Evening star., 1913-10-12

But farther back even than twenty
years ago it seems to have been the
fashion to hold late sessions of Congress.
Sometimes in Chinese fashion they even
began when present Congresses usually
leave off, and they lasted until the time
when Congresses nowadays usually be-
gin. For instance, the first session of the
Second Congress began in October and
ended in May; that of the Eighth Congress
began in October and ended in March,
and the first session of the Tenth Con-
gress began in October and lasted until
April. There have been thirteen autumn
Congresses, and thirteen being an unlucky
number, Congress is doomed to have an
other late session in 1913. Speaking of
thirteen, the present apportionment of
representation in the House is the result
of the thirteenth census, which was taken
in the year 1910.
* x
The first session of the Fifty-first Con-
gress lasted from December, 1889, until
October, 1890. This was in Harrison s
administration and is to be remembered
for its Mckinley bill. The first session
of the Fiftieth Congress lasted from De-
cemper, 1887, until October 20 1885, This
was in Cleveland's first term. So it is
to be seen that past congressman also
had to legislate all the way around the
calendar
The first session of the Forty fifth Con-
gress was extra session. called by
President Hayes October 15. 1877 and
lasting until December of that year This
was called to pass appropriations for
the expenses of the regular army. which
had been overlooked by the Forty fourth
Congress.
During the administration of Andrew
Johnson, Congress met spasmodically
during two summers and autumns. The
drst session met for seventeen days
in July. 1867; then met again for eleven
days in November. The second session.
after holding its regular long terms, met
and adjourned three times during the au-
tumn, cOnvening each time for one day
only" October p, 1865, both houses met
and adjourned to meet at noon October
16. when they again bowed before the
prayers of their respective chaplains and
once more adjourned to meet November
10. This was the shortest session of the
three. 1t was three times and out
1t is noticeable that there was no call
for extra long sessions during the civil
war. Congress very modestly took a
back seat and sat down, leaving ora
tory. strategy and policy in the hands
of the President and the army. There
is once more a lapse Of nearly twenty
years before this retrospect finds an
other autumn Congress. Under the
rough and ready Zachary Taylor. and
lasting three months after his death,
was held the first session of the Thirty
first Congress, from December g. I849
to September 80. 1850. These were the
stirring days of Daniel Webster. Henry
Clay. John c. Calhoun, Stephen A.
Douglas. William H. Seward and
Thomas II. Benton in the Senate.
There was an extra session called by
William Henry Harrison. the first ses-
sion of the Twenty-seventh Congress,
but before it convened, May 81. 1S4l, Har-
rison had die april ~, so the President s
message was written by john Tyler. This
timely quotation from his message may
be of interest in view of our present for
eign relations: THE true American policy
will DE found to consist in the exercise
the discharge of all our international OBJ
legations, to the weakest of the family
of nations as well as to the most pow
erful. Occasional conflicts of opinion may
arise, but when the discussions incident
to them are conducted in the language of
truth and with strict regard to justice,
the scourge of war will for the most part
be avoided. The time ought TO be. re-
garded as having gone by when a resort
to arms Is to be esteemed as the only
proper arbiter of national differences. No
motive exists for foreign conquest.
While we shall at all times be prepared
to vindicate the national honor, our most