Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-05
COMING CONGRESS.
The Activity in This City That
Accompanies Its Meeting.
SOME FORMER EITRASESSIONS.
Incidents That Have Made These
Events Memorable.
TROUBLES OF ORGANIZATION.

TROUBLES OF ORGANIZATION.
The advent of q session Of Congress l.
always Of the deepest interest to the city
Of Washington. Its social and business life
Is increased, in fact almost doubled. SO
many Members Of Congress and Senators
reside here during the session and large
numbers Of persons visit Washington for
business or pleasure during the meetings OK
Congress. This interest Il enhanced when
an extra session is called to consider crisis
which is felt all over the country. The or
ganizatton OF q new House Of Representa-
ttves attracts an increased number OF stran-
gers to Washington. candidates and their
friends and others. although we do not look
for any delay in the organization like those
which occurred in December. 1855 and 1859.
The organization Of the Thirty-fourth Con-
gress was not completed SO far as the cleo
ton Of the Speaker was concerned until the
"a OF February. 1856. Then the usual de-
lay occurs In naming the committees. which
at that time was very difficult process.
Tor the House Of Representatives was COM
slavery and anti-slavery democrats, free
soflers and know nothings. General Banks
displayed great judgment In forming the
elements. The other protracted contest &C.
CURED when William Pennington Of New
Jersey was elected. He presided over the
Thirty sixth Congress-. which met December
Q. 1859. and a contest for speakership went
on until the LIST of February following.
his election is assured, and. it would seem
likely. on the first ballot But the cleo
tion OF speaker and the other officers of
the delay which must e1fsue in the arrang-
ing or the committees. This will be a par
tieularly delicate task just now. Already
principal committees and II the change be
made. 1t will involve contests among the
friends OF the deposed candidates. 1t will
pc SAFE TO say that the organization of the
weeks and that It is a very liberal allow
the preparation Of the bills which viii be
brought before Congress. touching the pres
ent financial condition OF the country.
The Extra Session in 1S41.
The extra session OF Congress which
meets on Monday resembles in some re-
| spects the Congress called by Gen. Harri-
son In 1874. The financial condition of the
country was at that time much more SER
ious than It Is at present; All the banks
CURED throughout the whole length and
breadth Of the .land. and in such a con-
tingency the whig party. then in the as
| remedy. The removal Of the deposits from
the Bank of the United States and its con-
sequent destruction. was the cause assign
whelmed the whole business Of the country.
During Mr. Van Buren's administrat ton
several schemes were proposed. remedial
IN their enects, as were supposed but they
| all failed to meet the requirements Of the
day. When Congress met in 1Sl Gen. Har-
rison had died. and Mr.. Tyler was then
President. 1t was well known that he was
not In favor of national bank. and that
he would veto any bill containing provi,
saons IKE senS unto TT those Of the old United
Secretary OF the Treasury and the COM
mittee of ways and means were supposed
and mourning his veto as they did. the ex-
| element throughout the country and its
effect upon the financial centers can hardly
| be imagined at this time
The comparison between Al and the pres
ent day can scarcely be considered. The
fifty years that have rolled around have
| made such changes In all the uses of daily
life that what at that period would have
| been a remedy would at this time utterly
grsssional action are expecting immediate
relief. but that is impossible. In the very
order Of things the processes of congress
schemes. and the debates which must fol-
low, all point to a lengthy. animated and
exciting III, special session. That some
1t will not be speedy one. The excite
ments attending the extra session Of ls4l
can have no place in this age. The actors
deluvtan, but there are enough in the pres
ent condition Of affairs. the remedies pro-
pos Pose "a ana the debates upon them which VIM
particularly in the senate. ''@~''A'
Power of the Clerk.
! During the period prior to an organtza-
ton the clerk of the House of Representa-
| tives has always exercised the duties of
Speaker. presiding over the House. putting
questions and deciding contests ana rules
| of order, and 1t was reserved for Mr. John
Quincy Adams to object to the power OF the
ton arising before the House he sither put
| the question himself to the House or In
duced a friend to do SO. The clerk. Hugh
A. Garland. withdrew from the chair, and
| the House elected a chairman pro tenn
| That precedent was not follow ed. however,
and during the long delay. which resulted
In the election Of Mr.. Banks, John w. For
| ney, clerk of the House. presided over its
| deliberations. and at the close of the con-
test Congress recognized his ability and
fairness by voting him the pay Of Speaker.
The election of Gen Banks was the enter
ing wedge which demoralized the demo-
Question: The on Se savef cf
the north. with very few exceptions. fell
into the ranks of the newly formed repub-
Gratis became more and more aggressive.
until finally the breach was 30 widened by
the troubles in Kansas that the election OF
| Mr.. Lincoln was rendered sure
The extra session Of 1861. called by Mr..
Lincoln on the Fourth Of July Of that year.
was rendered necessary by the withdrawal
tives from the seeding states. In April
the first gun fired at Sumpter ended all
| IDEAS OF peace, ana IL was to meet the
grave question and provide for the preser-
walton of the Union that the House and
Senate were called together. They met on
the Fourth Of July. 1861. The representa-
tives from the south were without con-
stituents. and those of the north came
together with determination to preserve
the Union at all hazards. There was no de-
lay in organizing that session. 1t was very
brief, and essentially a business one,
When 1t ended the war was In full force
The city Of Washington and all the sur
rounding country had become a military
camp. The other extra sessions which
have been called were simply to provide
for appropriations which had failed a,
the previous session, and having accom-.
plished that object. adjourned.
An Exciting Incident.
An exciting incident occurred during the
organization of the Thirty-ffth Congress-
1 think. William J. Brown Of Indiana. q
very prominent democrat, had been nomi
mated for Speaker, and had a very strong
support The free sellers" held the bal
ance Of power, though not very numerous
1t was charged by a democratic opponent
Of Brown on the floor that he had writer
letter to David Wilmot. then a member
Of the House Of Representatives. piedgtns
himself to give the free sellers the ma
jority OF the committees on territories and
on the District Of Columbia which was al
important to them in shaping legislation or
the slavery question, particularly as slav
cry had not then been abolished in the Dis
trict of Columbia. The charge was mad,
openly, and Brown called on to deny OIL