The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-08
CONGRESS IN EXTRA SESSION.
REMEDTIL FINANCIAL IEGISLd TON
LIkELr TO BE Debated.

CONTESTS Tor seats In the House ana fennte
May Prercde the Consideration Of Ftnan.
cini Questions Many Pro.SiIver and Ants
silver Mn Thinh IL Getter to Organise
the Committee. Before Any Attempt u
Made TO Consider Enact Legislation
The Presidents Mrssn2e to he Sent to
the Two Houses To-dn, Co, su,tnt,on- OF
Members Favorable TO the Repeal OF the
Sherman Act to Arrive at some Plan OF
Action that VIII Satisfy All Parties.
WASHINGTON. Aug. Tho first day OF the
extraordinary session of the Fify-third Oon-
gress. called by President Cleveland for tho
purpose OF enacting legislation to relieve the
alarming financial condition OF the country,
has passed away without q word having been
said on the subject that brought tho states
men together. Tho Senate adjourned very
abruptly on receiving the announcement OF the
death of Senator Stanford. which occurred n
month ago. and the House spent the day In
electing its Speaker and choosing the sents
that the Representations ot the new Congress
will occupy. At the White House President
Cleveland awaited the coming of the usual
committees from the Senate and House to an
noUnce to him that Congress was ready to do
business. and was prepared to reply to them
that he would at once communicate to the two
Houses In writing. His message was com.
pleted. and the office carriage stood at tho
door to convey the private secretary to tho
Capitol with tho important document The
Congressional committees did not arrive.
however. and the message was locked up In
the White House safe to be sent to Congress
tomorrow.
Notwithstanding the pressing necessity for
immediate action. and the eaGcrncss OF the
anti silver men to at once begin the discus-
sion Of the financial question: 1t is likely that
bitter party fight must first be settled on tho
floor Of the House. and less bitter one on the
floor OF the Senate. with regard to certain con-
tested seats. Mr.. Bourke Cochran has been
very active to-day in making prominent his
desire to introduce in the House to- morrow,
at the very first m oment Of the session. a reso-
luton providing for the INN ediate sus pension
Of the bullion purchase clause of the Sherman
net until Congress shall havo enacted necss-
cary legislation. and to plunge the House at
once into a financial debate without awaiting
the appointment OF the committees. Mr..
Cockran's programme will probably not he
carried out however, as HIS colleagues ON the
New York delegation have repudiatel il. and
as 1t meets with general disfavor on all sides
Instead. therefore. of a general debate to.
morrow on the silver question, or the consi,l.
eraticn o! any legislation on this subject. the
House Is apt to be called upon to settle tho
contested case OF Belknap against Richardson.
from the Fifth district OF Michigan. Charles
E. Belknap was the Republican representative
from the district In the last Congress. and
George F. Richardson claims to be- elected TO
this Congress- by a plurality OF ten votes. and
as he had the certificate OF election from the
Democratic State officials. the Clerk of the
House placed his name upon the rolls. Mr..
Belknap. however. has q certificate backed up
by a decision from the Michigan Supreme
Court. saying that he is legally entitled to the
certificate and he will tomorrow demand his
seat. The facts In this case arc OF
such character that even somo
Democrats think that Mr.. Belknnp was
elected and should be seated. At any
rate. the Republicans have determined to do
fend his right to the seat. and they announce
that under the leadership OF Representative
Burrows Of the Third Michigan district thcy
will fight the case In open House Tomorrow.
claiming TO be justified in such action by the
alleged outrageous attempt to steal Mr..
Belknap's seat. In the Senate. too. there are
some cases OF Senators from the new States
that must be settled at once before tho roll OF
nom bership can properly be made up. and
the indications are. therefore. that the subject
OF silver legislation will not be publicly dis
cussed in either House to- M rrow.
This threatened delay is not encouraging to
those enthusiastic members OF all parties who
are eager to respond at once to the demand
for remedial legislation. but even some OF the
most ardent men in the silver and anti-silver
ranks think 1t would be much better In all
ways to fully organize the House and commit
tees before any attempt is made to consider or
enact legislation. Mcssrs. Bland. Culberson.
and other leaders OF the free silver party think.
for instance. that any proposition that is made
should be first considered by the regular Coin
ra,, Q 10 hall
have been appointed by tho Speaker. AMI that
much more satisfactory results would follow,
such course as this than would be the OUT
come OF an attempt to plungeth House. while
yet unorganized into n general financial de-
bate. In the Senate the demand for orderly
proceedings is no less strong. although the de-
lay there need he but briet. as the com mtttees
are in working order. having been appointed at
the extra session "t no Senate In March last.
All sorts of propositions for financial legisls-
Ike i Sns hanarsa bliis and re.oiu,i"ns on ihs
ductiop shall arrive. ll.ot these rr9pss,-
und di state. and there is no sort II son.
census OF opin on Tor or against anr ~ them:
TsSsh are s%D 9 Whom nd Ey Ola.
play their Ignorance and their "agerness to be
recognized as authorities on the subject OF
finance. Some % the proposed schemes arc
o. sufficient merit. however. to receive serious
discussion. hut by far the larger portion Ut
them will DO lost sight Of as soon aS the alss-
ton Of framing bill comes formally before
the two Houses.
Until speake. Crisp is rea dy 70 announces his
committees. which It is not likely he Will do
before "Wednesday. At the earliest. the aues-
ton OF whether he intends TO yield to the do
mand OF a large pari # the Democrats Of the
House and deposc Chairman springer VI the
Ways and Means Commit tee. Chairman Hol-
man OF tho Appropriations Com mites. and
Chairman Blnnl OF the Coinage ,'ommtttre.
will be eagerly discussed and specialized upon.
Tho pressure upon SPEAKER Crisp to induce
him to retire Mr. Syringe and thus dl;frs',s
punching holes In the tartii, is very strong.
md as Mr.; Crisp is not man d very s!ir
Mr.. Sprinx.r's opponents already announce
that the Sneaker, has Weakened; And that the
mittee will DO William L. Wilson u West
VIRGINIA. who, It is salt VIII Join
that Will be almost radical enough o. sa'isfy
that ha nrnIiiiSaa m the tlirupO Dl.itfnrm