The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-01-28
EXTRA SESSION.
Some Think 1t Can 30 Easily
Avoided.
Sherman Makes a suggestion on the Prosi.
dontial Terin-Harter wants the silver
Purchase Act hopealed-Weadock
THINKS a Reform should Come.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S. The New Yorll
Herald addressed letters to prominent
senators and representatives in con.
gress, asking if they favored or opposed
an extra session of congress and il they
considered an extra session probable.
/ They were also invited to give their
reasons for their opinions. The an.
swers are so 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:
'If 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 see no reason nor any
occasion for special session earlier than
October, nor, indeed, for a 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 ad-
ministration measure and such a bill
should be passed, and would likely be,
without any important amendments.
No legitimate business in the United
States now needs or has needed one
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
l 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 the
public business, and change in the
season of the year for the end of one
and the beginning of another
would be a 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 reform in the tariff, and that |
the remedy should belapplied as early |
as possible. He declares that the tariff |
has been discussed SO long and so thor
oughly that further discussion is un- /
''As to the probability of the extra
session." says Mr.. Weadocls, ''I;can only |
guess, President Cleveland it is said,
s disinclined to call one before Septem-
'er next. Congress may fix an earlier
lay, though it is not probable, because,
10 use polite word, it is too conserva-
i've, An early session, whether one
'alled by the president or convened by
aw, 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
oill."
Mr. Lanham, of Texas, wants an ex.
ra session in May.
Owen Scott of Illinois, SAYS "An
Xtra session in March and an immedi-
tie adjournment to the early autumn
would enable the committee on WAYS
nd means to thoroughly digest the
ariff question after consultation with
ne new treasury department and still
ave wise and well-considered bill
eady by October l. Then this could
e passed by the holidays"
Oats, of Alabama, thinks there ought
be an extra session not later than
eptember.