The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-12-22
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
CONGRESS HAS BEEN SPECIAL
LY CONVENED TEN TIMES.
Mr. Cleveland Gets 800 Letters . Day
Tho First Assistant Postmaster General
and His Axle Controls 2e6 900 Places
People Who Want OfYices.
Extra Sessions.

Washington correspondence:
Ever since the election the Gu sticn
OF special session OF Congress has
been the one topic Of discussion on the
Democratic side Of the political fence.
70 the exclusion almost of probable
members Of Cleveland's cabinet. The
President himself is, Of course,
the only man who can tell with GER
ia nty now whether a special session
will be convened; that il, il he
has made up his mind on the subject
Everybody knows that opinions differ as
to the advisability of calling Congress-
men together before the usual time, a
year hence, while some in favor OF the
scheme want the opening postponed
until October. 1893. Eut whether an
extra session is called vi not, and no
matter at what particular period of the
coming year. the reason for so doing in
case of q special convocation VIII GER
tainly he the revision of existing tariff
laws
Undoubtedly the Mckinley bill will
come in for the first round share of at
tention. Tn any event the gathering is
bound to te attended with more than
the usual d gree of political interest.
Mr.. Cleveland's proc, c,amation, il he
issues one, will be the eleventh of such
a nature, and Mr. Harrison's successor
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 Of
! December. 4 review OF the Con-
gressonal 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 inaugnrated or in immediate
| prospect. and one. that called by Je:-
ferson, was decided upon to avert any
threatened complications arising over
| the purchase OF Louisiana from the
| French, with Spain frownins upon the
deal.
| The special session fathe ed by John
| Adams in 1877 probably precluded war
| fare with France through the active
hostile preparations then authoi lied
| against the "tri-color" republic, but
only two had any bearing upon the
financial ndition 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 cur
rency. If Mr.. Cleveland listens to the
plea of tho ultra tariff retormers and
proclaims 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.
1 hn 70
1887, extra sess ions have teen regularly
| convened at intervals of from six TO fif-
| teen years, but the last on record oc-
cured in 1879, the middle Of Hayes
administration, and since then the Con-
| gressional law has Eeen long term,
short term and no specials, SO that the
list up to date covers period of eighty
three years, from 1897 to 1879. and the
filibustering which made the latter a
| necessity shows how the political Oar
winian theory had worked its evolution
since the statesmen Of three-fourths of
century before lesisla:el upon giving
the French dose of retaliative medi-
| cine.
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 filling that side of
the roster. If Mr.. Cleveland puts him
| self on record for numt er IL, the session
| will more than equal in financial inter-
est those called by Van Buren, and old
Tippecanoe." while presenting a con-
trast to that in Madison's first term,
which had sort of tariff tinge. because
commercial relations with England and
France were forbidden altogether.
Mr.. Cl-velantl's Malt.
From now until his Inauguration Mr..
Clevelands mail, Notwithstanding his
recently uttered protest, will certainly
average at least 500 letters daily
That was about the number Preside mt
| Harrison received from Immediately
after his election, and it jumped to 1000
per diem after his arrival at the White
House. About nine-tenths OF all such
communications are from office-seekers.
The rest mostly convey advice and sug-
gestions, offer congratulations, and give
warnings, friendly and otherwise. Bet
ter wear a shirt of mall" 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 now taking pen in hand" to address
the President-elect by post. 10 wonder
he wants to seclude himself from the
world until March 4.
Whenever a change of administration
occurs sort of fever for Office seeking
becomes epidemic among the people.
For months after Mr.. Cleveland comes
in tho time of his private secretary
will be chiefly occupied with receiving
applications for places under the Gov
ernment. and the ante-rOom at the
White House will be crowded 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 a green vegetable patch,
and the swish" OF the decapitating 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 a change Of admins
! tration has come about. He disposes as
Offices in the Postoffice Department,
which has ten times the patronage OF
all the other departments Of the Gov
ernment put together. All of these, cx-
cept about COZ clerks in the classified
service and 5000 Presidential postmas-
ters, he controls, chopping off heads and
filling places according to his fancy. He
holds in the hollow OF his hand 65,
600 postoffices. However, $4,000 o,
these yield less than 800 of salary
yearly. and the incumbents in most
cases will not find the loss Of their posi-.
tisns a great misfortune. Already the
Postoffice Department is receiving
scores of letters daily from such fourth
class postmasters, who are anxious tC
resign. One of them writes: If give
up my postoffice plant for 81, 900 t. a
Democrat, will you appoint him and will
you guarantee the security Of his situa.
ton during the coming four years.
While welding the AK Mr.. ClarksOn' &
successor will make his appointments
usually in obedience to the wishes ex.
pressed by Congressman as to the dis
tributiOn OF the patronage in their re-