The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-06-07
OTHER EXTRA SESSIONS.

mortar and two were ten inch rifles.
| -
OTHER EXTRA SESSIONS.
Denver Times,
The PERSONAL Inconvenience TO members
OF the senate and house of Representatives,
In leaving their families and private az
fairs at this season OF the year are so oh.
vious that the more regret the extraor-
binary occasion which has rendered the
convention Of congress Indispensable"
These words formed the Introductory
paragraph of the proclamation of John
Adams, second president OF the United
states, which called for an extra session
OF the Firth congress- to convene on May
lG. 1917. almost 100 years ago. The ncces
sity for this occasion arose from difficult
ties between this government and France,
witch had eliminated In the expulsion OF
Charles G.. rinckney. the American min
lister, from French territory, and to the
passage. on March .. 1907. by the executive
directory of that power of n decree contra
IvenIue In part the treaty OF anity aud
commerce of 171S, which was moro unjust
and Injurious TO our commerce than any
former decree. Tho president thought tho
situation dCmarded the immediate acton
OF congress and issued his proclamation.
which called for AN extra session OF the
American congress. Although the First
congress had held three sessions. they had
been Considered as regular scssions These
three sessions were held from March 4.
l17S9. 10 September 90 1883: January 4.
ll7qo. TO August II, 1880. and December g.,
1890 TO March 3, 1871 Preoiaent Adams
lstatod the purpose Cor which he called
congress IN extra session In the following
words
The dopredatlons on our commerce. the
personal Injury to our citizens and the gem
oral complexion Of our AFFAIRS render II
my Indispensable duty 10 recommend 20
your consideration effective measures of
defense" The message proposed an in
| crease Of the navy and of the regular ar
tillery and cavalry arms OF the service,
and also a revision of the laws providing
for the organizing. arming and disciplin-
| ing of the army.
| At this session acts were passed pro
hibilinE American citizens from fitting out
| or employing privatcers; prohibiting ex-
portation OF arms and ammunition and en-
.uuraging their importation; authorizing
the president TO cali out tho militia to the
eNtont of 50. GOO; TO provide an increase Of
the naval force Ga small one onlyl To
DIhNl1H means W NtlTuN Nilt tNiIh tNpNhs'h
incurred duties were imposed on stamped
paper and parchment used for business
purposes. AID an additional duty was laid
On salt The stamp act proved an un-
popular measure. however. and was re-
poaled in Il few years. Jonathan Dayton OF
New Jersey was speaker of the house dur
Ing this session, which adjourned on July
| 10. 1891 after being In session fifty five
! days.
The Eighth congress was convened in
extra session by Thomas Jefferson ON De-
tobcr II, 1903 TO provide for carrying into
effect tho Louisiana treaty. but this was
only three weeks In advance OF the date
set by the previous congress- for the rog-
uar session.
During the administration OF James Mad
ison, the fourth president, an extra ses-
sion OF the Eleventh congress-. which had
been provided for by an act OF the pre-
ylous congress- In consequence OF the crit
iCnl state OF the Nation and the upprehcn-
sion OF war with Great Britain or France,
convened on May 2, 1909. At this session
tho nonintorcourso act with Great Britain
aud France. which had boon substituted
by The Tenth congress for tho embargo,
was continued. with some slight modifica-
lions. No important alterations were made
in the law. nor wns any other important
measure adopted The session lasted about
five weeks, and terminated on June rs,
An'f4 dHhA ~ Nhihbii NHS FrfthtT OF tnt
house,
on the 2ith day OF May, 1913. while
Madison was serving his second term. an
ohher extra session also provided for by
an act OF the previous congress, was hold
The principal business transacted was the
providing OF means 10 pay the interest on
loans already authorized and other mattarg
incident to tho war with Great Britain
Acts were passed for the assessment and
collection OF direct taxes and internal du-
tios. Imposing duties on refined sugars
sales at auction. retailers licenses. car
ringes licensing distillors. The direct tax
WIS s3.00D,0Oo annually. The extra session
Of the Thlrteonth congress- adjourned after
about TWO months.
From the adjournment OF the special
session Of the Thirteenth congress In 1873 a
period OF twenty four years elapsed, In
which only regular sessions were held
During this time James Monroe served Two
terms az president. John Quincy Adams
one Andrew jackson two, but durIug the |
first year OF Martin Van Buren's admins
lration Che eighth prosidenD an extra ses- |
sion vi the Twenty-fifth congress was con- |
vened Oh September 1, 1887. The message |
OF the president 10 this special session, |
called because OF tho great financial en- |
barrassmont OF the people, advanced the |
doctrine that all the government could do,
or Was designed To do. was TO take care of !
Itself. and that II could moi be expected To |
legislative with reference to the monetary |
concerns Of the people. President Van Bu- |
rem set out with great clearDess and pre-
cislon the actual condition Of the govern
nent IN relation TO It's financial concefpD.
The most important recommendation OF The |
message was given what the anl-adminis-
trationists called the subtreasury scheme,
but known TO It's friends as the independent
At this period the funds OF the |
government were IN the possession Of banks.
all OF which refused 10 pay specie. and the
use Of their circulating notes was Il yio-
latlon OF The revolution OF congress OF 1916
Van Buren, had been elected under pledge
against National banks. and he recommend
ed that the treasury OF the United States
should be kepi by public officers, and that
there should be an entire and total sep
aratinn Of the bmsiness and fulds Of the |