Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-07
ONE YEAR OIL D
Just a Twelvemonth Since the Fifty
Third Congress Met.
Two CONGRESSES HAVE Been LONGER
Members Have Been Actually in
Session $50 Days.
9TH Err LONG SESSIONS

1t is a year today since the Fifty-third
Congress met. Except for a brief recess
between the extra and the regular sessions
the members have been continuously at
work. and there is still no tariff legislation
accomplished They have been actually In
session $50 days. and no one can tell how
many more days there may be before an ad-
jCurnment is reached. Only two Congresses
In the history of the country have consumed
more time before the last regular session.
the limits of which are fixed for all Con-
crosses.
Only Two Longer Sessions.
The First Congress. which assembled in
March. 1889. was in session 43l days at the
regular and extra sessions. The Twenty
seventh Congress was In session 375 days
The extra session was on account of the
death of President Harrison, and lasted IOS
days from May 81. ~. At the first regular
session, which lasted 269 days. the tarin of
II was passed. When the act was first
sent to President Tyler IL contained a pro-
vision for the distribution of surplus funds
among the several states. and on account of
this provision IL was vetoed. The act was
then passed with this feature eliminated
ana was then signed The Twenty-ninth
Congress. which passed the Walker tariff
Dill, was in session only 253 days.
Other Long Sessions.
The long session of the Fiftieth Congress-.
which passed the Mills tariff bill, lasted for
S2l days The long session of the Fifty
first Congress, which passed the Mckinley
bill, lasted but 3Ol days.
The Fifth Congress was in session from
May Is. 1877. to July 10. 1797 and from
November Is. 1877, to July 16. 119S, 303
days.
The Twelfth Congress was in session from
November 4. 1911. to July 6. 1912. 2E days.
The Twenty-second Congress lasted from
December ), 1881. to July 16 1882, ..2,5 days.
The Twenty-third Congress ran from
December ., 1853, to June 81, 1884. 21l days.
The Twenty-fourth Congress from De-
eember ., 1885. to July 4. 1896. oil days.
The Twenty-fifth Congress from Decem-
Der 4. 1887. to July .. 1885, 21S days.
The Twenty-sixth Congress from Decem-
Der 2, 1889. to July 81. 1S4O 233 days.
The long session of the Thirtieth Congress
lasted 254 days: the Thirty-first. 3o2 Gays;
the Thirty-second. 2I5 days; the Thirty
third Congress. 246 days. The two first
sessions of the Thirty-fourth Congress. the
extra being called on account of the failure
of the army bill. lasted 20 days. The loEg
session of the Thirty-sixth Congress :an to
2O2 days The first regular and extra ses-
sions OF the fhirty-seventh Congress con-
sumed 262 days. The Thirty-eighth Con-
gress consumed .U9 days at the first session,
and the Thirty-niEth, 231 lays.
The Fcrtieth Congress was in session 293
days. taking several adjournments to times
fixed The Forty-h-st had an extra session
OF thirty,seven days. and the first regular
added I'D days to this.
There were 2O4 days in the long session Of
the Forty-third CongIe in the Forty
fourth Congress 254 days; in extra and first
regular of the Forty-fifth. $50 days.
The Forty-seventh Congress consumed 247
days at the first session: the Forty-eighth
consumed 21s days. and the Forty-ninth 242
days.
Called Here a Year Ago.
0,,.
obedience to the call of the President met
In special session to consider momentous
matters connected with the nations
finances. At that time few. II any. thought
that Congress would be in session a twelve
month hence. but here IT is, with no pro-
poets Of an immediate adjournment. With
the exception of a recess of thirty-one days
from November to December f. 1893
the two houses have been continuously at
work. and have thus created a record for
the longest session since war times. The
silver struggle was prolonged in the Senate
long beyond the expectations of the coun-
try. and the fight ever the tariff BILL though
there has been practically no filibustering,
had brought the session to point far ahead
OF all conservative calculations before the
measure was sent to conference. There II
has fingered to the confusion of all the
prophets.
When the bill passed 1t was asserted by
the democratic managers tnat II would not
remain in conference more than ten days
1t Is now five weeks since the managers of
the two sides began to face each other. and
the end is not yet.
Growing Weary.
Meanwhile the Congress is growing
weary. For a one-year-old 1t has achieved
many things. and the task has overtaxed
Its strength. 1t is quite tired Of Wash
tnston. and perhaps the sentiment is recip-
rocated. There is scarce d member who is
not anxious to get away. Each representa-
tive has a fight On In his district--or at
least all those who nave drawn prizes in
the lottery Of conventions. and one-third
Of the senatorial seats hang in the bal
ance of next Novcmber's balloting. 1t is
calculated that Congress will be all through
the work on the appropriation bills by next
Saturday and that IL viii be very difficult
to hold a quorum together after that, tariff
or No tariff.
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