New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-18
EXTRA SESSION UNLIK ELY.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT HAS NOT DE-
TERMINED TO CALL ONE.
NO TARIFF OR TRUST LEGISLATION
PROBABLE BEFORE THE REGULAR
MEETING OF THE LvIIITH
CONGRESS
IBr TELEGRAPH To THE rRrrrxr.l ]

By TELEGRAPH To THE TRIPUNEl
Washington Nov. 17-An predictions that
there will be an extra session of Congress next
summer are premature President Roosevelt has
not determined to call the LVIIIth Congress in
extra session in advance OF the regular session
which will begin on the first Monday in De
cember. 1908, and the opinion among members
of the Cabinet is that there is little probability
that he will do So 1t is thought TO be improb-
able that any such pressing need of legislative
action will exist next summer TO lead the
President to bring Congress here IN advance
of the regular time for meeting If the PresI-
dent and the party leaders in Congress were Of
the opinion that there pressing need for
revision of the tariff without delay. and If they
were united In their opinions TO the lines on
which this revision should be made. there would
unquestionably be an extra session, as IT would
be impossible to take up the subject of tariff
revision and get a bill through at the short
session this winter. There are few Republican
leaders who believe that the need OF tariff re-
vision is so pressing that it cannot be postponed
for a year and IT is argued that no steps what
ever in that direction should be taken until the
party leaders have agreed on programme to be
followed The Presidents idea at this time is TO
ask Congress at the coming session TO provide
for the appointment of a tariff commission
which shall study the whole question Of customs
rates and their relation 10 the revenues Of the
government and TO American industries. and
shall recommend from time 10 time such
changes in rates as IL deems 20 be advisable A
bill providing for such commission Will prob
ably give rise to considerable debate. and 1t is
improbable that il can be passed until late in
the short session. Then the commission cannot
he named until about the end OF the session.
and It will not be able to submit any compre-
hensive plan for tariff revision before the first
OF December Of next year.
If there is not to be an extra session for tariff
revision, il is improbable that one will be called
for any other purpose. The probability of one
being called for the enactment Of legislation TO
regulate the trusts is believed to be remote. The
President will urge Congress TO consider such
legislation at the coming session. but if nothing
is accomplished the matter will probably be al
lowed TO go over until the next session, to be
taken up and considered in connection with
tariff revision
REORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE.
Closely connected with the subject of tariff
revision Is the question of the organization of
the House of Representatives in the LVIIIth
Congress, and especially the composition of the
Committee on Ways and Means. 1t is taken
for granted by most of the Republicans in
Washington that Representative Cannon. of
remote possibility that ne may be defeated If
the Eastern Republicans should combine on
some man like Representative Burton. OF Ohio
who could draw OF the Western support
away from the Illinois man. Such combina-
ton is not probable and yet it might be made
II II should develop that Mr.. Cannon had in
mind the appointment of a radical Committee
on Ways and Means under the Craftsmanship of
Mr. Babcock. Mr. Cannon has always been con-
servative on the tariff question, however and
for this reason II is not probable that he has
made any bargain with Mr. Babcock by which
the latter is TO have the Ways and Means chair
manship II is safe TO predict that If he is
elected Speaker Mr. Cannon will continue the
present Ways and Means Committee so far as
its members have been reelected. and that
Representative Payne of New-YOrk. will re-
main at its head.
A strong effort will be made when the new
Congress meets TO amend the present rules of
the House TO restrict the powers of the
Speaker Some of the leading men of the House
have been greatly dissatisfied with the opera
tion of the present rules, which give the Speaker
almost absolute power over the business of the
House, and they fear that under a man OF Mr.
Cannon's autocratic temperament there is dan
ger that the House will be more than ever
under the domination of the one-man power
Representative Hepburn. of Iowa, is one OF those
who will lead in the fight for modification of
the rules