event the gathG ring is
bound to O attended with mere than
the usual d gree OF political interest.
Mr.. Cleveland's proclamation, il he
issues one. will be the eleventh of such
q nature, and Mr.. Harrison's success sor
at the White House will be the ninth
chief executive to avail himself OF the
privilege of calling Congress to meet at
the Capitol before the first Monday CT
December review OF the Con-
gross onal Record shows that two Presi-
dents-Madison and Hayes-convened
special sessions twice each during their
administrations, and since the latter's
term none have taken pace. Four of
the ten en- file had as their object some
ultimate legislation relating to wars al
ready inaugnratcd or in immediate
prospect, and one, that called by JEFF
ferson, was decided upOn TO avert any
threatened complications eri ing over
the purchase OF Louisiana from the
Ere nch, with Spain frownng upon the
deal.
The special session fathe ed by John
Adams in 1897 probably precluded war
fare with France through the active
hostile preparations then autho lied
against the "tri-color republic, but
only two had any bearing upon the
flnaucial ndition OF the co Jntry.
These were called by Van Buren, and
"Tippecanoe" Harris on, and some of
the treasury laws then passed are still
recognized methods OF handling cur
rency. II Mr.. Cleveland listens to the
plea of the ultra tariff reiormers and
procaims in their direction next spring,
the extra session then called will to 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 sub treasury idea
are left untouched.
Barring the iong Jump from 1913 to
1887, extra seS ions have cen regularly
convened at intervals OF from six TO fif-
teen years, but the last Oh record oc
cured in 1879, the middle OF Hayes
administration, and since then the Con-
eres. ional law has Teen long term,
short term ard no specials" so that the
list up to date covers a period of eight;
three years, from 1897 10 1879. and the
flibustering which made the latter
necessity shows how the political OAR
wnian theory had worked its evolution
since the statesmen OF three-fourths of
q injury before legisla'e upon giving
the french dose Of retaliative medi-
cine.
A resume Of the ten sessions called
by Presidents since John Adams time
points out the fact that three were con-
vened by order Of Republican party up
holders, the one of lincoln and the two
during Hayes term filing that side of
the roster. If Mr.. Cleveland puts him
self on record for numt er III, the session
will more than equal in financial inter-
est those called by Van Euren and old
Tippecanoe, while presenting con-
trait to that in Madison's first term,
which had a sort of tariff tinge, because
commercial relations with England and
France were forbidden altogether.
NJ. Cleveland's Mail.
From now until his inaugural on Mr.
Cleveland's mail, notwithstanding his
recently uttered protest, will certainly
average at least /, 800 letters daily.
That was about the number Presid, mt
Harrison received from Immediately
after his election, and it jumped to 1900
per diem afl er his arrival at the White
House. About nine-tenths OF all such
communications are from office-seekers.
ne rest mostly convey advice and sug-
gest ons, offer congratulations, and give
warnings, friendly and otherwise. Bet
ter wear q shirt of mail, wrote one
timid citizen to the. present chief execu-
tive four years ago, while another gave
notice OF the subscribers intention to
blow him up with dynamite. AS is Gus
tomary with them at such times, cranks
OF all kinds in every part OF the country
are wv taking pen in hand" to address
the President-elect by post No wonder
he wants To Seclude hlmSel1 from the
world until March 4.
Whenever a change OF administration
occurs a sort of fever for office seeking
becomes epiGcmic among the people
For months after Mr.. Cleveland comes
in the time OF his private secretary
will be chiefly occupied with receiving
applications for places under the Gov
eminent, and the ante-room at the
White House will be DIVIDED at all
hours with Congressman and others
eager TO secure plums of patronage.
The very hungry and very thirsty"
will swarm upon Washington like grass
hoppers upon green W getab,e patch,
and the swish OF the Gecapitating ak
welded by Mr.. Clarkson's successor
will be continually heard in the Post
Office Department.
The First Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral is conspicuously the man of awe
and dread when q change of admins
tration has come about. He disposes as
he chooses OF nearly all of the $50, 90
Offices in the PostQfflce Department,
which has ten times the patronage Of