New-York tribune., 1905-01-15
LONGER CONGRESS SESSIONS.

An extra session Of the 59th Congress seems
now 2 certainty. Our Washington dlspatches
srnounce that President Roosevelt VIII can the
two houses together early next ran. II Is ap
rarent that an extra session must De resorteu
TO If the new Congress is TO wreste successluii!
with the legislative problems which are 10 come
before it. No federal legislature in years mas
knsn confronted with a more serious and exact
"a urorramme than that which viii fall to the
Congress coming into existence On March l.
THAT body viii need 10 bring to fits task an ex-
oentional store Of intelligence, patience and IN
dustry, and II is from every point OF view oe-
sirable that the two houses organize as soon as
practicable and set TO work.
II VAS some years ago the fashion to sneer at
Congress as body whose activities IT was the
mart of wisdom TO minimize and suppress. Presl-
dent Cleveland once deplored the fact that ne
was about 'to have Congress on his hands; put
we have happily outgrown the frivolous nonon
that Congress Is. and can be- only disturbing
and rneddlesome factor in national politics. 80
long as the party in power is content TO play a
merely negative role, the participation Of the
two houses IN government may be looked on as
an infection unwelcome, but necessary to be
endured But this narrow and patTonizing Valu-
alton of the legislative branch can have no
place in the thoughts Of an Executive broad
minded enough to appreciate the true functions
Of Congress and to wish 10 make the House and
Senate partners in executing such policies as
the national welfare demands
II Is becoming apparent, in fact, that the ac-
tivities of the two houses, instead Of being cur
tailed in the public interest must, in the near
future, be materially enlarged. Congress has
no longer time enough IN which TO do its legit-
mate and necessary work. Under our present
arrangement Of long and short sessions. three
months are given one year and about six months
another year to legislative business. The House
Of Representatives elected in November, 1904
could not meet, except through call from the
President, until December, 1900 Two months
would have 10 be taken TO complete an organiZa-
ton. and then with their own canvasses for re-
nomination and reelection already beginning
the members would be expected 10 settle down
10 work In Presidential year everything must
be sacrificed to forcing an adjournment by June.
In 2 mid-term year the struggle for the control
Of the next House has an equally distracting
effect Thus at the long session passing ques-
fions OF party politics assume a wholly artificial
importance, while at the short session there is
barely time 70 crowd through the routine appro-
IriatiOn work.
To accomplish anything OF special Importance
IN extra session has now 10 be called. Presl-
dent Cleveland called one in 1893 10 secure the
repeal Of the silver purchasing clauses Of the
sherman act. President Mckinley summoned
one in 1897 to pass the Dingiey Tariff act Pres
ident Roosevelt called one in 1903 10 get the
Cuban Reciprocity bin through. Now Congress
u 10 meet ahead OF time 10 consider railroad
rate regulation and the possible modification %
certain tariff schedules. The Tribune has long
advocated a change IN our political calendar
which would carry Inauguration Day forward 70
Aprfi so. thus relieving the legislative block at
the short session. But this reform seems now
more remote than ever. Yet The increasing
scope and Importance OF federal legislation viii
make some Iengtbening OF the present sessions
more and more imperative. The expedient OF
extra sessions may serve for time Eventually.
bovaever. VIC must face the necessity of allot-