Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-31
FRIDAY. ........ MARCH 81, 1893.
An Extra Session.

II seems to be conceded in Washington
that the President has decided to convene
Congress in extra session next fall IT is
added that this extra session 10 to be called
for the purpose Of disposlng OF tho tarlh
question as soon as possible. That Is to
saw, he wishes new tariff to be framed
and put into operation long enough before
the congressional elections of next year
are to be held TO enable the Democrats by
q" campaign of education 10 prepare the
people TO vote intelligently on the ques-
tion OF supporting OF rejecting that tarif.
OF course the President has no right to
convene Congress in extra session and then
require that body to consider any particu-
lar measure. Therefore, when it is stated
that Congress is 10 be called together for
the purpose Of considering the tariff 1t 10
lot meant that Congress can be instruct
cd as to what it shall do. but merely that
90 far as the President is concerned the
extra session will be convened in order to
revise the tariff. And his wishes viii be
respected by Congress.
Extra sessions Of Congress have hereto
fore not been popular, but that fact will
not influence Mr.. CLEyELASD's action. He
knows what he is about, and the people
have confidence in him. They are very
much inclined to look upon him as "a
man with a MISSION" OF. in other words.
rs better qualified than all the congress
men taken together TO define the policy
which the Democratic party ought to adopt
relative not only to the tariff but to every
subject of legislation. So he will run no
risk of displeasing the masses even If
after he has convened Congress in extra
session that body shall fail to inaugurate
policy pleasing to them. He will 90 I'M
censured, and Congress will have to bear
the odum of having failed to second his
efforts to secure the framing Of the very
best of possible tariff bills.
When some months ago il was suggested
that Mr.. CLEVELAND might call an extra
session of Congress 10 meet about the 4th
of March we opposed that proposition as
one not TO be for moment favored by the
President, but added that an extra session
10 meet IN the TALL of the year would be an
entirely different thing. Mr.. CLEvELAND's
practical good sense forbade the idea that
he should favor the former proposition.
He is not blinded by his reelection to the
presidency. He does not claim to be
above other men, nor does he expect any
other. result than defeat If he and his
party fail TO do their duty. 1t Is con-
Vincing proof of his sagacity that he re-
cognizes the defeat of the Republican
party when it went into battle on the Me-
KISLEY bill as due to the fact that the
people had not had time to post them
selves in regard TO the merits and de-
merits of that measure. and so. being COM
PEELED to vote before they could vote I'M
derstandingly, decided to vote the Demo
cratic ticket. Mr.. CLEVELAND thus gives
notice to ali concerned that he would not
expect different result 10 follow IN the
case of the Democratic party if it should
60 into the fight of next year upon a tariff
act passed only few months previously.
Let all tariff reformers learn a lesson from
the President.
When Congress meets in December IL
does so with the understanding that the
whole of December is to be wasted be-
cause the Christmas holidays come so
soon after the assembling OF that body.
MIR. SrRINeEE says that Congress would
gain as much time by meeting in Septem-
Der or October as the difference between
the time Of its assembling and the time
for the regular meeting. We would say
that Congress will gam twice as much
time. IL ought to do as much legislation
between the lst of September and the lst
of December as it generally does at the
long session.