The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-07-07
wAsHIIaroH LETTER
WASHINGTON, July 3, 1903.

meet August 7th, IL Delnp generally
conceded by everybody that the hnan-
cial situation demands Congressional
legislation, although, of course, there
is difference OF opinion as to the ex-
act nature Of what that legislation
ought to be. 1t is we'll known that in
calling the extra session for August in
stead of September as originally in
tended, the President deferred to pub
lie opinion as represented by promi-
nent individuals and business organi.
cations in every section. They stated
to him that in their judgment an extra
session would have tendency of itself
to restore public confidence and i'm
prove the financial situation, and al
though it greatly inconvenienced him
personally and doubtless many of the
Senators and Representatives who had
made their arrangements for Septem-
Der he yielded, and good effect is al
ready perceptlbe.
Now that the extra session has been
called, the question naturally arises,
what will it do y. Mr. Cleveland states
in his proclamation that "'The present
perilous condition is largely the result
Of financial policy which the execu.
tive branch Of the government finds
embodied in unwise laws which must
be executed until repealed by Con-
gress, and it would seem that both
House and Senate being democratic
there should be no difficulty in having
those unwise laws repealed at the re-
quest of democratic administration,
particularly when the fact is remem-
bered that the Chicago platform, up.
on which the democratic party carried
the country by an overwhelming ma
jority, denounced the laws and de.
manded their repeal but there is a
difficulty, and doubt, although it is
growing less substantial, as to the re-
peal of the Sherman Silver law.
The absence of Mr.. Cleveland, who
does not expect to return to Washing.
ton until just before the extra session
meets, and the reticence of the men,
bers of the cabinet, most of whom ex-
pect to take their vacations between
this time and August 7, indicates that
having done its duty the administration
proposes now to keep its hands off
and let Congress do its duty, believing
that the business interests or the coun-
try will make its influence sufficiently
felt in Congress to make the repeal of
the Sherman law certainty. A per
sonal friend Of the President said this
morning ~ do not believe that Mr..
Cleveland will have another word to
say publicly on this question until he
sends his message to Congress, which
if mistake not will be q convincing
document"
Senator Vorhees, chairman Of the
Senate committee on Finance, who
has always voted for the free coinage
of silver, is strongly in favor OF the re-
peal of the Sherman law and expresses
the belief that it will be repealed The
Senator is always power in Congress
and his aid will unquestionably be val
liable in the Senate, where the strong.
est opposition to the repeal will be
met. 1t seems to be settled in the
minds of those who have been stndy
ing the question that the House will
vote for repeal by majority Of moi
less than twenty, although it may take
good leadership and some hard fight
ing to get it to vote.
! In view of the probability of pro
longed fight in which the whole silver
question will be stirred up, and it:
probable bad effect upon financial af
fairs, the suggestion has been made
that it would be good policy for the
extra session to pass a resolution au
thorizing the President to suspend the
purchase of silver under the Sherman
law and then at once adjourn. 1t i.
claimed by the advocates of this plar
that it would demonstrate before the
opening of the regular session of Con
gress whether the purchase of silver
was as largely responsible for the fl
nancial stringency as il is claimed te
be and would enable Congress to leg
islate upon the subject with more in
teliisence. On the other hand, there
are numbers of democrats who say the
party is pledged to give the coun,r,
financial and tariff reform and that the
work should begin with the extra ses
sion and not end until it has beer
thoroughly completed.
The canvass for the officers of th'
House will necessarily have to b'
short Speaker Crisp will be re-elect
without opposition, and clerk Kerr il
so far the only candidate for his posi-
ton. In addition TO the Incumbent
= S. S. Yoder, of Ohio; Charles H
Turner, of New York, and Lycurgu
Dalton, of Indiana-there are mum
Der of gentlemen who would like tC
be Sergeant-at-Arms, Doorkeeper anC
Post Master, and the probabilities arr
that thev will make a very lively cam