Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-21
UPTOWN OFFICE. Ga EAST BROAD
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 81, 1895.
Proper Time for Congress. to Meet,


The fiibustering in the Senate on the
silver question Is rendered effective by
the fact that the term OF the present
Congress will expire on the 9Th OF March,
and the new Congress as the law now
Stands. will not assemble until the nrst
Monday In December next Article l.
section 4. OF the Federal Constitution
proyides that 1.-THE Congress shall as
ecnnble at least once in every year. ana
such meeting shall be on the first Mon
day In December unless they shall by law
appoint a different day" The Congress
has never by law designated a cineren'
day. and SO on the first Monday In Deem
Der next, and not sooner, that body VIII
convene. The President can, OF course
call an extra session whenever be shan
choose to do so. and there are not Few
persons who think that he ought to 10
20 as soon as possible. Others think that
he will have no choice In the matter. but
will be forced by stress OF the oircum-
stances which will soon surround him 10
call Congress together. The Senator from
New York CMr HID has already express
ed himself as follows on this last point.
lie said last Friday:
IF the government shall initiate the ex-
ample which is now being set by private
parties. leaning money and making
discrimination in the coin in which debts
shall be paid. II is likely and possible
that In a very short time gold may De
at a premium by reason of causes not
now necessary 10 be discussed.
That is a prediction which ought to be
Tps,. tha <rfr
Of the free coinage OF silver seem not TO
be at all affected by Mr. Hills predic-
fion. They appear TO be willing TO take
the consequences Of their acts.
We say It is the fact that the term of
the present Congress is so soon TO expire
that 1t encourages the filbusters in the
Senate to continue their obstructive tao
tics. They know. OF course. that the APP
propriation bills must be passed, and they
expect those bills 10 do for them
good deal Of their contem
plated work OF obstruction. But
st seems TO us that this is a game at
which two can play. The friends of legis-
lation on the silver question can filibuster
whilst nominally considering the appro-
priation bills. and so render an early
extra session Of Congress unavoidable.
These considerations lead TO the con-
clusion that Congress ought by law to
provide for the regular meeting of that
body soon after the members OF the
lower house are chosen. 1t does not COM
port with the theory OF our govern
ment that a House of Representatives
elected I'm November should not be called
upon to do any legislation until more than
twelve months after the people have
called II into existence. The members Of
the old House are thus greatly tempted
10 cast votes which they would not cast
81 the people still held them in their lead
tng-strings. II is a rule. however, which
works both ways; for the members de-
feated are often rendered much more in
dependent by the fact of their de-
feat, and become more efficient legisla-
tors.
We have said that Congress ought to
provide by law for the evil under conside-
ration. II may. however. be necessary
20 amend the Federal Constitution in
order 10 attain this end. There Will
be the same sort of opposition manifested
towards this amendment as was devel-
oped in the Senate to the passage of Mr..
fuckers amendment providing for the
election of United States senators by the
people.