Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-10
IN EXTRA SESSION
Congress Has Already As
sembled Thirteen Times.
CAUSES AND RESULTS
MEETINGS HAVE BEEN IMPORT
ANT AND INEXPENSIVE.
There viii Be Plenty TO Do in the
Coming Year-Campaign
of 1904.
CAUSES AND RESULTS
Copyright. 1903. hy Henry II. smith,

Copyright, 1899. hy Henry II. Smih)
Erittcn for The Evening Star by Henry II. smith
The "onvening by President Roosevelt CT
an extra session OF the Fifty-eighth Con-
gless on November .. to consider our trade
relations reciprocity with Cuba and re-
medal currency legislation makes the his
tory of the thirteen extraordinary ses-
sions'' OF Congress in the one hundred and
fourteen years of our national existence a
subject of special interest at this time. and
revives the continually recurring question
of the ACCESSIBILITY of readjusting the times
Of meetings of Congress.
The Constitution provides (article I. sec
ton ~ that The Congress shall assemble
at least once in every year and such meet
ing shall be on the first Monday in Decern-
her. unless they shall by law appoint diff
ferent day" ana article II, section - that
the President may, on extraordinary occa-
SONS. convene both houses, or either of
them, and in case of disagreement between
them with respect to the time of adjourn
ment he may adjourn them to such time rs
he shall think proper. the two houses, by
joint resolution. having the power to ad
jOurn without the approval of the Presi-
dent tartiCle |, section -.
The power of converting Congress ION ex
trdOfulndFN occasions mas Deen exercised
by ten Presidents. viz, John Adams. JEFF
ferSon twice, Ma Olson twice. Van Buren,
VIM ii. Harrison, Pierce, Lincoln Hayes
Uwice), Cleveland and Mckinley. making
one-hundred and twenty seven held under
the Constitution.
First Extra Session 079O.
The first extraordinary session con-
vened ON Monday. May 10, 1877. as the first
IF he
ident John Adams on account of the sus-
pension of diplomatic intercourse by
France, on the pretext by the French di-
rectory that the Jay treaty was a violation
by us of a solemn compact in relation to
the French West India possessions and our
minister to France. Mr.. Charles c. Piack-
ney. had been expelled from that country
by the directory, which had issued orders
Tor depreciation on American commerce
more unjust and injurious than their for
mer DEGREES There being a decided federal
majority in each branch of Congress- the
frcSidents recommendations We're prompt
iy carried out Several important measures
were passed for the organization of the
militia and providing for naval arna-
ment ana the session closed on the 10Th If
July. after fixing November u as the time
OF meeting of the second session
Second Extra Session 1SO3).
The next extra" session was the first of
jefferson on Monday. October Il. 1903. The
extraordinary occasion" necessitating. in
the opinion of Mr.. jefferson, an extra ses-
sion of Congress. was the secret cessfon of
louisiana by the King o. Spain to France,
the intendant of Louisiana being instructed
TO make the formal delivery precisely as
That territory was held by France when
ceded to Spain. In the execution of this
mandate the intendant proclaimed that New
To- ms tt-slS fet. Il
merchandise, foreign commerce being for
Didden that port unless carried on by Span-
ish subjects in Spanish bottoms Both
branches OF Congress being friendly to the
administration by large majorites the
treaty made by Monroe Livingston and
Pinckney was promptly ratified by the SEN
ate, the House. with equal promptness
passing a bill for its execution, and the act
authorizing the President to take possession
OF louisiana under the treaty with France
concluded al Paris in the preceding April.
was passed. At this session the unpopular
bankruptcy act was repeated.
Third Extra Session 1SON.
The attack upon the Chesapeake by the
Leopard and the seizure of alleged desert
ers from the British navy under the right
of search" claimed by Great Britain. to-
gether with unsettled differences with
Spain. induced President jefferson to call
an extra session" of the Tenth Congress
on October 20. 1907. The earnest recon-
mendation of the President for the passage
of an embargo act'-the most vigorous
legislation affecting private property ever
enacted by Congress-was promptly con-
CURED in by a vote OF 81 to 6 in the Senate
and So to A in the House. Liberal appro-
priations for gunboats and for coast and
harDor defenses were made and important
measures relating TO the judicial and public
land systems were passed. The session
closed April %. 1905
Fourth Extra Session (1s11).
President Madison convened the Twelfth
Congress on November T. ISL to consider
questions growing out of the condition of
foreign affairs, especially resulting from
the British orders in council-and the
French edcts-which seriously affected our
commerce. The President earnestly urged
upon Congress the duty of putting the
United States into an armor and attitude
demanded by the crisis and corresponding
with the national spirit and expectations
The war spirit of the day strikingly
manifested in the election of Henry Clay
as Speaker, over William w. Bib of Geor-
gla-the peace candidate-by vote of 10 to
Is 1t was during this session that Mr.
Clay took the floor in the House in sup
port of the Senate bill for q OGO additional
troops. when the defeat of that measure
seemed certain, and by his spirited and
eloquent speech saved the bill-the first
instance OF Speaker taking part in the
debates OF the House. Many other impor-
tant measures In harmony with the Presi-
dents recommendations were passed, plans
or internal revenue were considered Gus
toms duties were doubled, treasury notes
bearing interest were authorized to the
amount of S5oOo,0O0. and a per cent loan
or SllVoOO was granted; so that upon
declaration OF war against Great Britain
by the act of June. 1872. the government
was as fully prepared for the emergency
as possible The session terminated July
g. 1872. the second session being fixed for
November following and the first session
OF the Thirteenth Congress for May "a
1913
Fifth Extra Session QS14).
In spite of the fact that the second ses-
sion OF the Thirteenth Congress- which adj
5ourned April IS. 1914. had fixed the COM
mencement of the third session on the
fourth Monday OF October. 1914, President
Madison was compelled to convene Con-
gress In extra session at a still earlier
date In order to provide for treasury de-
fciencies, as well as to consider negotia-
tons then on foot with Great Britain and
decide whether 1t would require arrange