Daily inter mountain., 1899-05-10
EXTRA SESSION
OF CONGRESS
Will Probably be Called in the
Early Fall
QUESTIONS TO COME UP
Status Of the Philippines Will be
Defined and Currency Legis.
lati0n Passed.
QUESTIONS TO COME UP

New York. May 10.-A special to the
Tribune from Washington says: The re-
vival of the talk of an extra session Of
congress has more behind it than idle
gossip. The contingency of such session
has been discussed at cabinet meeting
and member of that body who was
present at the time is authority for the
statement that the presidents mind is
strongly inclined toward such a move
Two reasons chiefly control the president
in this matter. He wishes the policy of
the government with respect to the Phil
ippines defined and the currency aues-
lion disposed of before the party enters
the campaign of 1900
The president has declared his belief
to his advisers that peace will be estab-
lished in the Philippines within the next
80 days and that the ownership and pos
session of those islands will no longer be
disputed. This subject coming to him
so soon, ne does not care to formulate a
policy with respect to their government,
the decree of home rule to be granted to
them. etc.. without the aid of congress,
in whose hands he placed the whole sub
ject in his message to that body. The
president is unwilling to do anything
that will lessen the present abundant
prospects of success for his party in the
coming campaign. He fears that any
thing looking like delay or indecision will
have bad effect. For this reason he
wants the whole country to know before
1900 exactly what the policy of the gov
ernment will be with respect to possess
SionS in the far east.
Another p' werful controlling motive
that is actuating the president in his
strong desire to have early and positive
action taken with respect to the cur
rency question. He is said to be not
thoroughly satisfied with the result of
the deliberations of the republican house
caucus committee which recently formu-
lated a bill for Introduction in the house
when it convenes again. Although the
members Of that committee are usually
reticent, it is understood that the COM
mittee has not in all respects followed
the suggestions of the president. Four
strong points We're brought out by the
president and the committee was thor
oughly acquainted with his position.
These recommendations We're:
First-A provision that will make the
so-called endless chain caused by the re-
demption of greenbacks with gold and
consequent runs upon the treasury re-
serve impossible.
Second-That national banks be per-
mitted to issue circulation up to par
value of the bonds deposited to secure
that circula ton instead of only 80 per
cent as at present.
Third-A reduction Of the tax on ma
tional bank circulation, the present tax
being one per cent.
Fourth-The national banks with
capital of only $4,000 be authorized to be
as tah ich chpd IL, all the minimum
now being $4,000.
Not being satisfied that the measure
formulated by the house committees
meets the situation, the president wishes
the whole question taken up and dis
posed Of as early as possible so that 1t
may not be factor in the coming cam
paign. This also appears to be the view
of the leaders. Mr.. Aldrich, chairman of
the senate committee on finance, who has
just returned from Europe, in an inter-
view in New York in the New York
Tribune recently said he would call his
committee together as soon as possible
and, as he expressed it, "get right down
to business This committee was au-
thorized to sit during the recess, but it
was believed that not until the cool
months of the fall season would it really
do any work on the subject. The dec
laration of Chairman Aldrich evidently
indicates change Of programme.
In the talks with senators and repre-
sentatives, particularly those who intend
ed spending the summer abroad, the
president has intimated that the posi-
bility Of a legislative emergency that
would require their presence in Wash
ington earlier than was thought likely
when the Fifty-fifth congress adjourned.
The struggle over the speakership will
consume time that was not anticipated.
Although the president is extremely
cautious how he discusses even the pos
sibility Of a special session of congress-
his adviser who are closest to him regard
a special session as almost an assured
fact.
The man on whose authority the above
expressions are based is of the opinion
that when the president returns from
Hot Springs he will permit 1t to become
semi Officially known that congress is to
be convened some two or three months
earlier than the date for the regular
meeting.