Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-29
Reasons Why the Republicans De-
sire One Soon.
POSSIBILITY OF An EXTRA SESSION
A Line of Policy Must Be Def
niteIy Agreed Upon.
LOOKING TO M R. r E E L

Is there to be a republican as we'll as
conference in the near future?
The necessity of such step on the part
of the republicans is conceded. The proba-
bility of an extra session of the Fifty
fourth Congress increases. The situation
may change and the emergency pass. but
the longheads among the republic n lead
ers are alive to the supreme necessity or
being prepared for anything that may be
presented. If the President, having failed
to impress his financial views upon this
Congress, should decide to submit them
without delay to the next Congress, that
body, 1t Is generally admitted, should be
ready to give him prompt consideration
ard make a prompt response Of some
kiEd.
Republican plans, up to a recent day, had
been formed upon lines allowing for a
leisurely digesting Of unsolved problems.
The idea was that between March and De-
cember there could be full and free dis
cussion by letter and through the news
papers of what the country demanded of
the new Congress, and that when that
body met in regular session a definite
policy, carefully arranged and explained,
would be brought forward The new Con-
gress was to take this policy up, put it
through In short order and adjourn, ap-
realing to the country no less upon the
wisdom of that policy than upon the busi-
ncss-like manner of its adoption. A sharp
contrast was to be instituted between a
body with business methods. and under
the control OF a united party, and one that
had exhibited only discords and delays
throughout its period Of legislative power
In Case of an Extra Session.
1t Is apparent to the republican leaders
that a great deal of work will have to be
done in very short time and under hur-
ried circumstances, If they are to be re-
quired to take up public questions on their
own responsibility in April instead Of in
December. Such an appeal by the Presi-
dent from his own party to the opposition
party would not in its operations be alto
gether against the democracy. The reiec-
ton on his own party would be severe, but
the effect on the republicans might be to
disclose serious embarrassments on that
side.
1t Is not denied that, as the case now
stands, some serious embarrasSmentS exist.
The financial question is the only question
that would be presented to Congress in eX-
ira session, and the western republicans,
especially in the Senate are as little In
agreement with the majority of their party
as to what should be done on that line AS
the eastern democrats are with their couth-
ern and western brethren. The President,
presumably, would repeat to the new Con-
gress the suggestions he has made to this
Congress. For one thing In particular. he
tect the gold reserve of the treasury by
authorizing the issuance Of q short-tfme,
low-rate bond. But, the point is made,
would Mr.. Teller and his western friends
support such proposition, in the face Of
their repeated declarations that the only
remedial legislation must necessarily In
Clude terms and provision for more silver
money? And, if they should decide to
block such a proposition, could they not do
it? And, If they should pursue such a
course, and thereby make their party re-
sponsible for any new delay and new en-
barrassments, would the party not suffer
in the east and become bracketed with the
democracy on the score of helplessness?
And would not the new Congress assemble
at the regular session in something Of a
discredited state because of the divisions
revealed at the extra session? Some Of
the most far-seeing of the republican lead
ers are active now and urgent in the in
terests of an early and complete under
standing.
Mr.. Reeds Task.
Especially prominent in all Of this dis
cussion is the talk about the task of Mr..
Reed. An extra session would mean much
to him. Organization of House Of Rep
resentatives is a difficult matter at any
time, and organizing the next House will
be especially difficult Mr.. Reed knows the
old congressional hands thoroughly, and
will have no trouble in constructing the
more important committees. But the full
WORK OF committee HldhlHS requires
and care. 1t is thought likely that Mr..
Reed is now giving this matter some con-
sideration, though with the full list of
members before him in his study at home.
and eight months in which TO perform the
work, he could proceed with greater sat-
Isl action.
Despite gossip here and there, no serious
thought seems ever to have been enter
tanned about Mr.. Reeds course with re-
gard to the next speakership. He has never
claimed 1T as his own by right Of course,
but he could not escape the knowledge that
1t was instantly assigned TO him by the
public soon as the complexion of the
new House was determined. His friends
laugh at any discussion of whether or not,
considering his political fortunes, he should
take the Office. They simply point to the
man and his record He never runs away,
they declare, with pride in the sand he has
heretofore exhibited. Nothing, they as
sert, would be SO certain to destroy his
chances for presidential preferment, look
as an exhibition Of tmidity on his part
touching the speakership. If there Is to be
any peril in that office 1t will be the party's s
peril, they point out, well as Mr. Reeds.
Tho party Is looking for him to carry 1t
through the danger safely as may be. A
pilot who declined for fear of personal in
jury to himself to take the speakership
wheel would never be asked or even
thought Of to take the presidential wheel.
MIR. Quay's Suggestion.
Those of the Reed men not amused By
this talk about their favorite resent 1t
rather warmly. They dislike particularly
that feature Of the story attributing the
suggestion that Mr.. Reed keep out Of tho
Speakers chair to Mr.. Quay. They are not
advised as to whether Mr.. Quay actually
expressed such an opinion, but they seem
anxious to have the fact recalled that here
tofore Mr. Reed has not beer accustomed
to look to Mr.. Quay for guidance. In the
Fifty-first Congress, when the Pennsyl-
vania Senator assisted in holding up the
force bill after 1t had passed the House,
Mr.. Reed entertained some very decided
opinions about that transaction, and ex-
pressed them with very great emphasis.
Mr.. Quay came In for full share Of the
Maine mans eXcoriatlon. This, of itself