Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-06-16
THE PUBLIC INTEREST DEMAND
AN EARLY SESSION

A@' <AhHLA ObOCAOHs
Whilst the convenience of members of |
Congress has to be considered In determin-
ing the time at which a session of Congress
shall be held, conventional conditions are
frequently given consideration In de-
termining the date of assembling which
have little basis of fact TO determine them.
Washington undoubtedly is much pleas.
anter place in winter than In summer, and
it is desirable, other things being equal, that
the sessions Of Congress should occur in the
cold months of the year. But, when public
business requires 1t, it has been found easy,
in spite of the hot weather, TO hold the Sen.
ate and the House in session, and, indeed,
1t has sometimes happened that more con-
gressional business has been transacted in
August and September than in December
and January.
The Congress that passed the Mokzin-
ley law considered the passage Of this Of
sufficient importance to justify 1t in con.
tinuing the session of Congress through the
entire and well into the fall, and IL Congress
can be held together in this way through the
scorching days Of summer, there is no good
reason why the demands of public business
should be set aside by postponing the open
ing of a session of Congress until well in
the fall.
II is urged that our hottest weather is in
the month of September, extending often
until the middle OF October. We think that
the heated term should not be given this
undue importance. Indeed, 10 our think.
ing, 1t would have been much better for the
country If Congress had been called TO
gether in May TO deal with the tariff ques.
ton and the threatening currency problem
which imperatively needs solution. The
financial situation has grown visibly worse
through delay, and, therefore, it is, in our
opinion, essential that too much stress should
not be laid upon the physical convenience
OF the elected representatives of the people.
BY the first of September Mr. Cleveland
and his cabinet advisers will have been in
Office hall year, time amply long enough
from any point of view to give them an OPP
portunity to determine the needs of the pub
Tic service, and to establish policy, even
in the matter of official patronage, which
will not give way before congressional so
licltatlon.
The Fifty-third Congress was elected in
November, 92, 10 perform definite duty
Indeed the election last fall was an emphat.
ic protest against the policy of the defeated
70 dir
stances more than year must elapse before
that protest takes effect in actions, but If
considered OF sufficient Importance to hold
Congress together during the sultry months
of 1890, in order to pass the Mckinley law,
1t eyinces want of robustness of nature or
an inability TO appreciate the demands of
the American people TO say that the weather
is too hot at Washington in September to
warrant Congress In meeting for the pur
pose of forwarding the repeal of the Nc
Kinley law.
We think all American citizens are will
ing to admit the somewhat critical charac
ter of existing conditions The financial
condition of the country is exceedi ngly un
satisfactory Not only has great depression
taken place in the market values Of most
forms of security, but ordinary business is
widely depressed, and failures on the part of
merchants and banking institutions have
taken place at a rate without its parallel in
recent experiences. This condition OF at.
fairs, which has been brought about mainly
by an iniquitous system of national finance,
is made all the worse by an extravagant
system OF national taxation that imposes
immense burdens upon the people. Clearly
here are defects which call for prompt re.
medal action--action which can only be
taken by Congress.
Considering the critical condition of finan
cial and industrial affairs, the talk about the
depressing effects of warm weather upon
Senators and Representatives is an indica
ton of an entire want of appreciation of
the very grave problems that confront the
country