Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-29
THE COMING SESSION
Causes Which Led to Calling Con-
gress to Meet.
Mr.. CLEVELAND'S IDEA OF IT.
Matters That May Be Taken Up
After Silver is Disposed Of.
TO PREVENT FILIBUsTERING

| When Clerk Kerr's gavel falls at IL
o'clock on the 7th Of August and Vice Pres
| ioent Stevenson calls the Senate to order
| there will have assembled a Congress which
promises to be one memorable in history.
| whether with good repute or bad time will
| tell. Heaven knows when it will adjourn
| by the 4th of March. 1886 certainly, and DOS
sipiy not sooner, though If all the mischiefs
OF the dark land Confusion should combine
| to do evil to the democratic party they
would probably hit upon an endless session
| OF the Fifty-third Congress as the best
| means.
The meeting Of Congress at this early
date IL accepted as one Of the most natural
! things In the world. and there IL undoubt-
edly need enough for the session-if they
will do anything-but one who traces back
the causes which led to 1t will be somewhat
puzzled.
The First Talk Of An Extra Session.
There appears to have been a demand ''in
the air" for an extra session. 1t was talk
ed about before the old Congress had ad-
1ourned and long before there was any
thought Of getting together for the pur-
pose for which this session was called. 1t
was first said to be a scheme of the friends
OF Judge Crisp to get reelected Speaker
before there was time to form a dangerous
opposition to him. The bare mention Of an
cause the little circle of disgruntied anti
Crisp men to turn alternately pale with
fear and red with anger. and 1t was de-
clared that they would thwart the wicked
Georgia man in his plans. Finally 1t was
discovered that the men who did not want
an extra session were so few as not to fur
ntsh the quorum Of a committee meeting.
But all this time there was no thought Of
| a silver session. The adjournment Of the
last Congress was welcomed by the sound
money men Of that quarter whence wisdom
has come from the beginning Of Christian
times 1t was welcomed because it relieved
the ever dreaded danger OF the passage Of
They were glad Of an adjournment to
get 1t out OF the way. The reason why the
promptly. which was urged on every hand.
was that the revision Of the tariff might
be begun at once. This reason did not seem
to impress Mr.. Cleveland. and the much de-
sired extra session appeared to be unattain-
able until the new reason was found in the
financial situation. Now We have Congress
suDnns from ali iass There sas
been an almost complete revolution in a
few months. and Congress comes together
expected to be a cause for their assembling
mot that they have forgotten the tariff,
but that Ii does not enter into the matter
OF the present getting together.
Beyond the Presidept's Control.
Mr.. Cleveland's idea Of this session is
that 1t will be brief: that Congress will
do what he wants them to in short order
and then get away. What Is liable to hap
pen is very different. The Sherman law
may be repealed. Internationally. without
much delay. but. II so. Congress will not
forthwith adjourn. II the opposition per-
NIT a vot to be taken promptly on a re-
peal bill II will be with the understand
ing that they are to have an opportunity to
legislate on the silver question immedia tely
proposed than the ordinary brain can take
account of or than any brain could COM
prehend. The repeal OF the Sherman law
Of Il this Congress. Though MI Cleveland
can get them together he cannot adjourn
them unless he can get them into disa-
Journment. and a plan to bring that about
would be as difficult Of fulfilment as the
lifting Of the world on a. lever. The prob
abilities as to financial legislation (the
Sherman law being disposed Of point to
the free coinage of silver at a ratio Of
| twenty or more to one and the repeal OF the
tax on state banks, but before this Is ac-
complished there will be many plans pro-
posed and discussed.
Matters That May Come Up.
Meanwhile the ways and means COM
mittee will be at work and by the time
the financial matters are out Of the way.
which may not be until after December,
tariff bill. radical enough to furnish a
cause for some hard fighting. will be ready
for the House to take up. They will also
election laws. and when the other things
pressing are out Of the way there will be
a discussion, II no more. Of the question
of an income tax. Some anticipate bill
for the curtailment Of pensions. but the
chances are that the work of reducing
the pension list will be left to the executive
branch of the government. which Is get
any any legislation to help them. The party
leaders dare not trust this question to
Filibustering to BE Checked.
E,,l;b,stor{p1 will proha hly not he a feat
ure of the proceedings Of this Congress
1t Is recognized by all the big men in Con-
gress and by most Of the little ones that
public sentiment is opposed to such
methods for the wasting Of time and trif-
| ling with public business.
The obstructionists are in a fair way to
| be run over II they stand in the way when
public sentiment has been aroused to the
| seriousness OF this business OF making laws
| times and business disorder. AS a member
| said to a Star reporter. the demagogues
| fession in times like this. and there will be
| very little consideration shown them If
they interfere with the progress Of public
enough on both sides Of the great questions
| that come up. but 1t appears to be under
stood that nothing but up and down fight
| The dilly -dallying obstructive policies are
| apt to hnd no place under the existing cir
| cumstances.
How Mr.. Cleveland Manages Men.
There Is one thing Cleveland has been do
| ing In his efforts to convert Congress to
| his was Of thinking. which shows an under
standing on his part of one side Of human
| nature. 1t may not be publicly known dt
] Is given out here confdentially), but every
| man who holds a seat In Congress is not
| a great big broad statesman It would not
| do for the knowledge of this fact to become
| too generally known, but 1t Is important
| to an understanding Of Mr.. Cleveland 8
astuteness. Strangely enough those men in
| Congress who are much gifted in other
| qualities possess that of vanity to an alb
normal degree. Some Of these men Mr..
| Cleveland has fiattered into an attitude
] where no amount Of threats, pleading or
| patronage could have led them. Every
/ body knows that Mr. Cleveland can talk in
| a very lofty and statesmanlike manner,
i Now some OF these small men love to be
! talked to as II they were men OF import
| ance In this Cleveland has gratifed them.
| He has talked to them as II he felt
| that the fate Of the nation were in
/ their keeping, unfortunately 1t is
| in measure at this time. and
/ he has treated them as II he thought they
! fully appreciated the responsibilities before
! them. He has intimated rather than said
/ that their qualities and position fitted them
| for better employment than the seeking
after patronage. when the credit OF the
| country was in danger and panicky busi-
| ness cried to them for aid. He has pointed
! out to them a higher ambition than that of
pleasing, a deluded and small constituency
| and told them that greatness was to be
1 81 tf,,do 49, ha vvhn