The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-08-08
EXTRA SESSIONS OF CONGRESS.
From Monday 5 Dailyl

Today At noon the American
/ congress convenes in the capitol
st Washington. in extraordinary
session. having been summoned by
the proclamation of President
Cleveland. The chief object for
which it is called Is understood to
be legislation on the silver gues-
ton, including the repeal Of the
Sherman Act, which compels the
government 10 purchase S+,50O,oO0
worth Of silver each month. The
opening Of this question will IN
doubtedly provoke a sharp contest
between those who advocate the
continued purchase Of silver and
those who oppose it.
In connection with the present
extra session the following histori-
cal sketch of previous extra ses-
sions viii be found interesting. Il
Is taken from Bradstreets
The Constitution gives the Presi-
dent power in section 8 Of article II
to convene both houses Of
congress or either Of them on extra
ordinary occasions, but the power Is
one which has been exercised com
psTsuyely seldom. It Is fourteen
years since an extra session OF both
houses was called. and such sessions
have been called but twelve times
since the foundation Of the govern
ment. including the call lately issued
by President Cleveland.
The first President 10 convene an
extra session Of congress was John
Adams. who called q session OF con
gress IN 1877 TO. consider the subject
Of relations with France. The con
sCess acgUiescsd IN the Presi-
dents plan of sending commissioner
= France 70 strsiglten out affairs
between the Two countries. Presl- .
dent jefferson called an extra session .
Of congress II 1893 TO consider his .
far reaching measure for the pur
chase Of Louisiana, g plan which for
t1usrely commended itself 20 the .
Legislators Of that time. The same F.
President called 81 extra session IN I.
1877 70 consider his famous embargo f.
measures directed against Great Bri-
tain. which also secured the support
OF congress. English depredauons
upon American merchantmen fur
nished the occasion for the next call [
for 81 extra session Of congress.
This wss convened by President Ma
olson IN 1Sll.snd formed the prelude
TO the wsr Of 1872 Another extra
session was convened IN 1914 70 con
slider questions growing out Of the
wsr. The next extra session Of con
gress was not called until after the
lapse Of more than two decades. Il /
w4s called by President Van Buren,
il 1857 To consider the condition Of I
the finances Of the country. A call /
Tor 81 extrS session 10 consider the !
same general question wsS issued In
lS4l by President Harrison, who .
died shortly sitter congress met. The
next extra session was called in 1886 /
10 make appropriations for the army,
Ii passed q bill providing the sppro- |
1rjstiors asked for, and emitting S ]
oroviso which had caused the de,
lest OF the bin in the preceding con. /
gresS.
Congress was next convened IN eX- /
rs session In 1861 70 consider ways I
md uesns for prosecuting the civil /
ysr. ii wss not found necessary 90 I
,ouvene an extrs session from tbSt /
lime until 1S1I when President I
hayes called congress together 10 /
lssS 81 appropriation for the army. I
he 1872 President HAYES called Sul, ]
her exuS session TO pass apprcpris- /
sous for the army From t6St tame
10 the present period % fourteen 4
,eSrS, no eNtrS session u congress /
lSS been cSNed twill be noticed /
hat the authority 10 call extra seS.
louS wSS more frequently exercised 4
n the eSrlleg tbSn In The later periods !
81 the country, For example, Eve q /
.he extra sessions were cSllej during /
he frst quarter ot q century under 4
he constitution, 0nly f0Gr were /
,Slle5 daring the next halt century, 4
While in the lSst ihrea decades bar /
.We extra sessions were called ls1or I
- that which has 5uSt heeo summon /
II by Mn. Cleveland,