The evening times., 1899-01-03
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.
Grip May Force an Extra Session

ayers, as has been well understood, have
been anxious to avoid an extra session OF
the Fifty-sixth Congress next spring if
possible. From the rapid progress made
with the regular appropriation bills dur
ing the few weeks of the session before
the adjournment for the holiday recess, it
was generally assumed that they would
succeed in disposing of, the urgent legis-
lation before March 4, and thus prevent
the objectionable extra session. But
new and unexpected obstacle has arisen
in their path and has completely upset
their plans 1t is the prevailing ma.aiy,
the grip. So many OF the leaders N
both branches of Congress are laid up
with this disease that the work OF the
session will necessarily be retarded-and
many believe to such an extent that it
will be impossible to clear the caiendar OF
important bills and measures that must
be passed before March if an extra ses-
sion is to be avoided.
Chairman Dipgley, of the House Ways
and Means Committee and leader of the
majority on the floor of the House. will
hardly be able to resume his duties for
month yet, if at all during the present
session. His physicians will advise him,
it is understood, to go South and seek
warmer climate as soon as he is sufficient
ly recovered to be able to travel His
present attack, they say, was brought on
by the long strains of overwork, and what
he needs and must have, in their judg-
ment, is long and complete rest. Mr..
Hit, chairman of the House Foreign At
fairs Committee, and one of Mr.. Reeds
leaders, is also indisposed. In the Senate,
Mr.. Allison of Iowa, Judge Turpie of In
diana, Mr.. Cockrell Of Missouri, Mr.. VOL
colt of Colorado, and half dozen promi-
r1ar1t S.ana TORS fine fhai,- hon
by sickness Senatorial courtesy will de-
mand that important matters, such as the
ratification of the Treaty of Peace be held
UP until these distinguished invalids can
be present and give them their attention.
If there is an extra session next spring
the responsibility for it will have TO be
charged up to the grip.
Proposed Change in Representa-
tion in Congress and Electoral Col
lege.-The Republican leaders are at work
on a scheme TO secure a rearrang ement
of the representation in the House ami
Electoral College after the census of 1900
is taken. After every national census
every ten years there is a new appoTtion
ment of the representatives in the popu-
lar branch of Congress. The rule has
been in the past to base the representa-
tives on the population, States that show
a decrease in population having the num-
Der of their representatives cut down and
those making gains having an increase in
their respective delegations allowed
them. Under this system, the Republicans
maintain, the Southern States, where, the
negro vote, they claim, has been pract:-
cally eliminated, have an undue advan-
tage over the States Of the North. 1t is
not fair to count the negroes in the emu
meration of inhabitants for Congressiont
representation when they are not permit
ted to vote. The program of the Repub
lican leaders is 10 propose compromise
TO the Southern leaders. The Republican
managers say that they will quietly ac-
quiesce in the suppression OF the colored
vote in the South provided the Southern
statesmen will consent TO have their Con-
gressional delegations cut down. If this
should be done 1t will, of course. reduce
the representation of the Southern States
in the electoral college. If the Southern
statesmen fight the proposed change
Senator Hanna and other Republican
| leaders threaten to raise row over the
suppression of the colored vote in the
Solid South. 1t is estimated that the
South would lose from forty TO fifty rep
resentatives in the House by the change
proposed by Senator Hanna and his
| friends.
Whatever may be done. however. cannot
I affect the Presidential election of 1900, as
no change can be made until after the
enumeration of the inhabitants under the
! twelfth census has been taken. Senator
Hanna states that the matter ought TO be
fixed up before the Presidential election of
/ 1904
! Senator Burrows seems to lie in
the Lead.-The reports from Michigan in
dicate the return of Julius Caesar Burrows
to the Senate by the legislature of that
State. The contest has narrowed down ap-
parently to a struggle between Albert
Peck millionaire lumberman of Detroit
and Mr.. Burrows. If this condition holds
the election of Mr.. Burrows would seem
TO be assured Governor Pingree has made
a hard fight against Burrows, and his fail
ure Will be the first conspicuous one since
Pngree began his remarkable political ca
reer. 1t may mark the beginning of the
| end of Governor PingTee as force in the
politics of the country. The election OF
/ Senator Burrows will be keen disappoint-
ment TO Governor Pingree in many ways
He had planned TO open bureau 10 have
himself doomed for the Presidency, but
the project will probably be abandoned il
Senator Burrows wins.
| Senator Hale Wine Expert
Senator Hale is said by his colleagues in
the Senate to pride himself on his knowl-
edge of wines. He is said TO have wine
| cellar at his home down in Maine that is
| the envy Of all the leading citizens OF that
| prohibition State. At a recent dinner IL
! Washington where Senator Hale was one
of the guests he took occasion TO air some
of his expert knowledge of the real thins
in wine. Holding UP a glass and address
ing former Senator NJ. c. Butler of Soutf
Carolina, who sat opposite in a patron
izing tone of voice, he said: Butler, thi:
is not bad claret; very fair in fact; much
better than one gets ordinarily in Wash
ington. But yeu should try some ole
claret that l have got in my cellar il
Maine. 1t was some that | picked VI
while 1 was on the other side-was mad
expressly for the emperor"
Il beg your pardon, Hale" said Butler
quite distinctly. Il was under the impres
sion that this was Burgundy"
What" exclaimed Hale, taking anothe
sip. "Ah, so it is; so it is, he added witt
a crestfallen air.
Senator Hale has not undertaken to Civ
General Butler points on '.clulet'' sine
| that time.
Killed I'm a Runaway Accident.
Norfolk Va, JAN 3-Near Deep Creek, MOI
killed outright and Miss May Mitchell badly il
I iured in Thp ,,b