The evening times., 1898-11-26
President Mckinley Does Not
Desire Such a Meeting.
COUNTRY NEEDS A REST
Financial and Currency Legislation
Not Needed at Present.
Consideration Of the Peace Treaty.
Members Gathering at the
Capitol.

There will be no extra session of both
branches of the F'ifty-sixth Congress if
the Administration can prevent it. Re-
publican Senators and Representatives
who are arriving in town TO prepare for
the opening of the short session find
President Mckinley is willing to ex-
change views frankly and freely with
them on the best methods of settling the
questions which will arise after the trea-
~ of peace with Spain has been signed.
A well-known Republican Senator who
spent several hours at the White House
yesterday came away with a very clear
idea of the Presidents purposes. In the
first place, Mr.. Mckinley does not believe
session. will be called upon TO deal with
any of the Forthcoming problems of the
war Neither is he in sympathy with the
movement which seems to have originat-
ed with a few New York gold Democrats
to secure some measure of currency re-
form at the short session.
1t is the Presidents belief that the
country needs prolonged rest-from the
tariff and financial questions. The claim
made by those who are agitating for cur
-ency reform, that the endless caain pro-
cess of issuing greenbacks is 4 constant
menace to the Treasury gold reserve. Is
met by the argument that since public
confidence in the financial stability of the
Government has been restored by recent
Republican success, the gold reserve is
no longer in danger, and there exists no
real reason why business ya.ues 5a0uld
be unsettled by protracted financial de-
-
gress.
In the Presidents opinion it would be
far better to postpone this question of
currency reform until the regular ses-
sion of the next Congress, when there
will be an overwhelming majority for
sound money in the Senate, instead of a
free silver majority, which row exists
aud which acts as an effectual block to
any attempt to pass financial measure
that would be satisfactory 10 the Admin
istration and the great mass of business
men.
Personally. Mr. Mckinley believes that
about all the present Congress may be
called up to do is to pass the usual APP
preparation bills! sAr hiie there iSeVery lit
tie doubt that peace treaty will he sign
ed by the Commissioners OF the United
States and Spain at Paris yet il is by
no means certain that this treaty will be
i
doubtful whether treaty which includes
American possession of the philippines in
accordance with the Presidents poicy OF
territorial expansion could secure the nec-
essary two-thirds vote in the present Stn-
ate
AS TO the next Senate. there is no cues
tion how it stands, as The main issue in
most of the States at the recelt elections
was approval or disapproval of President
McKinley's policy of territorial eXpan-
sion. and upon this issue the Republicans
won all along the line.
In the ordinary course OF events ii is
not likely that that the peace treaty
would reach the present Senate until af-
ter the holidays. Of course II would give
rise to the usual exhaustive and Icrg-
winded discussion. Senator Hoar, IS the
Republican, and Senator German. the
Democratic leaders of the anti-eXpansion
idea would be certain to make speeches
of great length in opposition 10 ra:iiaca-
tiOn. and almost every Senator would
want to be heard on the subject
Even if the necessary wo-thirds vote
was assured it might be impossible to Sc
cure d vote before the ith of March. But
the two-thirds vote is not yet assured,
and If after a careful canvass of the Sen
ate ii is found that there is danger in al
lowing the treaty to come to a vote. il
would be the part of wisdom 10 hold ii
over for the action of the new Senate.
which directly represents the sentiments
of the people on the great question of
national expansion. This would mean, OF
course. an extra session of the new Sem
ate, which would be called on March (
next.
1t Is not the intention of the President
to convene the House of Representatives
in extraordinary session if he can avoid
it. Naturally there will be many matters
of legislation arising from the acquisition
of new territory which Will require the
joint action of both branches of Congress.
but these. in Mr.. McEinleys belief. should
be carefully considered by CON MISSION of
experts before being submitted to Con-
gress. 1t will be the policy of the Ad-
ministration to govern the new colonial
possessions by military control until the
regular session of Congress next, year in
order to obviate the necessity for an extra
session of both branches
To sum the situation up at this early
date. therefore. the indications are that
there will be no extra session of either
branch of ihe Fifty-sixth Congress If the
President can avoid il without endanger-
ing the execution of his policy of terri
torial expansion. If he cannot avoid il
there Will be an extra session of the Sen
ate, but at present ne is not in favor of
calling the House in extra session.
The Anti-auny Combination.