Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-05
EXTRA SESSION.
Present indications Are That it
Will be Dull.
President Seems Resolved to Call it
November 9.
Impending Campaign Will Color the
Proceedings.

Washington. October 4.-If present
plans persist, the special session of
Congress which is scheduled to assem-
BILE Nov. 8 Will amount to little. Speak
er-designate Cannon says that he in
tends to appoint only the Ways and
Means Committee and that on ac-
counts which attend to the book-keep-
ing of the House. This will limit gen
| eral business there to such as properly
originates with q single committee; it
VIII prevent even the routine work on
appropriations. While the Senate will
| work under no such limitations, as its
committees are always organized. il
| the President confines his November
message TO the special objects which he
| has in view for that session. leaving
ms review of the state of the Union for
the annual message in December, there
| would be little invitation to take up
| general business in that branch of the
| national legislature. OF the two OBJ
| JectS for which the special session is
ostensibly called, only Cuban reciproc-
| ity will apparently receive much seri-
| Gus consideration, and the completion
OF that program, requiring only ma
iority vote in each house, should take
| little time, unless some unexpected
! element enters the equation. The de-
cision of the Michigan delegation to
postpone taking any attitude until they
reach Washington, although somewhat
| eniSmatic, is suggestive of n revolt of
| their old opposition. The argument is
| now raised that Cuba is prosperous
| enough without reciprocity. The i'm
| lin,
Will tend to prevent fractional warfare
WITHIN the Republican party and this
should prove helpful to the Presidents
program. The treaty is mild in its
| provisions, both as to concession and
| period of operation. Currency reform,
| the other topic for which Congress is to
| he summoned, will. in the opinion of
| most observers, so over till after the
presidential election.
! The Republican leaders in the Sem
ate Will prefer to begin work at Il slow
pace, and, accordingly. will incline to
limit the extra sessions work to the
minimum requirements, just as Mr.
Cannon plans in the House. During
| the winter before a presidential cam
paign each party has that event chiefly
| in view. The least that can be done is
| usually the safest. Cautious Repu5-
lican leaders would prefer to go before
| the country on three months con-
Sressional business than with what that
body might do in eight months. Con-
Gress lesisiates rapidly now. Several
| of the old brakes on the wheels have
| lost their force. The Senate minority
| used to fight every inch of the way, but
| it is now so weak in numbers and, I'M
der German, so conservative in leader
snip. that there will be little cheek to
the republican program from that
quarter. The House, since the adop-
'lon OF the Reed rules, has been able to
90 business as promptly as it desires
ana according to present Indications
Mr.. Hepburn'S regularly presented
proposal i'll the Republican caucus for
modification of the code will meet with
less than the usual support. Either
House Will have all the time that it
wants, even with the proposed early
adjournment, which has now become
the fixed policy of national convention
years.
Most OF the senators and representa-
tiVcs who are now arriving in Wash
inGton expect the November session to
De rather dun. They look for success
sive adjournments in the House, and
for a long break at Thanksgiving. with
The possibility that its legislative bust
ness will have been completed even be-
fore that. Little is ever done in
December, the holiday recess of two
weeks coming before much legislative
momentum can be developed, and this
year, it is thought, will prove no excep-
ton. Inc Democrats will aim to get
before the country" i'll criticism of the
various happenings in the departments
and elsewhere which have provoked
criticism; the fewer Legislative days tho
smaller will be their opportunity. No
Natter how much business is mapped
out for special sessions, like Senator
tulloin's review last spring of the
treaties needing attention, which could
then have been disposed of, little is US
ually done. Particularly is this the case
When there is 4 regular long session
Immediately ahead. The discovery OF
q Republican vice presidential and a
Democratic presidential candidate seem
to be the chief task before Congress
this winter. That need not begin
actively IN November.
Although many of the congressional
callers whom President Roosevelt now
sees are opposed to having an extra
session in November, he has no present
intention Of abandoning the plan. He
VIII, however, make some concession to
the prevailing drift of sentiment by
laying more stress upon Cuban re-
ciprccity than upon proposed currency
changes, two subjects which were
originally regarded as equally import
ant in bringing Congress here in extra
Session. The President realizes that
tendencies are now very strong against
monetary legislation and he will ac-
cordingly concentrate his efforts to-
wards carrying out the Admins
trations program regarding Cuba, clos
ing that chapter before the presidential
campaign begins.
Representative Hemenway who isl
slated for chairman of the Committee
IN Appropriations and was one Of the
Presidents callers today. declares en-
phatically that there will be no cur
rency legisla ton at the November ses-
Sion and probably none at the reguIari
to- 4.