The Washington herald., 1920-04-08
Vote on Resolution Will Be
Drawn on Strictly Par !.
tisan Lines.
TO BE NO AMENDMENTS
Rule Allows Recommitting
Of Measure, Which
Means Two Ballots.

The Porter resolution declaring
the war with Germany at an end
will be passed by the House about
$50 tomorrow evening.
This was made certain by the ac-
tion of the Rules Committee yester-
day in reporting out a special rule
providing that debate on the resolu-
ton, which begins tomorrow. shall
close at p. m. Friday. The time
is to be equally divided between
these favoring and those opposing
the measure.
The rule prohibits the offering Of
amendments. but permits one mo-
ton to recommit, which the Demo-
Gratis will offer. This means there
VIII be two roll-calls. one on the
motion to recommit and the other
on final passage. The average time
consumed in a roll-call is about
forty-five minutes.
Republicans Seem Solid.
The apparently solid lineup Of the
Republican majority in favor OF the
resolution leaves no doubt as to IA
vorable action by the House. Demo-
cratic leaders claim an equally solid
lineup against the resolution on
their side. which dooms to certain
failure any attempt to repass the
measure over President Wilson's
veto.
Democrats on the Rules Commit
tee today offered a substitute rule
specifically fixing the time of debate
at ten hours and permitting the
consideration of amendments. Bya
strictly partisan lineup of Z to
the substitute was rejected.
The rule reported out by the COM
mittee will be called up today at IL
o'clock under a unanimous consent
agreement reached yesterday and
Will be debated for two hours. Fol-
lowing its adoption. debate on the
peace resolution will get under way.
Minority Report Submitted.
The minority report signed by six
Democrat members of the Foreign
Affairs Committee. opposing passage
OF the resolution, was submitted 10
the House yesterday by Representa-
tive Flood, of Virginia. The repor,
is a voluminous document going
into great detail to support the con-
tentions that the resolution is un-
constitutional; that it does not pro-
tect the rights of the United States.
and will imperil the hold of this
country on the former German ships
and Germany property seized by the
Alien Property Custodian.
1T is astonishing" the report
says. that the Congress of the
United States should seriously con-
slider the proposition that, our coun-
try should seek the protection Of a
treaty which it has not the courage
to ratify"
The report adds that the resoIu-
tion is IAN attempt to preserye
something out of the wreck Of
American rights which this resolu-
tion destroys"
Constitutionality Attacked.
The constitutionaIity of the reso-
luton is assailed on the ground
that 1t seeks to make a treaty with
Germany "and constitutes. there
fore, bold invasion of the treatv-
making powers, which are the con-
stitutional prerogatives of the Pres
ident. by and with, the advice and
consent of the Senate"
The President, in making a
treaty" continues the report, lis
the United States. and speaks the
whole mind of the United States"
The Republican authors of the
resolution, the minority charges,
lay themselves open to the charge
OF insincerity and sharp practice"
in basing the measure on the ar
mistice day statement of President
Wilson. that the war had come to
an end. The President, 1t is assert
ed, referred only to the suspension
Of actual hostilities and not to the
technical state of war. A recent
Supreme Court decision is cited to
show that the Presidents state
ment did not terminate the war.
Say Ii Gives No Relief.
Discussing Section 2 of the reso-
luton. which fixes the date OF the
termination of the war at the date
the resolution becomes effective.
the minority report says:
There is much war and emer-
gency legislation that should be re-
pealed. This section does not repeal
this legislation. however, and IL
gives no relief from the burdens, in