The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-11-23
NO EXTRA SESSION
The Scare Republican Con-
gress Will Have No
Chance to Play
Politics.
ITS FIRST CHANCE A YEAR OFF
Facts About Old Time Special
Sessions-W War on Presi-
dent Johnson.

WASHINGTON, Nov. %, 1S9A-An ex.
animation of the history of the Senate
and of Congress shows that if precedents
are followed there is very little probable
ity of there being an extra session of
Congress between the adjournment of the
fifty-third Congress on the 4th of March
next and the following December. when
the regular session of the Fifty-fourth
Congress is to convene. OF course, cir
cumstances may occur that viii make
an extra session not only possible but
absolutely necessary, but such a condi-
tion of affairs is not anticipated. Should
an organized eIort be made to take up
tariff questions again at this session there
are those among the Republicans who say
that no appropriation bills shall pass.
Should this threat be carried out an extra
session would, of course, be necessary,
and Mr.. Cleveland would find himself
in about the same fix as did Mr.. Hayes
when he called the extra session Of 1877.
FOR SENATE ONLY.
The Senate is always in session at the
beginning of a Presidential term to con-
firm the nominations of the incoming
President. There being two Congresses
during an Administration, one must ex-
term, and it has seldom been tine GUS
tom to call an extra, session of the Senate
at that time, none having been called DUR
ing the middle of such a term since 1878,
when it is probable some important treaty
was pending, although the journal does
not disclose that reason. There was an
extra session of the Senate on May To-.
1871, called for the purpose of ratifying
L.. AT,t. O,.s%
The Thirty-ninth Congress passed an
act Chat of June %. 1850 which pros
vided that in addition to the regular
meetings of Congress there should be a.
meeting of the Fortieth Congress and
each succeeding Congress thereafter at
twelve o'clock noon, March 4, on the
day on which the term of the Congress
began. This law was passed at time
when Congress and President Johnson
were not in accord. and with view of
keeping control over the Presidents ac-
tionsz The law remained in force dur-
ing the Fortieth, Forty-Hrst and Forty
second Congresses, but was repealed
April 20, 1871. In each of the three
Congresses named there were three ses-
sions, adjournment being taken from
time to time,-the Congress- being practi-
of these sessions the impeachment trial
of President Johnson was held.
SPECIAL SESSION OF SO.
The special session of Congress held
in 1869, under the act of 1857, ran until
April 10. The Senate was called IN ex-
ira session two days later to act on nom-
nations and ratify a treaty, but re-
manned in session only a short time.
Mr.. Hayes called a special session OF
Congress October Is, 1877. on account OF
the failure of the Army bill. This ses-
sion sat until December at 1850 o'clock,
or ten minutes before the time for the
regular session to convene. Owing to
the failure of the Army bill and the
Legislative bill, Mr.. Hayes was again
compelled to bring Congress together
on March Is, 1879. The Army bill failed
on account of riders prohibiting, the use
of troops at the polls the posse cenaita-
tus, etc. which had been tackled on by
the Democrats.
In 1867 the Republicans had the Senate
and the Democrats the House. The lat
ter refused to concur in the Senate
amendments, and the bills therefore
failed of passage. When the two bodies
met in 1869 the Democrats had possess
sion of both branches of the Legisla-
tive body and passed the bill minus the
| objectionable features.
The only other instance of an extra
! session of Congress was that called by
| Mr.. Cleveland in 1893 on account OF
| the condition of the finances.