The sun., 1919-06-23
KNOX RESOLUTION
TO WAIT ON BILLS
Senator Lodge Announces
That Test Vote VIII Not
Be Had This Week.
LONG DEBATE EXPECTED
Republicans Wish to Clear
Appropriations Before Open
ing Big Fight.
Special pespetcA 70 rn. sur.

WASHINGTON, June 22.-Deflnite as
surance that no move to secure a vote
on the Knox resolution during the pres.
ent week was given tonight when SEN
ator Lodge (Mass.) Republican leader
In the Senate declared that despite the
necessity Of an early test on this issue
II would not be allowed to interfere with
the pending regular appropriation bills.
Many Of these measures must be
passed or hundreds Of thousands Of men
In the Army and in the civil employ of
the Government will be deprived Of their
pay. Government business would halt
for the time necessary to pass the bills
and have them approved by the Presi-
dent II II is not accomplished before
July when the fiscal year OF the Gov
ernment begins.
Senator Lodge conferred to-day with
Senator Knox (Pa.). author Of the res
olution to permit the Senate to act on
the immediate matter of peace now and
give more time and careful, thoughtful
study TO the League of Nations proposal,
and his announcement was the result Of
this conference. The Senator left no
doubt OF the the attitude of the Re-
publican leadership toward the Knox
resolution. The fact that Senator Lodge
was absent from the city for a few days
while this resolution has been pending
and the lack OF any move from any
other quarter to take It up has caused
the rumor to spread that the Repub-
leans and not the Democrats are afraid
to bring the question to test vote
This rumor was dispelled completely by
the Lodge statement tonight, when II
was fatty declared by MIR. Lodge that
IL circumstances permitted It would
bring the resolution to a vote at once"
II the resolution should be brought be-
fore July l 1t would mean the effectual
blocking of any action on the highly i'm
portant appropriation bills awaiting ac-
ton by the Senate. notably the army ap-
preparation bills carrying funds for the
military establishment. including the
item of pay for troops at homo and
abroad.
Long and bitter debate Is certain to
be started the minute the Knox resolu-
ton Is brought UP In the Senate. The
Lodge statement Is Interpreted to mean
that Immediately after July I Il will be
brought up and fought to n finish.
Senator Lodges statement was as fol-
lows:
am very strongly In favor OF the
Knox resolution. I think the league and
the peace with Germany ought not to be
interJected We ought to be able to ratify
the peace with Germany at once and then
give the proper, discussion to the cove
nant of the League OF Nations, which
involves the entire future of the country.
Il should like to bring the Knox reso-
luton to a vote at once. but after con-
sultation with Senator Knox this after
noon have come to the conclusion that
In the present situation of the appropria-
ton bills, and especially the army bill
row before the Senate. we ought not to
press the Knox resolution at this moment
because II will lead to debate, and moth
ing should be allowed to interfere with
the passage of the appropriation bills be-
fore July 1. We propose to pass them
before that date and shall sit night and
day II necessary to do it
II am more willing to accept this
postponement because the resolution is
growing stronger daily and the absolute
necessity Of amending the league. II It
Is to be made safe for the United States
and for the cause Of peace, has Just been
freshly demonstrated in Senator Roots
letter with extraordinary force"