Evening star., 1939-09-24
Special Sessions
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Special Sessions
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ment of the German Empire to
terms and end the war"
Both houses debated the question
hour after long hour, but the Sen
ate passed the joint resolution for
war on April 4. The House was not
ready to take vote until the follow
ing legislative day. When the vote
was finally taken, only half hun
dred Representatives voted against
the measure, one being the first
woman member Of Congress, Repre-
sentative Rankin of Montana. When
her name was called. she failed to
respond; then. when called a second
time, she arose. and in defiance of
the rules, which do not permit an
explanation of vote. murmured, II
cannot vote for war"
The vote by the House occurred
after midnight of the legislative day
OF April 5, hence. the actual calendar
date for the declaration of war was
the morning of April 6.
Only once has a special session
been called for the acquisition of
territory by this country. that by
Thomas Jefferson on October II,
1903, when the Louisiana territory
was purchased from France for
SIS 100000.
Economic Warfare.
Economic warfare mas been the
underlying reason for all the other
special sessions of Congress, under
whatever title the summons was
issued. Every depression that the
country has known has brought q
special session.
When President Van Buren, sum-
moned Congress in 1887 it was to do
something about suspension of specie
payments, and to make an effort to
stabilize the currency. President
Harrison called an extraordinary
session May 81, 1841. because the
country was in a crucial financial
situation, but little satisfactory leg
islation was passed.
President Pierce. in 1856, and
President Hayes. in 1877 and 1879,
called special sessions because of the
failure of the regular sessions to pass
Army appropriations bills. In the
last session summoned by Hayes, the
bill failed of passage also. The
| trouble with the finances, brought
on PARTLY as an aftermath of the
Civil War and partially by world
conditions, carried over only through
the Hayes administration, when con-
ditions improved.
President Cleveland met the next
depression by calling a special ses-
sion in 1893. A drain on the Treas
ury, resulting when the Government
had to redeem Treasury notes and
silver certificates in gold, and the
Sherman Act, forcing the Govern
ment to purchase 2500,000 ounces Of
silver a month, created the situation.
This was the period of the free sill
yer" craze, when Coxey's Army
marched on Washington.
Depression Problem.
Industrial depression, growing out
Of the preceding situation, caused
President Mckinley to call a special
session in 1897. Mills in New Eng
land were at standstill. 1t was said
there were 100000 men out of EN-.
ployment, with 100000 dependents
in want. The Dingley bill, which
did away with the free silver meas.
ure. changed the situation. and a
long period of prosperity began
aided by the Spanish-American War.
Cuban reciprocity was the reason
for the 1903 special session. sum-
moned by Theodore Roosevelt.
President Taft called two special
sessions. In 1909 an extraordinary
session passed the Payne-Aldrich
tariff bill, which was the indirect
force that put the Republicans out
OF the presidency. OF course, Roose-
velt's third effort split the party.
President Taft called another ses-
sion In 1911, when the Canadian
reciprocity bill was passed-a bill
that Canada never ratified.
In 1918 President Wilson called
a special session to consider the
tariff. Failure of the Indian and
sundry civil appropriations bills
played part In the CALL The sec
ond special session called by Wilson
was that In which war was declared
on Germany. The third, called May
10, 1919, followed the armistice and
devoted itself to legislation con-
nected with the aftermath Of this
war and reconstruction measures.
Harding Measures.
In 1921 President Harding issued
call to consider the tariff, when
the Fordney -McCumber Act was
passed. A 15-day session was sum.
moned by Harding in 1922 to COM
plete the merchant marine bill.
President Hoover, faced by the
pressure Of economic need, called a
special session on April is, 1929 to
consider the tariff, the farm relief
and the census and reapportionment
bills.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's
two former special sessions were to
combat the depression. The first,
called for March 9, 1898, and lasting
SO days, saw effective legislation.
Following the bank holiday, the
Emergency Banking Act was passed
In one days session; the various
economic acts, including the A. A.
A., N. r. A. and devaluation Of the
dollar and stabilization fund bills
then came up. At the November IS.
1887, session. called for farm legis-
lation, practically nothing was ac-
complished. since this LEGISLATION