Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-11
President Does Not Look FaVorably
on the Proposition,
CONGRESS- MIGHT EMBARRASS HIM
The Philippine Question Not Ready
for Submission.
HIS ESENT pow T. r

II Il known that thu President is not
cont -inplatinl at this tire with favor any
proposition to call an extra session Of Con
gie~s IN October. Il does r1t follow hat
situation may not develop when viii make
an extra session Desirable hut sub dcval-
npm-ut is not anticipated. The iniianapo-
lis monetary commission is it is called
which was urging legislation upon the last
Congress. is working To- bring about IN
extra session. and there are srma members
Of The House who wuuil like to have the
sIeakership contest shortelaI. From tn 4se
D.aiuIy comes thu talk If an Cctoner SEES
sion II Is known that th- President. while
recognizing an extra session as i pnssib,li-
~. does not look upon the proposition with
favor Neitn.r does tho cabinet. with prob
ably one. possibly two. exceptions.
The Philippine Question.
II is uncertain whether Congress will be
ready for firancfa, legislation even by Oc-
tober; but il it should be it is recog-
nized by ali who are familiar with the
situation that the adminstra ton Will not
be ready to turn the Philippine question
over to Congress by fall. Even should
peace be restored before the end of the
summer the formulation of a policy must
he predicated on knowledge of conditions
In the Islands in a peaceful state, and it
will take time to determine this
There has been no opportunity during a
period If hostility and general disorder to
make a study of the needs of the people.
nor to judge of the state Of feeling and
general Conditions that would exist if peace
and the confidence of the natives in the
good faith Of the United States were
tabltshed 1t Is not anti ipated that the
President intends to dump the Philippine
question upon Congress in state of con-
fusion, without plan or recommendation
nor is ii thought to he possible for him
to turn the matter over TO Congress in Oc-
tGber.
Presidents Power Now.
During the absence of Congress the Pres
fdent is alI-pnwerful to protect the interests
II this government and to enforce the
authority Of the United States in these is
lands Until Congress directs otherwise.
rhe President has no option but to main
tain the authority of the government and
could moi lawfully abandon the islands to
the natives make any sacrifice of the
governments interests there. He IS now
engaged in the exercise Of executive
function in accordance with his constitu-
ti1ual Obligation 1t is generally recognized
that II Congress had been in session during
the past Two months the operations of the
government would have been embarrassed
and hampeTe3. by all sorts Of adverse prop
ositions being agirated. even If none of
them We're brought 10 action
Whenever Congress meets there is sure
10 be d conflict. not only between the ex-
PansiOUiS'S and anti-expansinnSts, but be-
tween Jh@ TluGeIateS and both of these. and
between various theories. The authority
over tn islands will pass out of the hands
nf the President, TO very large extent at
least. and il is recognized as Of the great
eSJ importance that matters should he got
into some defiElte shape before they are
turned over 10 Congress. It is believed that
l. will be much can possibly be done
- have them in readiness by the time Con
gross assemblies in regular session in De-
Carnber-
Wight he Embarrassed by Congress.
With ell the conflict of opinion that ex-
lists on the Philippine question. it is sug-
ceSted that It would be an absurlity 10,
-hr President to throw the matter into
Congress while the administration forces
w~rr still uuprepared to deal with it, for
lack Of Information. Under such conditions
thu opposition would have all the advan-
tasr. iu1~much their position is based
rlt sentiment and theory and would not he
injured 10y Tho absence Of facts and infOT-
nation. II would he very easy. even if no
more Were proposed than the appointment
uf commission Ia investigate the needs
or the ISLANDS. for some sort of restriction
or compromising deClaIatury provision 10
he attached 70 the resolution. which would
cause endless trouble in the future
r. = pointed out that this is the most di-I-
cult and important problem now confront
Ing th- administration. and that therefore
If = not 20 be- supposed that the President
viii enbarrasS it out Of consideration for
soma ether less pressing question.
The Presidents Position.
There Is ne best official authority for the
Statement that up To the time OF his de-
ptrcure frr rh- IIoc Springs of Virginia the
President ga not look with favor on the
early meeting of Congress- and Senator
Fairbanks who was with the President
yesterday. says with great pps.tiveuess that
Ia docs NOT think The President Coujan-
plates calling Congress together-