Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-10-14
EARLY EXTRA SESSION
OF CONGRESS LIKELY
Reported In Washington that the
National Legislature viii
Convene This Month.
CALL MAY BE ISSUED NEXT WEEK
Believed President viii Act as Soon
as lie Returns from the West
Wants His Philippine
Policy Endorsed.

Kansas City, Oct. l0.-A Washington
! special to the Star says:
Congress is TO be convened the lat
ter part of this month"
This statement came from man
who is near enough to the administra.
ton to know of ITS plans before they
go TO the public. lie would say moth
ing further and would not permit the
use of his name. On what he bases his
belief that an extra session will be
called is not known, but his statement
Is far from improbable. In fact, the
same prediction was made weeks ago,
but not by one in a position TO speak
with so much authority.
The president is due 10 return to
Washington from his western trip
about October II and the call for an
extra session is expected to follow his
arrival at the capital. The principal
cause for convening congress is be-
lieved to be the situation i'm the Philip
pines. Although the president pos
sesses full power to do anything that
seems necessary to bring peace TO the
islands, il is believed he would have
congress in session TO give indorse-
ment to his foreign policy. With the
republicans In control of both
branches, approval Of the presidents
plans is certain and il would be held
by the administration to represent the
Endorsement of the people, Such ac-
tion by congress might have influence
with the Filipinos, who seem to be-
lieve that Mr.. McKinley's foreign pol
icy is unpopular at home, and, Incl
dentally, would not be overlooked by
republican speakers in the fall cam
paign.
Aside from the Philippine question,
IL IL known that changes in the gov
ernment OF Cuba and Puerto Rico are
contemplated.
Puerto Rico is TO be the first of the
new colonies to enjoy a civil govern
ment, and the president proposes soon
to Issue a proclamation TO this effect.
The insular commission recommended
that n civil government be given to
the island, although they expressed
the opinion that il was not yet ready
for territorial government with popu-
lar suffrage. The president proposes,
therefore, to appoint civil governor,
supreme court justices and other nee
essary officers, just as originally he APP
pointed military officers TO carry ON
the government. This action he may
take under the war power, but in case
of an extra session he may let con-
gress accept the responsibility.
There are strong reasons for the Gre
alton of civil government at this
time.
Puerto Rico is in so peaceful condi-
ton that the president sees no occa-
sion for keeping any considerable
number Of troops in the island, and he
realizes that there is always danger OF
trouble under military control. But
the strongest reason for change il
that the military government in Puer-
to Rico is simply administering Span
ish law and continuing the eXtrava-
gance of Spanish administration with
the long list Of salaried officials eating
up the revenues.
While Cuba is not ready for civil
government, many changes are sug-
gested i'm the governor generals re-
port, among those of most Importance
reform in the judicial department
This and other Cuban questions the
president would be glad to have con
gresS pass on.