New-York tribune., 1903-07-18
THE EXTRA SESSION.

The announcement of Senator Lodge that the
President has fixed upon November as the
date for the expected extra session of Congress
will give renewed assurance which was scarce
ly needed, that the President is as firmly as
ever devoted to the idea of doing justice to
Cuba and improving our currency system Inc
extra session. with no appropriation bills or
other routine work to delay it, can devote itself
TO these two subjects, and if the majority has
any real desire to accomplish anything 1t
should in a months time be able to pass two
bills in satisfactory form
The Cuban legislation indeed should take no
time at all, for all that is needed is a simple
act modifying the tariff law in conformity with
the treaty already ratified by the Senate NO
question of detail calls for discussion. The
simple issue is carrying out the treaty or not
CARRYING it out. Practically every member now
knows what he thinks, and the bill could prop
erlv be brought to a vote in each house at
once Any delay on the pretence Of discussion
merely means that persons who want the treaty
to fail but do not dare face public opinion in
favor Of concessions to Cuba, are taking an in
direct method to Kill it. AS the Senate has al
ready ratified the treaty it may be expected
that it will vote without question to put its
own measure in operation. The difficulty, if
any is to be encountered, will doubtless be in
the House, where determined element is op-
posed to any closer trade relations with Cuba
from perfectly we'll understood selfish motives.
The chief obstacle to currency reform will
apparently also be found in the House. The
Senate has long been understood to favor
measures for a more elastic currency in har-
mony with the declaration Of the last national
Republican platform in favor of "such none
'tary legislation as will enable the varying
Of no Of a n
promptly met in order that trade may be
evenly sustained, labor steadily employed and
commerce enlarged" If Mr.. Cannon adheres
to his purpose to block the redemption Of this
pledge in the House he can unquestionably pre-
vent the early accomplishment Of the Presi-
dents plans. Even if he concludes to allow
business in the body over which he will pre-
side to take it's natural course, there will be
difficulties enough in the way of currency leg
islation. The subject is complicated, and hasty,
i'll considered action would be worse than none
at all
1t is to be hoped that leaders in both houses
will give the matter close attention in the next
three months and attend the extra session in
November with a well digested plan of action
on which a majority of them at least are some
where near to an agreement. If this is intro
duced at the very beginning of the session there
may be some hope Of its passage. If however,
Congress comes together for a month with
everything respecting currency reform in con-
fusion, it is hardly possible that anything can
be done before the end of the session. As the
same Congress will resume work in regular ses-
sion in December, whatever progress may be
made will be something gained. Measures will
not die as they would at the expiration of a
Congress, but the extra session will mean so
much more time for work before the holiday
recess Without an extra session there would
be little hope Of getting any real consideration
for either Cuba or the currency before next
year, because of the prOcrastinating habit
which prevails at the beginning of every long
session