The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-12
CneuIaftou efafement.
Cuba and the Extra Session.

Cuba and the Extra Session.
We are happy TO say that the Cuban
news today justifes the hope that this
Government may not be called upon to
settle the question of its future relations
10 Cuba IN haste. or until the Intelligent
classes OF the island itself shall have had
opportunity to study and discuss the work
Of their Constitutional Convention.
The Administration has q cable message
from Governor General Wood in which
that officer says the work OF the conven-
tioa may not be completed for months.
Yesterday, it was decided by the body to
refer the matter Of relations with the
United States to special commission
with Instructions 70 report plan OF ac-
tion to the convention. Work OF such
character could not be completed within
the life Of the present Congress.
It. therefore is seen that another. rea-
son which might be eoIorably ass: gned for
calling Congress in extraordinary session
has been removed from the field of con
sheraton The parliamentary situation
in the Senate is such that there is no
bility Of passing the Subsidy steal be-
tween now and March 4. 1t is question
able if Mr. Mckinley would bring Con-
gress together - +he spring to help the
job under expected conditions. Circum-
stances apparently have changed OF late,
and the official and popular idea that
the Supreme Court viii sustain the Con
stitution against the Administration in
the colonial cases. has no doubt created
an entirely new tentative policy.
If the Spooner amendment to the Army
Appropriation bill be adopted, il viii not
matter what the Supreme Court decision
may be, as far as that ordinarily would
affect executive despotic power over the
Philippines. The President in any case
would have authority TO rule and govern
in any way he pleased. and without limi-
tation or responsibility. until Congress
should resume its governmental preroga-
tive and proceed to pass laws for the Col
onies. In short should the Supreme
Court hold. With Chief Justice Marshall
that Territories. organized OF morgan
lied. are integral parts of the United
States. the obvious interest of the Admin
istration will be 10 keep Congress out of
the way as long as possible. and thus get
the chance to distribute the Philippine
franchises, sugar and tobacco lands. and
SO on. among the trusts who wa2t Them in
any case. but, as a measure of seif-pres-
eryation. would fight desperately to mo-
nopolize them, were the products of The
archipelago 10 be guaranteed free entry to
American mainland ports.
An extraordinary session OF Congress
could not be held without debate upon the
conditions Of executive despotisrn i'm
posed upon the Philippines by the preced-
ing Congress. nor without interfering ma
teriaIly with the interests Of the trusts in
their movement to secure control of ev-
erything worth mentioning in the islands.
Even the safe Republican majority in both
houses OF the Fifty-seventh Congress
might take fright and hasten to relieve
the President Of the Congressional Iegis-
Iatiye power surrendered TO him before
the franchises and land grant plans OF the
Administration could be consummated, as
IS being done so successfully in Porto
Rico So. We mzy conclude. almost with
certainty, that. much as Mr. Mckinley
might Ike TO help Mr. Hanna in paying
Republican campaign debts to the intend
ing Subsidy grabbers. an extraordinary
session would be apt TO ieopardize other
campaign debts. and the feasibility of re
deeming campaign or other pledges Of
practical nature. much more important
from the Administration and sugar. to-
baeeo, and Wall Street points OF view.
x would thus appear that Mr Hanna-s
chance to pass Senator Frye's pet meas
uTe," has narrowed down to his ability 10
force action this week. His party agso-
eiates are understood to have accorded
him all the time he may want until the end
Of Saturday-including night sessions If he
demands thomas a hnality. as far as the
Subsidy JOB is concerned On Monday next
Il viii become imperatiyely necessary to
begin uninterrupted consideration Of the
appropriation bills, and there will be no
further time TO devote to the fight against
Senators who are resisting the most i'm
pudeut attempt in the annals Of American
legislation to loot the Treasury for the
benefit OF a few monopolists.
Failure to pass any one Of the great ap-
preparation bills would 100 the President
10 call the F1fty-seyenth Congress togeth-
er in the spring. AS We have indicated,
that is something which the AdmInistra-
ton is probably now very anxious to avoid.