The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-10
CAUSE FOR EXTRA SESSION
Mckinley Wants Philippines and
Currency Question Disposed Of

New York May 10-A special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
The revival of the talk of an extra
session of congress has more behind 1t
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 TINS
matter.
He wishes the policy of the govern
rrrant with respect to the Philippines
defined and the currency question dlS-
posed of before the party enters the
campaign of 1900. The president has de-
clared his belief to his advisers that
peace will be established in the Philip
pines within the next thirty days, ana
that the ownership and possession OF
those islands win no longer be disputed.
This subject coming to him so soon, he
does not care to formulate a policy with
respect to their government, the de-
gree 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 any
thing that will lessen the present album
dant prospects of success for his party
in the coming campaign. He fears that
anything 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 government viii be with respect 10
possessions in the far east.
Another powerful controlling motive
that is actuatipg the president is his
strong desire to have early and posi-
tive action taken with respect to the
currency question. He is said to be not
thoroughly satisfied with the results of
the deliberations of the Republican
house caucus committee, which recently
formulated a bill for Introduction in the
house when it convenes again.
Although the members of that COM
mittee are unusually reticent, it is I'M
derstood that the committee has not in
all respects followed the suggestion of
the president Four strong points were
brought out by the president and the
committee was thoroughly acquainted
with his position. These recommended
lions were:
First-A provision that will make the
so-called endless chain caused by the
redemption of greenbacks with gold
and consequent runs upon the treasury
reserve impossible.
Secondhand national banks shall be
permitted to issue circulation up to the
par value of the bonds deposited to
secure that circulation, instead of only
80 per cent, as at present.
Third-A reduction of the tax on ma
tiOnal bank circulation, the present tax
being per cent.
Fourth-That national banks with a
capital of only $25, 600 be authorized to
be esta blished in small towns, the min
imum now being $4,000.
Not being satisfied that the measure
formulated by the house committee
meets the situation, the president
wishes the whole question taken up and
disposed of as early as possible, so
that it may not be a factor in the COM
ing campaign. This also appears to be
the views of the leaders. Mr.. Aldrich,
chairman of the senate committee on
finance who has just returned from
Europe, in an interview in New York
in the Tribune, recently said he would
call his committee together as soon as
possible, and, as he expressed it, get
right down to business This commit
tee was authorized to sit during the re-
cess, but it was believed that not until
the cool months of the fall season would
it really do any work on the subject
The declaration of Chairman Aldrich
evidently indicates a change of pro-
gramme.
In his talks with senators and repre-
sentatives, particularly those who in
tend spending the summer abroad, the
president has intimated the possibility
of legislative emergency that would
require their presence in Washington
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 advisers, who are closest to him re-
gard a special session as almost an as
sured fact. The man on whose au-
thOrity the above expressions are based
is of the opinion that when the presi-
dent returns from Hot Springs where
he has gone for rest, he will permit it to
become Semi-officially known that con-
greSS is to be convened some two or
three months earlier than the date for
the regular meeting.
Fbotoera Dhs-YaIe speciaI o1arator