Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-20
Administration Men Sounding the
Members on the Silver Question.
POSSIBLEBEARING ON AN EXTRA SESSION
Mr.. CIeveIand's Plans as to Future
Issues of Bonds.
WHY SILVER MEN GIVE WAY

At the suggestion, 1t is said, Of President
Cleveland some of the friends of the ad-
ministration are endeavoring to make a
canvass of the next House for the purpose
Of ascertaining how strong the silver seni-
ment will be in that body. There Is said
to be some apprehension on the part OF
the President that there may be enough
silver men among the new and unknown
republicans elected to join the democrats
and give the administration further trouble
in financial matters. Inquiries are being
made in all quarters as to the attitude OF
members-elect Of both parties.
A BenriuE ON an Extra Session.
1t is understood that Mr.. Cleveland still
clngs to the idea of having an early ses-
sion of the Fifty-fourth Congress- and the
inquiries which he is causing to be made
have bearing on the question Of an extra
session. 1t is said that his determination
on this question will depend largely upon
what are his intentions with relation to the
bond issue. If the severe criticisms which
have been passed upon his bond contracts
have rot frightened him OF, and II he still
intends to pursue the policy involved In
that contract, it is believed that he will
call extra session. The bankers who
took the So, 2,OOO.OOO of bonds expected on
entering into the contract that q consider
able additional amount OF bonds would be
issued to them between the time OF the
adjournment of Congress and the expira-
ton of the contract in October on the same
terms granted them in this purchase.
Mr. Clevelands Plan.
It is said that if Mr.. Cleveland intends to
carry out the contract in respect to other
bond issues, which will have to be made
during the summer, he will call Congress
together. and. before issuing other bonds,
make the same proposition to the Fifty
fourth Congress which he did to this. for
per cent gold bond. His recommended
ton having failed Of approval, as 1t Is q
foregone conclusion it will, he will proceed
upon the theory adopted in the present in
stance-that the responsibility for any in
judicious bond sales he makes during the
summer will still rest upon Congress.
Mr.. Villas Significant Statement.
The fact that he is not averse to an ex-
ira session was shown yesterday by the
course Of Mr.. Villas of the Senate. After
consulting with the President yesterday,
Mr.. Villas took the position that sooner
than permit a vote on the silver bill the
friends of the administration would con-
sume all OF the time Of the Senate in talk;
thus causing the failure Of several appro-
priation bills. This, OF course, would neces-
state an extra session, without any refer
ence to the financial question, and 1t was
under the advice of Mr.. Cleveland that the
friends of the administration were willing
to make that ISSUE 1t is believed that MIR.
Cleveland would like the necessity for an
early meeting of the next Congress to re-
suit from the failure of an appropriation
bill. The readiness with which the silver
threat was due largely to the fact that they
believed that by forcing an extra session
through the failure of an appropriation bill
they would be gratifying the President.