Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-12-13
IISADERS PLAN TO PUT PEACE
UP TO WILSON
Amazed by Omission Evcn to Sug-
gest Action, Congress VIII
Move Quickly
MUST SIGN orr VETO 1T.
Lodge Committee Decides Joint Res
olution Best Procedure.

Washington, Dec. 2-Within an
hour after Congress had realized that
tho Presidens had sent III his annuai
message without oven suggesting
course Of action toward tho German
peace treaty the leaders OF both
Houses were busy with independent
plans to restore the $, atus Of peace
by passing joint resolution declar-
ing the war ended.
Amusement over tho Presidents
omihs.On to discuss tho treaty or
10 indicate even remotely his attitude
toward the existing situation was
followed quickly by a determination
that Congress must now take the i'll
tia i've. Peace will be declared by
legislative process just as soon as
possible barring the possibility that
tho President shall vc.O the reSoiu-
ton dec airing the status Of peace.
No incident since the Presidents
illness forced relaxation of his grip
on tho executive rclns has caused so
much wondcrment as his failure TO
discuss relations with the Central
Powers. That had been awaited 40 the
one supremacy interesting and I'M
portant feature Of the message.
The Presidents omission Of the
subject was made the moro striking
because in regard to the railroad prob
lem he promised to communicate his
yiews later. He did not intimate such
purpose rs that in regard to the in
torantional problem His csual allu
sion to the trca incident to deus
sing domestic questions might have
beon written in the same words II
tho treaty had been ratified instead
OF rejected last month.
LODGES COMMITTEE MEETS.
In the circumstances, with matters
in Mexico rapidly tending toward
crisis on the southern border, Con-
gross is determined that there must
he an end to pal cring over the Euro
pean war settlement. This afternoon
group Of Kepul lican members OF
tho Senate Committee on Foreign Ro
lauons met with Senator Lodge
(Mnss.) to consider the whole qucs-
ton. They were In session two hours.
Senator Moses, IN. H. was dele
gated to confer with the Republican
managers of tho House regarding the
outlook for passing forthwith reso-
luton declaring 1! state Of peace to
exist. The resolution comes over from
tho last session, but today's consider
alton determined that 1t should be
changed from n concurrent to q joint
resolution. This will require the sig
nature OF the President. A Joint reso-
luton II passed, vetoed and then pass
cd over the veto will have the force
OF Legislative action, and 1t was deem
ed best to put 1t In this form. Thus
1t would have the effect of officially
terminating the war and multiplying
war legislation.
The Republican Senator's conference
could not roach final determinations
because some members were absent,
hut those who met were agreed that
tho joint resolution should be press
edas soon az possible and that both
Houses should he put ut work OH It.
senator Moses, after discussing tho
situation WITH Republican Leader
Mondcll tWyo) reported that manag-
ers there rertVed they will be able
I" pass tho measure in short order.
Chairman Campbell (Kans) Of the
House Rules Committee likewise was
encouraging and tho disposition on
tho Senate side Ia to allow the resolu
ton to be initiated in the House
where the resolution declaring war
had Its legislative inception.
cLoTURE 1dULE TO BE AMENDED
In anticipation Of the need for men
sures to forces quick action pronor-
ais were made today for amendment
OF the cloture rule Of the Senate. The
operation Of the present rule during
the last days of the treatys consid
Grafton last session was not highly
satisfactory and today Senator Curtis
tkans) will introduce an amend
mont This will provide that af.er
i've days debate on question any
senator may move that debate be i'm
lted. II this he adopted by matori.
~ vote no. to exceed three hours adj
oltlona' debate shall he permitted.
senator Kellogg (Minn.) Is spon.
soring another pan. After three DAYS
or Unrestricted discussion OF q cues
ton he would make 1t possible 10
ADOPT n limitation rule by which no
Senator should have more than an
hour more on the question and all
amendments to 1t: provided also that
no single Sena or should he ont;t,od
10 tota' OF more than six hours IN
the debate both before and after the
adoption OF tho limitation.
THESE proposals are In line with
'he determination to enable the up-
per chamber to transact the vast
amount or business before It. There
haVo been threats OF filibustering
against the railroad bill, the reso,u.
ton 20 declare peace and other mat
tors pending r. ia ro,-i,od 49,. A.,