Evening star., 1900-07-17
Cabinet Ministers Meet Him at the
White House.
THE DISCUSSION NOW GOING ON
Question of an Extra Session Of
Congress.
ON W II AT 1T D E p E y DIS

President Mckinley got back to Washing
ton at 81 o'clock this afternoon and Is
now with his cabinet officers IN session at
the White House. The train was more than
thirty minutes late. The President return
ed In a special car attached to a regular
train over the Pennsylvania road. having
left Canton at 1890 O'Clock last night. Sec
retary Cortelyou was the only occupant of
the car with him. Mrs. Mckinley having
remained at Canton. 1t Is the President 5
intention to return there in a few days If
the condition of public business will per
nit
The President was met at the train by
Secretary Root Adjutant General Corbin
4, and Assistant Secretary Pruden- Secre-
tary Root rode from the depot to the White
House with the President and gave him all
the news that had been received in the last
twenty-four hours.
The President had been telegraphed much
or this Information while on his way here
Immediately on going to his rooms the
President was handed all the kilograms
be airing the situation in China.
A large number of people were at the
White House when the Presidents carriage
drove up. They received him with hand
clapping. to which he responded several
times by raising his pearl colored fedora
hat
Prepared for the President.
Everything was ready at the White
House for the return of the President.
After the President had removed the stains
OF travel and taken lunch he went at once
to the cabinet room, where the cabinet Of
ficers had been asked to assemble at 80
O'Clock. All the cabinet officers in the city
had been notified by wire that the Presi-
dent would expect to meet them in session
shortly after his return
The members of the cabinet present were
Secretaries Hay, Root, Long, Gage and
Postmaster General Smith.
Prior to the cabinet session there was
endless gossip and conjecture as to the atti-
tude of the administration The trend Of
opinion that the President would try
TO avoid an extra session of Congress, and
that he would not advocate such a session
at this time. holding the matter open for
further news from China
officials stated that. as far as could be
Judged. public sentiment was apparently in
favor of Congress taking hold of the Chi
nese situation. In this connection it was
likewise pointed cut that the President lis
tens to public sentiment. and has been more
frequently guided by IL than any of his pre-
decessors. He long ago learned to recog-
nize. however. the differenee &c between a
temporary sentiment and subs tantial be-
lief difficult to be eradicated.
Extra Session Problem.
member of the cabinet today said that
1t was probable that an extra session of
OnSreSS WOulu OepeN0 entlrelN on the
number of soldiers this country will have
to furnish in China. IF the President anG
cabinet have private Information showing
a widespread state Of disorder and rebel
lion in China. with probabilities of a large
army being necessary. the calling of Con-
gress in session is among the things to be
Immediately looked for. Again. if this out
lcok develops later the call will come later.
of course, it is pointed out. an extra ses-
h i
periodically dangerous if the number of
troops now ordered to China should be
sufficient and the full quota of this coun-
try. II is declared that IL will be irnposSi-
bic 10 spare over 1000 or 1J.000 soldiers for
China. II will be dangerous to spare even
this number. because the Filipinos might
conclude TO rektndle the campfires and be-
gin another campaign That might lose
great deal of the ground that has been
won AT such great loss and sacrifice.
Ihese are the vital questions before the
ctDinrt This afternoon. To decide upon call
Ing Congress in session is to incur criticism
should conditions in China improve and call
on extended operations in that country To
not Call Congress Is to risk great blame if
the cOnfagration in China should grow
and demand the presence of big armies
me administration would be blamed for not
having acted more promptly and quickly
The Questions are complicated in any
event ami may depend on information that
Il mysterlous.y said TO be looked for in
tw days.
- IVf44Ztu LIldJ Ile PRESIDENT and his
cabinet probably have Information that has
not been made public. 1t may guide them
IN their decisions and assist in the sourion
oi what IL now being termed the most
knotty problem in the history of the ad-
mtnistration.
Could 1t Act ConditionaIIy.
Il Is pointed out this afternoon that the
calling of Congress in session need not
mean a declaration of war against China
The President, II IS argued could call tho
national legislature together and ask power
70 increase the volunteer army as MANY
soldiers as might possibly be needed in
'hlha The legislation to that end could
De conditional to an extent. Congress need
not declare war. but ii would prepare the
President for the worst in China and en-
able MIN to keep a firm check on the Phil
ippines "
The national defense appropriation of $50
rpVD was granted by Congress prior To
The formal declaration of war against
spain. and was to guard against unpre-
paredness- Such action. II is said could he
repeated in this case, merely as a precau-
ton.