New-York tribune., 1905-07-23
AN EXTRA SESSIONS ADVANTAGES.

AN EXTRA SESSIONS ADVANTAGES.
Dispatches from Lincoln Neb., announce that
IL is President Roosev elts intention to call Con-
gress together In extraordinary session on No
vember II. We are told that Senator Elmer
J. Burkett has received notice to that effect
from Secretary Loeb, and there seems to be
no particular reason for doubling the story,
although information from other sources makes
the date November 13 instead OF November IL.
1t has been generally understood that special
session would be held, the only point in dis
pute being whether Congress should be asked
to assemble before or after the November cleo
tons. Election Day falls this year on the 7th
Of the month, and the 11th-Saturday-or 18th
-Monday-is about the earliest date thereafter
on which Senators and Representatives who
stay at home TO vote can reach Washington.
The regular session opens on December 4, so
that three full weeks would be gained by the
Gala gain quite sufficient TO Justify the ex-
pertinent
Some OF the opponents Of an early session
have professed to think that legislation will
be in no way expedited by bringing the two
houses together only three weeks in advance
of the regular session. But this Is a superb
cial and misleading view. The gain in head
way is really more material than it seems at
first sight. Every Congress is slow in getting
started Time is wasted unnecessarily at the
outset, and the real work has to be done with
a rush toward the close of the session. 1t has
become q fixed tradition that though a new
Congress organizes on the first Monday Of De
cember ii shall begin It's work only about the
middle Of January. A Speaker is chosen on the
day the House Of Representatives meets. But
custom permits him to delay the naming Of
the committees until the eve Of the holiday re-
cess. If he does not actually withhold his lists
until the recess is over.
This precedent has come down TO us from
the more leisurely days OF the Republic, and the
waste of time and energy it involves is incon-
sistent with modern standards. There is no
good reason why the committees should not
be announced two or three days after the
Speaker is elected. There is no good reason,
either, why Congress- after being nine months
In recess, should sit two scant weeks and then
indulge itself in an additional vacation. A three
day adjournment at Christmas and three
day adjournment at New Years would be
ample. But, instead Of that, public business is
practically suspended from the first week in
December till the second week in January, and
the so-called long session Is nearly half over
before the machinery Of legislation is IN first
rate running order.
A called session in November operates TO dis
courage delays and dawdling. The appointment
of the committees cannot be postponed on the
near at hand, and by the time the holidays
come the House is broken in to work and Is
not wholly demoralized by a suspension Of
business The advantages of the earlier start
were strikingly demonstrated in 1903-O4, when
Congress was called together in extraordinary
session on November and was enabled to
complete its work and adjourn on April 20.
This IS the earliest long session adjournment on
record since 1918. From a political point of
view It is desirable to avoid sessions running
late into the summer in years when Presiden-
tiaI and Congress campaigns are being fought.
Public opinion should be allowed to settle be-
fore legislation is passed on at the polls. More
over, the near approach Of a national contest
always stirs up partisan passions and leads to
unwelcome efforts in both houses to play poll
ties" The 59th Congress has work of great i'm
portance TO do. It should be encouraged by
every means to do that work both thoroughly
and promptly.