The age-herald., 1899-07-09
EXTRA SESSION
 TALK REVIVED
May be Called to Take Work Off
 of Regular Session,
WILL BE NO COMPROMISE
On Part of Republicans Regarding Fi- nancial Legislation - The Single Gold Standard Will be More
 Securely Fastened on Us

Securely Fastened on Us
 Washington, July S.-(Special. )-There is again talk in Washington of an extra ses- sion. General Henderson, when here last Thursday, said, however, that he did not know whether one would be called or not. The president had considered it, he said, but whether he had reached any conclusion neither he nor any one else could tell.
 There is no great demand for an extra session in the presidents opinion, but there may be wisdom in calling it. If he decides to call it, it will be solely with the idea of relieving the regular session of some of the great work which will come before it. The president is very anxious to get Hawaii and Porto Rico on some permanent system, as he thinks it is demoralizing to have them continue in the hap-hazzard way they are being governed now. The business interest of Porto Rico is in very unsettled condi- tion on account of the temporary character of the laws governing it. He does not think there is any necessity for an extra session on account of any conditions in the Philippines, for he has perfect confidence that the trouble out there is working itself out satisfactorily. But unless congress is called together before next December and some work done on matters of legislation which are imperative, the regular session Will run through the entire summer of 1900, thing very much to be avoided in his opinion. Moreover, he thinks legislative discussion is greatly hampered by the ex- cltement of an approaching presidential campaign.
 Subject Of Financial Legislation
 General Henderson does not believe that the senate committee now meeting at Mar agansett Pier is baking over the proposi- ton to commit the country to the single gold standard He and Secretary Gage had a conference on the prospects, of financial legislation this week. General Henderson assured the secretary that in his opinion there was no fear that a bill reported by the joint committees of the house and sen- ate would not pass the house. lie thought that the republicans, even the old-time bi- metallists, had now made up their minds that there could be compromise The democrats would stick to free silver and the republicans would have to be as uncom- promising. General Henderson says that he anticipates very little opposition to the bill when it comes before the house. On account of the narrow majority, there would be some trouble to engineer it through the house, and there would be some doubt until it actually passed, but that it was his private opinion that it would go through well oiled by republican confidence.
 Secretary Gage says that while there is an element in the senate which prefers to see bimetaism written wherever gold should be put, still he did not think that this element would be able to control the bill, especially if it went through the house with any solidity we are operat- ing under the single gold standard now" cold nd is rdipa not to in the statutes"
 But One Foreign Flag
 With the sole exception of the Turkish crescent, there was not to be seen here on the Fourth of July last single foreign flag Such a thing in any other country would be a matter of diplomatic inquiry, but the good natured officials of our gov ernment have taken no notice of the over sight or slight, save to mention it as some thing quite extraordinary.
 To fully understand the significance of such a breac hof official etiquette it is nec- essary to know that 1t is an unwritten law for legations and embassies in foreign land to display their own flags on the na- tional holidays of the country they happen to be resting in. It is considered obliga- tory in some countries to pay this mark of respect on the natal festivals. It Is cus- tomary at least for each legation and em-- bassy to observe the national holidays in those countries in which they are located The British foreign office would stand aghast to hear that the American, French or Russian legation had not floated their own flags to the breeze on the celebration of Queen Victorias birthday. The lega- tions in Washington are much more lax than they would be in other countries.
 It is funny to hear the explanations that are going the rounds. An attache of the French legation said that they did not dis play their flag for the reason that if " supposed that America would not care to celebrate the Fourth of July now that the United States and England had made it up. Another said that usually on natal holidays the government gave ball or some sort Of celebration to which all the foreigners are invited, or else the head of the diplomatic corps notified each legation that such a holiday was approaching and would suggest the propriety of the diplo- matic corps observing it.
 The fact that Sir Julian Pouncefote is at The Hague may have been rsponsible for the general lack of observance among the foreigners. The average foreigner in Washington. at least, is much of dullard and possibly without a written notice from Sir Julian did not exactly know what to do.
 The probability is, however, that the sec retaries either did not think of the day or else did not care to take the trouble to hoist their flags. The utter lack of cere- mony about our own official life here has long ago gained the contempt of the for cisn attache who. in other countries is hemmod in and bounded on all sides by the str.ctest etiquette. Even in the renub; can government south of us there is mora official etiquette at a state funeral than would be displayed in Washington in A year. But while the American officials are lax in matters of court etiquette they