The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-04-22
THE EXTRA SESSION

For many months there has been much specu
aton as to the accomplishments of the present ex
ira session of Congress. Many for long time pre-
iicted conservatism, and just as many now are as
Ionished at the apparent radicalism of the major
ty, while the mutitudes have always wondered
Why the extra session necessary at all. On
January 20, Hon. Horace NJ Towner of Iowa,
poke on the extra session His address is fine
me throughout, and We feel that readers will
e interested in such parts at least as We have
pace to copy. He says:
The country is now at peace Our people
are enjoying an unprecedented measure Of pros
perity. Business conditions good. The
largest crops produced have been harvest
ed. There is more money deposit in our
banks than ever before. Our exports and i'm
ports the largest ever recorded, and the bal
ance of trade is strongly in favor. Our rev.
enues exceed expenditures, and We have a
surplus in the treasury. 1t is vehemently de-
clared that these conditions will and must
tinue. Nevertheless it is announced by the
President that he will summon Congress early
in extraordinary session to revise the tariff
And this is to be done not because of any an
nounced constitutional sanction but because his
party associates demand 1t. Indeed, 1t is almost
ludicrous to consider that the President in No
vember announces that extraordinary occa.
sion" will arise for the exercise of his consti-
tutiona prerogatve the next March or April. In
effect this is a determination that no matter
what conditions then may exist in the country,
the political pressure of his party associates for
tariff revision as a party policy, in fulfllment of
party pledges constitutes an extraordinary &C.
casion" within the contemplation of the Consti-
tuition for calling extra session of Congress-
1t cost the country in increased expendi-
turee for the extra session of 1911 probably more
than a quarter of a million dollars For session
employees of the House and Senate the cost
was s33, 591. GA For mileage it was $1S3,4S9 20.
Other expenditures, such as increased amounts
for stationery, materials light, heat, and so on,
were incurred, the amount of which can not be
readily ascertained. 1t is not probable that the
contemplated extra session will cost less.
Have those who advised the President that
it would be good politics to call the extra
sion considered this feature? Are those De-
Gratis who are pledged to rebuke the mad ex'
travagance' of the Republicans ready to stand
responsible for this utterly needless expense? Is
a quarter of a million dollars less in their con-
sideraton than the salary of a superhuous clerk?
An opinion is somewhat generally entertained
that the lavish and almost lmitless expenditures
for investigations, which have marked II not
distinguished the history of the present House.
were incurred more for party advantage than for
justifabe ends. Will it be wise now to add
this large additional expenditure whose only
possible purpose is pure politics?
1t will be claimed that this call Of an extra
session to revise the tariff is but the call of the
people to which faithful and obedient statesmen
should Immediately respond. But the people,
or at least a large majority of them do not want
any such revision Of the tariff as is promised
by the Democratic party.
or the three parties which really contended
for the supremacy at the last election two de-
clared unequvocally for the policy of protec.
ton The other declared against 1t. major
ty of million votes was cast for the par
ties which declared against tariff for revenue
revision The popular vote for Mr.. Wilson was
6SO3OOO; that for Mr.. Taft was S4S9,OOo; and
that for Mr.. Roosevelt 4,l6S,000. The com
bned vote for Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Roosevelt or
the total vote for protection, was 100000, ma
jority on the vote cast for protection as against
tariff for revenue of 100000. The vote OF Mr.,
Wilson with the normal increase as measured
by the increase of population should have been
699l 900 Instead, 1t was 62S,oOO less, and lo4'
919 less than Mr.. Bryan received in 1908,
In view of these facts there is little appear
ance of an mperious, unappeasable, immediate
ly-to.be-answered demand for tariff revision J.
deed when it is considered that the total vote
of 1912 was only $4,000 larger than the vote for
1908, despite the fact that two new states had
been admitted and suffrage to women had been
granted in California and Washington, and that
IL the additional vote of those states be omitted
the total vote of 1912 was smaller than in 1908,
notwithstanding the fact that during that period
the population of the country had Increased
per cent; II, in addition, IL is remembered that
the total vote cast at the last election includ'
IA and Gnnfa1 iat al
vote, was only 1904, O0O while the number OF
-, Mating age in the limited States