The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-24
AN EXTRA SESSION
,.cTICAII.y CERTAIN THAT ONE
WILL BE CALLED.
THE PRESIDENT DESIRES 1T.
me- TOLD. SENATORS PLATTN AND
GALBINGER so.

saVs-Leading Republicans Who
Are Opposed TO the ship-Subsidy
mil Do Not Like the Idea-Prest-
dent Frye of the Senate and MIR.
uanna Will Work Together. for
Shiu-Subsidy and Against River
and HarbOr Bill.
washington, Feb. 2S.-An extra session
If Congress has been determined upon
hv the President, unless the information
have received direct from the White
rIorse is at fault. There has been SO
much speculation upon this subject during
the past two or three weeks that some
NJ the senator's and representatives, who
are usually considered unquestionable au-
+hority on administration movements.
have been unable to settle in their own
minds what the actual situation on the
subject is. For instance, certain sena-
tors and representatives who visited the
White House came away under the i'm
preston that an extra session would sure
ly be called. Equally reliable Congress
men on the same day left the White
House convinced in their own minds that
rant the calling of an extra session. Thus
a game OF baetledore and shuttlecock has
been made of this subject which has oc-
casioned SO much comment.
Senator T. c. Plat of New York, gave
me the first definite statement as to the
Presidents intentions last Wednesday
morning. The New York Senator had
just returned from his wife's funeral.
He called at the White House to consult
he
lie business and incidentally brought up
the subject of the possibility of an extra
session He told the President very
frankly that he had personal interest in
ascertaining the likelihood of an extra
session of Congress, because he desired
to adjust his movements in the near flu
ture to suit existing conditions. The Pres
ident reviewed at considerable length the
unfinished work of Congress, and also
dwelt upon the Importance of some def
mite action by Congress, looking to the
establishment of more satisfactory policy
with regard to Cuba. So fully impressed
was Senator Plat by the Presidents pos
tive statements, that the New York SEN
ator informed me that an extra sess on
seems inevitable, and he was advised to
make his business and personal arrange
ments accordingly.
The same day Senator Gallinger of New
1
the President about public business, and
during their interview the subject of an
extra session was discussed Senator
GaLinger substantially confirmed all that
Senator Platt had said, and stated, with
out qualification, that he was convinced
that the President was determined to call
Congress. together in extraordinary ses-
sion.
Leading Republicans Oppose It,.
Naturally, these positive statements
from two Awell- Informed and thoroughly
practical men occasioned considerable
criticism among the friends of the ad--
miaistration. who have strongly protested
against the calling of an extra Session
A number of leading Republicans, iii ard
out of Congress, have advised the Presi-.
dent of the unwsdom from a political
standpoint of such a course and they
have endeavored to convince him that
the conditions of the public business are
not such as to Justify Immediate acticn
on the Cuban question Some Of these
gntlemen go as far as to insnuate that
there may be something more than the
consideration OF the. Cuban question,
which prompts the President to-. call an
Extra session of Congress soon after the
Eh of March
4 A member of Congress who is unusual
" well-informed on public questions is
authority for the statement that while
the Cuban question may be the basis of
the call for an extra session, one of the
main objects in view is to secure, if
possible, definite action on the Inflated
/ Ship-subsidy bill" FEASIBILITY in that
! belief may be found in brief recital of
few inside secrets bearing upon the
| shipping bill.
Aside from the well known interest
| which Senator Hanna has manifested in
that measure, there are other interests
worthy of consideration. 1t is well known
to all those who have followed the SEN
atorial career of Senator Frye, the dis
tngushed chairman of the Senate Com
mlttee on Commerce and also the pr s.
ent presiding officer of the Senate, that
he Is a consistent, persistent, and UNI
Wavering champion of an American mer-
chant marine. No one questions his hon
esty and integrity in behalf of the build
ing ~ of American commerce. 1t has
been one of the ambitions of his public
career to place upon the statute books
law for the encouragement of the BULL
ing of American ships and the carrying
OF American commerce under the, Amer
lean flag. Long before Senator Hanna
came into prominence, Senator Frye re-
peatedy forced this question upon the
attention Of Congress. - ~. .-
Senator Frye's Position.
SO earnest and sincere ha been his adj
voeacy of this measure, that some of his
friends Intimate that he entertained, a
ieelng Of resentment against those OF
ms own party who have Indirectly stay
ca the progress of the shipping bill dur
ING the p. esent session of Congress 1t
IS asserted that he has, on more than
one occasion, manifested a feeling of
chagfln and. d 'sp easure at the course of
some Of his Republican associates on the
commerce Committee. After they had
voted with him in committee to report
tne OH favorably to the Senate, it was
out fair for him to assume that tne
measure would receive their loyal sup
rort Wnen 1t came up for considerat on.
i" ME 1t Is true that the Republicans
naNe stood together in favor of the biz,
mnSheVer a test Of party strength was
uldue' no direct vote en- the bill has been
,,eached' The Congressional Record won
,,iiuicate that the only opposition to the
IN comes from Democratic and Populis-
'io sources. Under the surface however,
~ Is alleged that from ten
ufteen Republican senators
quietly worked to prevent
nl,al vote being reached. Among chat
.,'" are two Republican members OF
''ts ommerce Committee.
senator Frye Is not ignorant of the cir
SSu, u which have operated 10 the
uIsau vantage OF his pet measure. His long
it, n. ience IN the Senate and his familiar
ce.s I'm the methods which may be sue
lion 4 aa employed for or against leglsa-