The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-07-22
SPECIAL SESSIONS.

SPECIAL SESSIONS.
While the country is being agitated
on the money question, and there is
some discussion Of the tariff, it is in
teresting to the student to note the
facts of extra sessions of congress as
they have occurred in our history. By
80 doing one may learn the emergen-
cies that have preceded them, and the
beneficial results that have followed.
Eleven extra sessions have been
held, the first being called by Presi-
deut John Adams and the last by
President Hayes. The latter called
two such sessions, both to make the
necessary preparations for some of the
great branches of government. Presi-
dent Pierce had occasion to call a
special session for a similar reason.
The first in the series was occasioned
by the break in our diplomatic rela-
tions with France under the directory,
and second by our purchase of Louis
lana from France under Napoleon
The most important of all was the
one called thirty two years ago by
President LinIoln, for war legislation.
That session began July 4, 1861, and
closed the sixth of the succeeding
month.
Only one extra session was ever oc-
casioned by hard times, and that was
convened by President Van Buren
September 4, 1887. Specie payment
had been suspended by the banks of
the country in May. The Wings were
anxious to have the national banks re-
chartered, which Van Buren, opposed.
advocating the sub treasury system
substantially as it now obtains. The
fight was bitter one. The Wings
never ceased to put into their national
platform strong anti-sub-treasury
plank, but by the time the Republi-
cans came into power that old issue,
had no vitality Nor was there any
demand for return to the national
bank system. The present national
bank system has nothing in common
with the old one. which perished be-
meath their heel Of Andrew Jack
son.
In l840, as in 1892, the tariff was
the main issue, only protection instead
of free trade won. William I'll. Har-
rison did in March. l84l, precisely |
what Grover Cleveland should have
done in March, l893-lost no time in
calling an extra session of congress.
In both cases the people had by their
suffrages decreed change IN the tariff
policy of the government, and the
business interests of the country de
manded the earliest practicable settle
ment of the question of what changes
in duties were to be made General
Harrison was protectionist, and con
gress was in sympathy with him, as in
the present case the president and con-
gress are both for tariff for revenue
only. The time set for the meeting
was May 81, which was as early as the
senators and representatives of some
states could hear of the call and respond
to it Practically not an hour was lost,
and the session began at the earliest
practicable moment. Unfortunately
the president died in the mean while.
When congress- did meet it was with
no thought that Tyler would repudiate
the platform on which he vas elected,
nor did his message to the newly con-
vened congress outline any deviation
from the party programme. On the
contrary, he advocated protective
tariff, but when 1t passed he vetoed it,
to the utter CONSERVATION and un-
speakable indignation of his party. 1t
was as if Mr.. Cleveland should die be-
fore August 7th and Adlai Stevenson
should send in message in favor of
the repeal of the Sherman and Mo
Kinley acts and then when repeal bills
we're passed should veto them. It Is
not possible for the American people
Of to-day to realize the intense parti-
san bitterness aroused by Tyler's
q of;op