Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-12-15
WASHINGTON. GOSSIP.
CONGRESS HAS BEEN SPECIAL
~ CONVENED TEN TIMES.
Mr. Cleveland Gets 1900 Letters Day
The First Assistant Postmaster General
and His Axle Controls zee, 900 Places
People Who Want Offices.
Extra Sessions.

Extra Sessions.
Washington correspondence:
Ever since the election the question
of a special session OF Congress has
been the one topic of discussion on the
Democratic side of the political fence.
to the exclusion almost OF probable
members of Cleveland's cabinet. Inc
President elect himself is, OF course,
the only man who can tell with GER
tainty now whether special session
will be convened that lie, II he
has made up his mind on the subject.
Everybody knows that opinions diner as
to the advisability OF calling Congress
men together before the usual time,
wear hence, while some in favor or the
scheme want the opening postponed
until October, 1893. But whether an
extra session Is called or not, and no
matter at what particular period OF the
coming year, the reason for so doing In
case of O special convocation Will GER
tainly be the revision OF existing tarif
laws.
Undoubtedly the Mckinley bill will
come in for the first round share OF at
tention. In any event the gathering Is
bound to he attended with more than
the usual de gree of political interest.
Mr.. Cleveland's proclamation, II ne
issues
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. A review OF the Con-
Qressional Record shows that two Presi-
dents-Madison and Hayes-convened
special sessions twice each during their
administrations and since the latter 9
term none have taken place. -Four OF
the ten on file had as their object some
ultimate legislation relating to wars al
ready inaugnrated or in immediate
prospect. and one. that called by JEFF
ferson, was decided upon to avert any
threatened complications arising over
the purchase OF Louisiana from the
French, with Spain frowning upon the
deal.
The special session fathered by John
Adams in 1897 probably precluded war
fare with France through the active
hostile preparations then authorized
against the "tri-color" republic, but
only two had any bearing upon the
finaucial condition of the country.
These were called by Van Buren anc
"Tippecanoe" Harrison, and some oi
the treasury laws then passed are still
recognized methods OF handling cur
rency. II Mr.. Cleveland listens to the
plea of the ultra tariff reformers anC
lproclaims in their direction next spring
the extra session then called will be the
third in the history of the United States
which may possibly consider publ,
financial matters per se, providing, o.
course, the free silver business anC
Senator PETERS new sub-treasury idea
are left untouched.
Barring the long jump from 1913 t.
1887, extra sessions have been regularl.
convened at intervals OF from six TO nj
teen wears, but the last on record oc
Cured in 1879, the middle OF Hayes
administration, and since then the Con
Qressional law has been long term
short term and no specials" so that tn
list up to date covers period OF eighty
three years, from 1897 to 1879. and tn
ilibustering which made the latter
necessity shows how the political Dar
winian theory had worked its evoluio
since the statesmen Of three-fourths c
a century before legislated upon givin
the French dose of retaliative medi
cine.
A resume of the ten sessions Gale
by Presidents since John Adams tim
points out the fact that three were cor
vened by order of Republican party uI
holders, the one of Lincoln and the tw
during Hayes term filing that side {
the roster II Mr.. Cleveland puts him
self on record for number ii, the sessio
will more than equal in financial inter
eat those called by Van Buren, and Oh
Tippecanoe, while presenting a con
trast to that in Madison's first tern
which had a sort of tariff tinge, becaus
commercial relations with England an
France were forbidden altogether.
Mr.. Clevelands Mail.
From now until his Inauguration Nj
Cleveland's mail, Notwithstanding HI
recently uttered protest, will certainl
average at least 1900 letters daily
That was about the number PresideI
Harrison received from immediatel
after his election, and ii jumped to 2,OO
per diem after his arrival at the Whit
House. About nine-tenths OF all sue
communications are from office-seekers
The rest mostly convey advice and sup
gestions, offer congratulations, and Civ
warnings, friendly and otherwise. BET
ter wear shirt of mail" wrote on
timid citizen to the present chief execr
tive four years ago, while another CAV
notice OF the subscribers intention
blow him up with dynamite. AS Is cui
tomary with them at such times, cranl
OF all kinds in every part OF the countr
are now taking pen in hand" to addres
the President -elect by post. No wond'
he wants to seclude himself from tn
world until March 4.
Whenever q change OF administratio
occurs a sort of fever for Office seekin
becomes epidemic among the peopl
For months after Mr.. Cleveland come
in the time of his private secretal
will be chiefly occupied with receivir
applications FOR places under the Co
eminent, and the alte-room at Il
White House will be crowded at a
hours with Congressman and othei
eager to secure plums OF patronag
The very hungry and very thirsty
will swarm upon Washington like gras
hoppers upon a green vegetable pate
and the swish" OF the decapitating {
welded by Mr.. Clarkson's success
will be continually heard in the Po
once Department
The First Assistant Postmaster Ge
eral is conspicuously the man OF ay
and dread when a change of admin
tration has come about. He disposes
he chooses OF nearly all OF the $780,
offices in the Postofflce Departmer
which has ten times the patronage
ali the other departments OF the Go
ernment put together. All OF these, e
cept about coo clerks in the classifi
service and 5000 Presidential postma
ters, he controls, chopping on heads a
filling places according to his fancy.
holds In the hollow OF his hand g.
600 postofices. However, $4,000
IL ~