The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-08-07
EXTRA SESSIONS or CONGRESS,

Today at noon the American
congress convenes in the capitol
at Washington, in extraordinary /
session, having been summoned by /
the proclamation Of President /
Cleveland The chief object for /
which it il called is understood to /
be legislation on the silver ques-
ton, including the repeal Of the /
Sherman Act, which compeIs the 7
government TO purchase $4,500,00 I
worth Of silver each month The I
opening Of this question VIII IN
doubtedIy provoke a sharp contest /
between those who advocate the
continued purchase Of si.vr, 81
those who oppose it. --0rl1Vsr ana
In connection 81
Extra ss,5; Iev With the present
.i,ars. Session the following histori-
cal sketch of previous extra SEES
sions viii be found interesting. 1t
Is taken from Bradstreets
The Constitution gives the Presi-
/ dent power IN section 3 OF article IL
I To convene both houses CT
congress- or either of them on extra
/ ordinary occasions, but the power ls
/ one which has been exercised com
/ parativeIy seldom. I5 10 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
| bv President Cleveland
The first President to convene an
extra session of congress was John
Adams. who called a session OF con
cress IN 1877 TO consider the subject
Of relations with France. The con
Grass acGuiesced II the Pre=I-
dents plan of sending acommisslorer
TO France To straighten out AFFAIRS
between the two countries. Ffesl
dent jefferson called an extra session
of congress IL 1903 to consider ais
far reaching measure for the pur
chase of Louisiana, a plan which TOR
tunateIy commended itself TO tie
Legislators of that time. The same
President called an extra session II
1907 to consider his famous embargo
measures directed against Great BrI
tain. which also secured the support
OF congress. English depreda5lonE
UPON American merchantmen Iuf-
: nished the OCCASION for the next cal
for an extra session or congress
This was convened by President Ma
: dison. IN ISL, and formed the prelude
/. TO the war of 1872. Another eXtr;
session was convened IN 1874 TO con
slider questions growing out or Ght
! war. The next extra session or con
rrgss was not called until after tht
: Iapse of more than two decades. L
l was called by President Van Bure'
E IN 1897 to consider the condition o
q the finances of the country 4 ca
for an extra session to consider IA
sane general question was Issued L
i. IS4I- by President Harrison, VII
r died shortly after congress met IN
next extra session WIS called n 100
Z to make appropriations for the army
!, It passed q bill providing the appr'
y CREATIONS asked for, and emitting
proTiso which had caused tho d'
y feat of the bill IN the preceding COS
e gress-
- Congress was next convened N G
ira session ID 1861 TO consider way
u and means for prosecuting the CIV
n war. Il was not found necessary
= convene an extra session from tn
time until 1S77, when PresIdel
le HAYES called congress together
d pass an appropriation for the arm
G. In 1879 President Hayes called an
Their extra session TO pass apProprI
tons for the army From that TIN
to the present, a period OF fourte'
wears. no extra session of ccngre
of has been called. 1t viii be notlcr
that the authority to call extra Sc
Z sIors was more frequently exercise
CT in the earlier than ID the later perlO
~ of the country. For example, tive
the extra sessions were called durIl
III the first quarter of a century ind
or the constitution Only four we
Of called during the next half centul
while IN the last three decades .
r. two extra sessions were called PR
20 TO that which has Just been sUmmc
= ed by Mr.. Cleveland