Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-08-31
FEARS HIS OWN PARTY
Presidents Reason For Post
poning Extra Session..
REPUBLICANS OPPOSE REFORM,

Railroads and Trusts Are Rejoicing
at Delay In Commencing Lesisla-
tion-Win the Mileage Graft Again
Be Attempted by AdjourninE Be-
fore Regular Session Beginsi
1t has been officially announced that
President Roosevelt will call a special
session of congress to meet Nov. II.
As the regular session will meet Dec.
4, the extraordinary session can only
be of three weeks duration and may
be less if the Republican majority are
as intent this year as they were last
on perpetrating an extra mileage COUP.
Their experience last year with a con
%structive recess rather damaged their
as grafters. They may decide not to
run such a close race with Father Time
and instead Of adjourning at - O'Clock
on the day the regular session begins
and meeting at the same hour-minute,
for that matter-decide to adjourn the
extraordinary session before Thanks
giving day and thus have a real hiatus
instead of a constructive one. The
double mileage Of 20 cents a mile 60
ing to and coming from home will be a
great inducement to adjourn for the
Thanksgiving holidays.
But, whether the Republican majority
of congress attempts the mileage graft
or not, the leaders will be very loath to
begin active work, and it will not be
difficult to find an excuse for wanting
time. The railroads and the trusts will
be urging representation, for if those
corporations can only gain more time
the better the chance to defeat legisla-
ton that will be brought forward to
curb them. AS Speaker Cannon is GER
tain Of reelection and is a notorious
stand patter and supposed to be friend
ly-at least with the railroads.&c. will
be easy for him to postpone appointing
the committees until some days, if not
weeks, have elapsed. He must of
course get acquainted with the mem
bers and see what committees they are
best fitted for. 1t will not be difficult
to have rival candidates for chairman
ships, which will take time to settle,
, and the extraordinary session may be
waning without any committees being
organized to consider the important
/ bills on regulation Of railroad rates,
tariff revision, reciprocity, Philippine
=, tariff and Panama canal affairs.
But when the committees are organ.
lied the chairmen will be inclined to dc
a little procrastinating on their own &C
count, and the regular session will be
well under way before any real work
is done. In the meantime the Christ.
mas holidays will require a long re
cess, and it will not be unusual fol
Jan. 10 to arrive before the work OF
congress really begins.
OF course President Roosevelt knew
all this might happen, and yet he post
poned calling the extra session unit.
the last possible moment. The excuse
offered that if congress was in session
before the fall elections were held il
would injure the chances Of the Repub
lican party Is an acknowledgment tha1
the Republican majority in congress
would be doing something that would
disgruntle the people or leaving undone
what the people want done.
By acceding to that reason for delay
in calling congress together Presiden'
Roosevelt has impeached the Repub
lican majority of incongruity or a
least a lack Of sympathy with the as
pirations of the people for reform
Does President Roosevelt fear the acts
Of bis own party associates in con
gress? 1t certainly appears that be