The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-01
III the Present Congress Does Not Act,
the President Is Likely to Call tfe
Fifty-Fourth Together Early.
ENEMIES OF AMERICANS
GERMAN AGRARIANsl REsPONsIBLE
FOR THE VAR ON pun MEATS.
Secretary Morton Calls Them Profec-
tionists, Who Teach Mckinieytsm In
High Dutch-Gen. Fosters Mission.
Special to the indianapolis journal.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 3l.-The subject OF
an extra session of Congress has become one
of general interest in view of the now rec
ognized fact that the Fifty-fourth Congress
Will be summoned by the President to meet
some months in advance of its regular date
President Cleveland has had experience with
one extra session-that called together in
August of last year to repeal the silver
purchasing provisions of the Sherman act
The President then convened a Congress 81
his own political faith but 1T contained
many Democrats hostile &c the executive on
the financial question. Despite, however, the
strong array of Democratic siiverites and
their hostility to the President. he succeed
ed in carrying his point. The features Of thas
Sherman law Objectionable to him wese un-
conditionally repealed.
AT the present time the President is APP
pealing to the same Congress, in its third
and last session, for further financial legis-
lation. But the conditions confronting him
now are quite different from those existing
in the fall OF 1893. The repeal of the Sher-
man act was accomplished by liberal aid
from the Republicans in both houses. Had
Mr.. Cleveland then been compelled 10 de-
pend on his own party he would have failed.
Democratic Senators and Representatives.
are now justifying themselves in antagc,
because of the result or non-result of the
repeal Of the Sherman law. These Demo-
Gratis are saying that the President put the
repeal of that law before the tariff question.
on the ground that IT would relieve the
financial situation and restore prosperity. .
to the country. They assert that the repeal
of the Sherman law made matters worse
instead of better, and that experience has
so demonstrated; that Ii the President and
his financial minister were so much mis-
taken as to what legislation was requisite
sixteen months ago they may be again IN
error now.
NO AID FROM REPUBLICANS.
On the present occasion the Democrats
can count on no aid whatever from the Re-
publicans. IL any legislation is enacted II
must be by the Democrats alone. Their
opinions as to what is necessary to remove
existing financial evils are SO diverse, so abb
solutely antagonistic, that the leaders cam
not reasonably expect TO bring about unity
of action in the two months Remaining :
There is no difference of opinion among
Congressmen as to the main point-that
remedial legislation is necessary. The Pres
ident fully realizes this fact. Hence IT Is
believed that if the present Congress shall
adjourn without doing anything, the next
with the situation. The Republicans will
that they viii be enabled to otpass any meas
ure they determine on as the one required
to meet the demands, OF the ., countryd d ,.t,s Lns
the House Its political complexion Is YET
an uncertainty. The Populists and free-sil-
yer Senators will constitute potent ele-
ment However, in the event of the Repub-
lican House framing and passing measure
to afford greater elasticity to the currency
and at the same time keeping 1t upon al
absolutely safe basis, it is believed that the
President and Secretary Carlisle would urge
Tlnw1 g M
to give it their support. Such a result would
depend on a careful avoidance or partisan
tion. Should the tariff, in any manner, be-
come involved with the disposal or the
financial issue, there would be, perhaps, q
further postponment of this important sub
The Presidents views are, Lriehy, that
1t is his duty to facilitate. TO urge,
speedy settlement of the question of finance
and currency; that it is not poHt.cai
question and. therefore ne must not not view view
must prescribe the remedy and the peo-
pie, having chosen the Congress, 1t IL not
for him to consider its political status in
hasterdng a solution of the issue which so
dsturbS the country Without, so far az
be ascertained, having expressed any any
intention as to extra session, this talk
indicates one. OF course, the President -
not ready to concede failure at the hands
of the present Congress, but he fuiiv un-
derstands the asorganized. distracted con-
dt.on of the Democrats in Congress. Sec
retary Carlisle is notably anxious TO get
the national finances 70 running in smooth
grooves as early as possible. he, by no
means, .despairs of obtaining the l'sl meeaea
should the present session adjourn With
out providing for it.
MAY BE CALLED SOON.
If the President shall determine an
extra session he will. no doubt, call the
next Congress together very soon after the
adjournment of the present ones He cam
not finally make up his mind until the re-
fusal or failure of the present Congress to
act shall have become manifest. An inn
preston prevails that the President, In
convening Congress in extra session is re-
quired to give at least thirty days notice
in his proclamation. This is an error The
date is entirely matter of presidential
discretion. In the old days of canals and
stage coaches, when a journey to WASH
ington was a tedious undertaking for most
of the public men. there was reason for
ample notice; but with steam and cleo
tr.caty as motive powers, the most distant
Congressman can reach Washington hi
very few days.
President Hayes called two extra ses-
sions of Congress during. his term. The
Democrats, who controlled the House. de-
termined to repeal some of the statutes OF
the reconstruction period relating to fed
and and President they e,- could not accomplish
this in the regular method of procedure.
They undertook @ compea hepaDncan a.
as riders important appropriation
bills The Forty-fifth Congress, which was
elected at the same time President
HAYES was convened in extra session
the 18th of October 1877. The proclamation
was dated May and President Hayes said
in IL: Whereas, the final adjournment OF
the Forfy-fOurth Congress without making
the several appropria ions for the support
of the army" for the fiscal year is7S re-
ouired an extra session of Congress- The
House was controlled by the Democrats
and the Senate by the Republicans, but
the latter had only small majority. That
session extended as a matter of fact. into
the regular session. The adjournment or
the first or extra session was put rec
ord and Congress. on the first Thursday In
December entered on It's regular session.
The Democrats continued their fight for
repeal of certain election laws They car
ried it on through the Forty-fifth Con-
gress and that Congress finally adjourned
on March A, 1879. leaving the army unpro-
vided for On the day OF the adjournment
President Hayes issued a proclamation
conveninl, the Forfy-sixth Congress IN ex-
ira session March Is. just two weeks on.
The Forty-sixth Congress was Democratic
in both bodies. The Democrats Senator's
elected Senator Thurman, OF Ohio, prex1-
dent pro tenipore. In thAlr lezsE confest
over the repeal OF tlfe cieetJUn laws tina
Democrats got only part ~ what fn1
demanded Mnnx of the RefS3 33keonz
sSss