The Washington herald., 1919-12-20
SENATORS UNITE
IN COMMITTEE
ON PEACE BASIS
Forecast Is for Adoption Of
Program Today for Ac-
ton After Recess.
WILL TAKE JOINT FORM
Recess Over Christmas Holi-
days Planned to Begin
This Afternoon.

The adoption Of a peace resoluttoa
mich will be pvesnted TO the Senate
for action Immediately after the holi-
days was forecasted yesterday by
Senator Lodge as the probable pro-
gram to be followed at todsy's meet
ing Of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee.
Senator Lodge said he had every
reason 10 believe that a msjorisy Of
the committee would agree upon the
form OF a resolution to declare the
existence of a status Of peace. He
announced further that 1t will be a
joint resolution, which will require
the signature of the President TO be-
come effective.
Drop Concurrent Idea.
All thought OF enacting a concurrent
resolution which would relieve the
President OF responsibility in the mat
ter OF bringing about peace by Iegisla-
tion independently Of the treaty has
been set aside by Senator Lodge. Sen
ator Knox and other sponsors Of the
pesce-by-resolution plan. These SEN
ators are entirely willing TO give into
the Presidents hands the power OF
approving or vetoing the resolution
after Congress has passed 1t.
Senator Knox has made a redraft Of
his resolution which briefly states
that peace now exists between the
Tinted Ststes and Germany" and will
submit the new text to the committee
today. NThe new resolution will de-
clare that the state OF war which was
declared TO exist by the resolution Of
April c, 1917. is at an end.
PInn 20 Recess Today.
Senator Lodge announced that al
though the resolution may be re-
ported to the Senate today. no effort
will be made TO bring It up until after
the holidays. CoinCident with this
announcement Senate leaders got to-
Eether and arranged 10 recess from
today until January :. The-ffouse will
recess for the same period.
The agreement for a recess was
made possible by Senator La FoIIette's
withdrawal OF his opposition 10 the
railroad bill. because the condition
Of his health would not permit him TO
carry on the filibuster which he had
announced he would conduct for the
purpose Of defeating the bill. The
Wisconsin senator told the Republic
can steering committee that he real
lied there would be enough votes to
pass the bill. and that he did not feel
like undertaking TO talk it to death.
Agree on Program.
The steering committee thereupon
agreed upon program for winding
up the pending business by passing
the railroad bill. the Sweet bill for
an appropriation for the War Risk
Insurance Bureau. and the McNary
sugar bill before today's adjourn
nlent
There WAS also compromise Of
the differences between the Hitch
cock and Underwood factions OF the
Democratic side over the question OF
the Democratic leadership. Senator
EtnccOCk agreed 10 postpone the
caucus called Tor today until JanU-
airy - iE order to permit all the
Underwood followers to get here to
vote.
Delay PIeases Both Si6es.
Although postponemen makes il
likely that the selection Of the Dem
ocratiC leader will not take place un-
Ill after there has been some def
mite action by the Senate on the
treaty question. the delay is entire
ly satisfactory to bothsides, il is
said
The Hitchcock supporters were
strongly opposed to any action
which might take the leadership
away from senator Hitchcock. while
the treaty fight was unsettled. and
on tho other hand. the Underwood
followers asserted that they had no
desire TO TAX" the treaty fight out
or HitchcoCk'S hands. hut desired to
place Underwood in the leadership
for the real constructive legislation
which is TO follow disposition "f the
peace question.