Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-04-07
REsOL UTION To
OFFICIALLY END
WAR INTRODUCED
IN LOWER HOUSE
Democrats, According to
Forecast, viii Vote Almost
SoHdIy Against the Plan
Of G. 0. P, Leaders.
PROPRlETY OF MOVE
MATTER OF OPINION
'4S an Attempted USurpation
of Treaty Making FunC-
tions of Congress" " AC-
cording to Georgian,

10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wIsEl
Washington, April 6.--Tbe ma
jority report of the house commit
tee on foreign relations, recon-
mending adoption CT the resolu-
tions regarding the state of war
with Germany at an end was intro
duced today by Chaiman Porter,
accompanied by a special rule PRO
viding for nine hours debate un-
der which it will be taken up IN
the house Thursday. The minor
ity report prepared by Represent
alive Flood of Virginia, rarkng
democratic member of the COM
mittee, will be introduced tomor-
row.
There was some debate in he
house today on the peace matter
during which it was indicated that
Z the democrats would vote almost
solidly against the resolution. Rep
resentatiye Venable, democrat,
Mississippi, attacked the constitu-
tlonal power of congress to take
such action, charact2r!zlnS IL as an
attempted usurpation of the treaty
making functions, While REPRE-
sentative Mondell, republican lead
er, asserted that as congress had
the power to create q condltlon OIL
war, it had the power TO end H.
Report Cites Authorities.
The majority report cited a num-
her of authorities on internatonal
law to support the commlttee's
contention that there were three
methods of terminating a bellgef
ent status-by treaty. by conquest
and subjugation of one com batdht
or "by the mere cessation OF nos
tilities so long continued that Il
is evident that there is no intention
of resuming them"
1t has become the plain duty OF
congress" to declare the admitted
facts" that the war with Germany
was ended, the report said.
There has been," Il continues
"a complete suspension Of hcstlll
ties on both sides without ANY in
tention of resuming them. Con-
gress is clearly exercising powers
which are within its constitduona
rights in recognizing and declaring
that the war is at an enc. AS, by
the resolution of April ., 1871?
congress officially recognized the
fact that war has been thrust upon
us SO now it becomes the duty OF
congress to give official recosnitlon
to the fact that the war is ended
Moreover, the general welfare OF
the United states imperatirely de-
mands that all uncertainty upoI
this subject shall cease and tha'
the extraordinary war powers Of
the government shan he vacated
and set aside.
should Get Rid of War Laws.
'"rhe laws conferSing eXtraor-
dinary powers upon the presidenI
for duration of the war are stll
in full force and effect and consti'
tu,ional rights are still suspended
MANY of these laws are extremely
drastic. and could be justified only
as war necessities; but since thf
war has, in fact, long since ceased
the justification for these laws nc
longer exists.
.'The effect of this resolution or
all of the war legislation will be
precisely the effect that the ratifi'
cation and proclamation OF tins
treaty would have had. Laws tina
were to be in force for the perioc
of the war would have ceased witt
the presidents proclamation; un
der this resolution they will CEASE
with the date of its passage. W
the other hand, laws that were K
continue in effect for time after
the ratification and proclamation
of the treaty of peace will continue
in effect for the specified timt
after the passage of this resolution
The resolution, therefore, has NJ
effect upon existing laws othei
than the effect that the ratiftca
ton and proclamation of th'
treaty would have had"