New-York tribune., 1901-02-20
CUBA AND EXTRA SESSION.
GENERAL GROSVENOR THINKS CON
GRESS WILL NOT MEET BE
FORE DECEMBER.
HIS OPINION NOT SHARED BY MANY MEM
BERS-THE PRESIDENTS VIEW
UNCHANGED.
rnr TELEGRAPH TO rHE rRIRuxE.I ]

Washington Feb I9-Representative Ciros-
venor. OF Ohio. who has gained the name of the
Administrations spokesman on the floor an
nounced to-day for the first time the belief that
there viii be extra session Of Congress GEN
eraI Grosvenor let il be known tnat he had
visited the President this morning. and he also
expressed the opinion that the Cuban constitu-
ton would not be received here before next
December. That is one of the principal rea-
sons why l believe that Congress will not as
semble before the regular date" he declared
General Grosvenor's opinion 10 the probable
date OF the receipt here Of the Cuban constitu-
tion does not agree with the opinion Of some
Of the best informed members of the Senate, nor
does il harmonic with reports from Havana.
One Of the leading members Of the Senate Com
mittee on Relations with Cuba told The Tribune
correspondent he felt certain that the Cuban
constitution would reach Washington within
the next two weeks in completed form far
as the convention at Havana at present is will
ing to make it, OF course. If the constitution
makers should he unable to agree and should
suspend action for several months the chief
cause for calling an extra session Of Congress
would he removed. But II is pointed that
this delay would only complicate the Cuban
question and still further embarrass those on
whom the responsibility for finally determining
Cuha's status rests. II there should he no ses-
sion Of Congress before next December and
the Cuban matter should then he brought for
/ ward for consideration the session would prob
ably be one of the longest in the history Of the
country. as il would have more work TO do than
it could well get through with inside Of eight or
ten months. This would carry the session over
10 the beginning OF the important Congress and
State campaigns OF 1902
The Democrats and Populists of course are
anxious for this state Of things to be brought
about, and, accordingly. are doing all in their
power 10 aid the Republican opponents of an
extra session 10 dissuade the President from
calling il To this end several Senate Demo
Gratis to-day announced that they would not join
Messrs- Pettgrew, Teller and others in hlibus-
tering against the adoption Of the Spooner reso-
luton empowering the President TO substitute
civil for military government in the Philippines
Administration leaders in the Senate say that If
the Sp0oner resolution should he defeated the
President would have so much reason to call
an extra session that they would readily yield
all opposition 10 that course his part
II is noteworthy. however. that in spite OF
General GrOsvenOrs declaration and the reported
intention of the Senate Democrats not 10 fill
buster against the Spooner resolution. the PTes-
dent again to-day informed several OF hts callers
that he still strongly Of opinion that an
necessary. II is evident from this that the
President takes no stock I'm the rumors that the
Constitutional Conve ntiOn cannot agree on a
report before next fall or winter II is known
thar ms desire for early agreement Ha-
vana continues strong. and II Is thought that he
has let this fact be known 10 Governor General
Wood within the last twenty-four hours This
hears out the belief that the Cuban constitution
viii he sent 20 Washington before March g. in
which event the President Is almost TO call
an extra session Of Congress unless of course
the constitution could be acted on in the closing
hours OF this Congress possibility entirely too
remote 10 be seriously entertained at this junct-
urN.
At it's netting to-day the Cabinet discussed
the Cuban question and its bearing an extra
session. without being able 70 reach Concu-
sion with The meagre inf0rrna ton al hand.