New-York tribune., 1901-01-27
CHANCE OF EXTRA SESSION
WILL BE NECESSARY IF PHILIPPINE
LEGISLATION Is To BE UNDERTAKEN.
THE PRESIDENT NOT RELIEVED TO HAVE
REACHED A DECISION-THE VIEWS
OF CONGRESSMEN
lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. J

BY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEI
Washington. Jan 26-POsitfve prediction one
way or the other the subject of an extra ses-
sion OF Congress is dangerous at this iuncture.
"hiIe the weight of opinion among the leaders
Of both parties is against the belief that the
President intends to summon the new Congress .
to deal with tHe Philippine question and the
somewhat aggravated Cuban situation, still
some usually we'll informed persons are strongly
inclined to the opinion that the mind of Mr.. Me-
Kinley now leans toward the conclusion that the
simplest and most expeditions way out of some
possible difficulties that may beset the Govern
ment within the next few months will be
through an extra session Senator Frye. of
Maine, who is we'll acquainted with the de-
tails of legislation and the cOuntrys possible
needs in that line as any member OF either
branch Of Congress. said this afternoon to The
Tribune correspondent. when asked what he
thought of the probabilities of an extra session:
do not know. what the Presidents intention
is. neither had I given the subject of an extra
session any attention until the newspaper agita-
tlon was started to-day. 1t is certain, however,
iI t.ldI II we uhuerIake seriously any new leg1Sa-
tion affecting the Philippines. shall have to
have an extra session.
SENATOR FRYE's OPINION
Further than this Senator Frye would not
discuss the matter. 1t may he inferred how
ever. from his brief expression. that if in the
short message sent to the Senate yesterday with
the Philippine Commissions report President
Mckinley meant seriously TO recommend i'm
mediate legislation for the archipelago. in the
opinion of Senator FRYE the President also
meant to intimate to Congress and to the coun-
try his purpose to call extra session. to meet
soon after this Congress expires on March 8.
Senator Frye's talk indicates firm belief on his
part in the practical impossibility of this Con-
gress taking itself any work than is
already well advanced the calendar. Only
about thirty legislative days of the session
main. and if the same deIiberation marks the
remainder of tine session as has characterized
it up to date. ii is not impossible for all the
time Of the Senate to be consumed by the dozen
or more appropriation bills. This would leave
the ship Subsidy bill and other important mat
terS unacted on.
Senator Frye's manner while talking seemed
to denote that he was not particularly averse
TO an extra session if the President considered
it necessary. 1t can be asserted, however. al
most a certainty. that if he favors extra
session the Senator is one of the very few MEM
bers Of either house not opposed to one This is
| especially true of the Senate whose members
| for the most part men of large professional
and business affairs which demand their per-
sonal attention AS rule they devote all their
/ thought and energies wholly 70 the public bust
A Congress
/ portant engagements 20 look after their private
affairs months ahead ct the date of the adjourn
! ment Of Congress. II goes without saying, of
course that few Of them if any. would try to
| avert an extra session if it We're plain to them
| that the National requirements demanded the
sitting of the legislative body out Of the regular
| time prescribed by law; but at the same time,
until they are convinced that there is an actual
necessity for an extra session they naturally
are opposed to the suggestion because of the
| pressure upon them IF private affairs. Among
| members Of the House the situation is consid-
| erabIy different The majority of Representa-
| tives especially from the South and West. are
men who have few other cares than those Of
politics. and, but for the personal discOmforts
which attend session of Congress in extremely
cold or extremely hot weather, they prefer to be
here rather than at home.
CUBA AND THE NICARAGUA CANAL
In point of numbers it is interesting to note
that the reasons given by the gOssips for an ex-
ira session are greater than those against it,
Indeed. except as the Presidents wish is the
dominant influence in the matter very little can
be said against the probability Of a extra ses-
sion when compared with the number of reasons
for it which are presented by its advocates. Not
the least of these are the Cuban situation and
the Nicaragua Canal question. The Cuban Con-
stitutonaI Convention having about completed
its work the President may want Congress 10
assist him in further dealing with the problem
of Cuba
While it is not considered probable that the
British Foreign Office will act finally on the
amended Hay-Pauncefote Treaty within
month"; still il is regarded within the pale of
possibilities that the convention may be re-
turned To Washington within the next two
months or so. and that intmatiOn to this ef
feet has been communicated to Secretary Hay
by Lord Salisbury If this is true it is possible
that it would be considered advisable to have
Congress in session when the British Govern
ment's response to this Governments cOmmuni-
cation is received. in order that the isthmian
waterway enterprise may be expedited, as well
as to avoid friction between the two Govern
ments in the event that Great Britain assumes
a stubborn attitude.
THE PRESIDENTS INTENTIONS.
1t cannot be learned in well informed circles
that in his message yesterday the President
meant that he desired legislation for the
Philippines. II is pointed out that even if Con-
gress now had time TO devote to Philippine leg
isIaton there is really nothing TO Iegslate about,
nor will there be until the Supreme Court de-
cides the grave constitutional questions in
VoVed in the recent inSular litigation The
Taft Commission is clothed with all the civil
power needed in the Philippines until the Gov
ernment's policy is clearly defined by the course
of events and its purposes are .Ully matured
and developed. ON the hole. therefore, it is
popularity inferred that the President has exer-
cised his privilege by using the Philippine ques-
tiOn as a club over the Senate 10 hurry uD it's
work to the end that all important legislation
even including the Shipping bin. may be pushed
through at this session II this is not his mo-
tive then those who profess 70 he well aCQuaint-
ed with his character and purposes say that he
fully means to call an extra session of Congress,
Ii this view of the matter is correct, it Is con-
sidered probable that the call viii not be issued
until after the Presidents second term has be-
gun. which would not assemble the new Con-
II 4