The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-01-26

WASHINGTON, Jan 23-The New York
Herald addressed letters to prominent
senators and representatives in con-
gress, asking il they favored or opposed
an extra session of congress and II they
considered an extra session probable.
They were also invited to give their
reasons for their opiniona The an
swers are 30 few that they are not OF
much value as indications of what is
going to take place, but several of them
make interesting reading. Hon.
Michael d. Harter, of Ohio, whose views
are always marked with thoughtful
ness, force and courage of conviction,
writes the most notable letter in the
list 1t is as follows:
eff the purchase of silver bullion is
not stopped by the Fifty-second con-
gress an early session of the Fifty-third
congress may be needed, probably will
be, unless bankruptcy and the disgrace
of falling to the silver standard of Mex
leo and South America are to be suf-
fered. Otherwise 1 see no reason nor any
occasion for special session earlier than
October, nor, indeed, for special ses-
sion at all A purely ad valorem tariff,
eliminating all so-called protective fea-
lures and framed for revenue only,
ought to be sent into congress as an adj
ministration measure, and such bill
should be passed, and would likely be,
without any important amendments
No legitimate business in the United
States now needs or has needed ono
farthing of protection more than any
low tariff will of necessity provide"
Senator Sherman declines to mix
in," but says something on another sub
ject:
81 have formed no opinion upon the
question put by you. 1t is purely a
matter of executive discretion, and
do not care to advise the president
elect MY hope has been that a
constitutional amendment will be
adopted extending the term OF the pres
ident to the first Monday in May, and
have the old congress go out at that
date and a new one come in Immediate
ly. l think congress ought always to
exist fully organized to transact tho
public business, and change in the
season of the year for the end of one
congress and the beginning of another
would be great convenience both to
the public and to members of congress"
Congressman Weadock, one of the
leading democratic members from Mich
igan, says the people have twice de-
| manded a reform in the tariff, and that
the remedy should be applied as early
as possible. He declares that the tariff
has been discussed SO long and so thor
oughly that further discussion is un-
necessary.
''As to the probability of the extra
session." says Mr.. Weadock, "Ilcan only
guess, President Cleveland, it is said,
is disinclined to call one before Septem-
Ger next. Congress may fix an earlier
day, though it is not pro- obable, because,
to use polite word, it is too conserva-
tive. An early session, whether one
called by the president or convened by
law, would probably be brief. The proper
way would seem to be to refer the
question to the committee on ways and
means, with instructions to report by
bill"
Mr. Lanham, of Texas, wants an ex-
ira session in May.
Owen Scott, of Illinois, says: AN
extra session in March and an immcdi-
ate adjournment to the early autumn
would enable the committee on ways
and means to thoroughly digest the
tariff question after consultation with
the new treasury department and still
have q wise and well-considered bill
ready by October /. Then this could
be passed by the holidays"
Oats, of Alabama, thinks there ought
to be an extra session not later than
September.