The age-herald., 1899-01-27
WILL THERE BE
 AN EXTRA SESSION This is the Question Now ASitatin6
 Washington. THE CURRENCY REF0RMERS
Are Clamoring For Some Legislation on
 Monetary Matters.
THE ADVOCATES OF THE ARMY BILL
Are Anxious That Their Pet Measure Be Passed, But Are Fearful Lest It Be Held Up in the
 Senate.

Washingto January N.-(Speclal.)--
 There are now left only thirty-three more
 legislative days in this session and the fight
 at present is to avoid an extra session. Ex-
 tra Sessions are not popular with chief ex-
 ecutiyes and experience has demonstrated
 the fact that they usually usually brood
 no good to the president who calls them.
 While the administration is anxious to
 avoid one, and while a majority in congress
 would prefer to let all matters which can
 not be acted upon at this session go over
 until next December yet there is large
 and Important faction here in Washington
 who are trying to force one.
 The leading influence in favor of an extra
 session are the monetary reform men, back
 ed by promises of the administration, who
 are here to force the president to make
 good his party's word and reform the cur
 rency laws of the country. They have
 strong delegation in the city who are using
 every means known to them to delay action
 on pending matters before congress, think
 ing this the only way now to get any legis-
 lation in the near future.
 The Time Not Ripe
 The president has put them off with the
 statement that the time is not ripe for cur
 rency legislation; that it can only be harm
 full to their cause to precipitate a financial debate on the country at this time. At any
 rate they have joined with every other
 faction which has any interest in an extra
 session. There are always certain num-
 Der of senator's and representatives who
 like an extra session for the same reason
 that star likes to be on the stage in every
 act.
 These men have no special interest in
 hastening Legislation, if congress gets through it's work all well and good; if 1t
 does not then the play will have longer
 run and the actors be that much more important. Then there is a small corterie who honestly believe that the representa-
 tives of the people and of the states should
 be in session until the vexed questions now agitating the country shall have been set- tied.
 Some of the most important appropriation bills have not even been reported, while much necessary legislation has not been so much as outlined in committee. There Is
 still pending the Nicaraguan bill in the
 house, and the reorganization of the navy
 in the senate. The treaty is hanging in mid air, while the country does not yet know what Senators Cullom and Morgan and MT. Hit are going to propose regard ing the government of the Hawaiian is- lands.
 The NIcaraguan Canal It is exceedingly doubtful if the Nica- raguan canal bill can get before the house this session. So much other business IS ahead of it. The army reorganization bill has been under discussion for three days, and will probably pass almost as reported. The democrats in the house would like to flibuster against it as in the good old days that Bland loves to recall and the old mem- bers speak of as with reverence for what is dead. So many hours were set aside for the discussion of this important measure, and not another day more will MT. Reed and his committee on rules give. But over in the senate where senators may still talk against time there are wait ing some earnest men who are willing to debate until they drop rather than see this bill go through. They would have to yield in time if the friends of the measure had the time to spare them to talk, but there are only thirty three days, and that time is easily consumed by score of senators. The army expects its bill to fail at this session, and for that reason wants an ex- tra session. If they have to wait until De- cember there is no telling what changes may take place and what new policy adopt ed by the administration.
 Might Be Abandoned EApdESioH may pSCoMc So uHPopuiai oS eo Philippines in which case the large increase of the army proposed now would also be abandoned.
 The president Is not as adept as President Cleveland in driving congress. President Mckinley may lead it easier, but lacks the strength of an arm to lash 1t to act in &C., cord with his wishes.
 The opponents to the treaty have begun to believe if they can prevent its ratification at this session they may possibly amend it in the next session, or else force the ad- ministration to accept a resolution declaring it contrary to the intention of this gov ernment to hold the Philippines perma- nently.
 They even assert with some confidence that the president has modified his views and himself doubts the advisability of an- nexing the archipelago.
 ARCHIBALD w. BUTT.