New-York tribune., 1901-01-30
EXTRA SESSION In SIGHT.
TO ACT ON THE CONSTITUE-
TON of CUBA.
THE PRESIDENT WILL PROBABLY CALL
IN MARCH OR APRIL
IsT TELEGRAPH To THE TRrBuNE.I

Washington, Jan. 29-AIthOugh both the
President and the Republican leaders in Con-
gress view with much reluctance the prospect
of an extra session running probably into mid
summer. there seems to be at present no escape
from conditions which make the reassembIing
Of the two houses in March or April political
necessity. When President Mckinley last week
in message to Congress referred in purely
formal and casual way to the need of legislation
TO establish some form Of civil government in
the Philippines. many observers hastily conclud-
ed that the situation in the far East vas re-
garded at the White House as sufficient cause
for holding Congress in session we'll into May or
June The opinion gained ground in conse-
quence that the LvIIth Congress would be
summoned to meet within six weeks to take up
the task Of supplantfng military by civil power
in the Philippines-Obviously too difficult and
delicate to be accomplished in the crowded clos
ing weeks of the life of the With Congress
There never was. however any fixed or serious
intention on the Presidents part to call an extra
session solely for the sake of carrying into ef-
feet the recommendations as yet undigested by
Congress. of the Taft Commissions recently
published report. Had no other obligation than
the creation of civil government for the Phil
ippines rested Congress at this time. it is safe
to say that an extra session of the incoming
Congress would never have been called or even
taken seriously under advsement.
A TASK NOT TO BE AVOIDED.
There is however a political task OF para
mount Importance which must be undertaken
by Congress in the near future. and which it
would be neither prudent nor creditable to shirS
facing until the first regular session OF the two
houses next December. This task is the ap-
proval modification OF the Constitution near
ing completion in Cuba. which must pass the
scrutiny Of Congress before it can be ratified by
iv,%f. Nfor1a
an experiment in stable government President
Mckinley is firmly convinced that this eountry's
pledges to Cuba can only be redeemed by prompt
and open cooperation in establishing an au-
tonomOus Cuban Government. He does not
think that the Cubans should be compelled, IN
equity comfy, TO wait another year before
being allowed to set the machinery of their new
Constitution in motion, or at least receiving DEF
mite notice from this country of any changes in
the scope of insular government which Congress
and the President may deem necessary to guar
antee that stability to secure which the United
States stands pledged before the civilized world.
1t is believed low that the Cuban Conven-
tion will complete it's work by the middle OF
February and that the new constitution can be
submitted to this Government for approval some
time before the end of March. It would clearly
be impossible to take up for consideration at
the fag end of the present session such an i'm
pOrtauJ ana lar tedCuliS PLOblCLi a. SAS W
termination of the future political and COM
merciaI relations between Cuba and the United
States An extra session seems practically in
evftahle therefore, if this country is to fulfil
it's patent obligation to lend prompt and help
ing hand in setting the Cuban govern
ment it's feet.
FUTURE RELATIONS WITH CUBA
II is President McKlnley's intention, freely
and fully expressed, call on Congress TO
share with him the burdens and responsible
ties OF the Cuban settlement He will ask the
two houses TO declare whether or not the pro-
posed constitution promises political security
and stability for the island Of Cuba, and ne VIII
gladly cooperate with the legislative branch in
securing any further guarantees Of peace ana
security which it may be deemed advisable to
suggest Should the constitution be promptly
approved and an fnsular government be set up
under it. the President will at once negotiate
a treaty establishing political and commercial
relations with the republic. and the pres
ence of the two houses will consequently ne
necessary the Senate to ratify the convention
and the popular branch 10 initiate the leslsia-
tion nv which the provisions of the Cuban
treaty are to be carried into effect IT. therefore,
an extra session Of the LvIIth Congress is to be
called in March or April it will be difficult to NIX
a limit to which it's sittings may run
PHILIPPINE CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
Called together by the necessities Of the situa-
+ior in C,uba. Congress may be expected also
10 take ND two additional subjects of legislation
A hill following the general hnes Of the SpoOner
measure will doubtless be passed to authorize
the institution of civil government in the Phil
inDipes This bill will necessarily leave much To
+ba discretion of the President. who will not
feel i,stihed of course. in supplanting military
r,1le until the work of pacihcat1on IS accom-
n,isbed Under present conditions no legislation
for the Philippines is absolutely demanded, put
with Congress in session it will be as feasible TO
autborize in Nav or June Such ChdnSe OF
a aJ,,,inistration in the Far East would other-
Wise be certain to be sanctioned by Congress
several months later
To PASS THE SHIP SUBSIDY BILL"
The calling Of extra session will also make
the massage of a shipping subsidy bill OF some
sort a foregone conclusion. If the bill now
rAndiue in the Senate fails at this session, it
will no reintroduced and passed early In the
life of the new Congress Ine Ftepubucan p ma ma
iority in both branches viii be strenSJhensd
after March t. and in the Senate especially the
friends of the bill will find themselves rid or
three or four of its most active ana determined
onnonents Mr. Pettigrew of South Dakota; MIR.
Butler of North Carolina, and Mr. Alien, or
Nebraska will all leave the Senate at the end
of this Congress. and the gueTlila warfare when when
they have made various legislative projects
for several sessions past will not be initiated oy
the regular Democrats left to carry on the con-
test against shipping subsidies. The practlcdi
assurance that an extra session will have 10 be
held NAV so discourage the opponents or the
Payne-Hann bill that they will let II go through
the Senate now without mucn further proIssI. pIs1-
In fact in view of the Presidents impending
call tO Congress to reasSeInble soon after March
4 the opposition to the subsidy bill may De eX-
pected to show immediate and unrnistaAaOis
signs of collapse.
C,TrPA DISCUSSED BY THE CABINET.