The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-07
PORTER INTRODUCES .PE ACE RESOLUTION
 MAJORITY REPORT
Is Accompanied By Special Rule Providing for Nine Hours Debate In the
 House Thursday
By Associstsd Pres.

" dclilit9 tDH, <ApTll o---l Hcs indJOlity report of the House committee on for eign relations, recommending adoption of the resolution declaring the state of war with Germany at an end, was in- troduced today by Chairman Porter, ac- companied by a special rule providing for nine hours of debate under which it will be taken up in the House Thurs day. The minority report prepared by Representative Flood of Virginia, rank ing democratic member of the commit tee. win be introduced tomorrow.
 There was some debate in the House today on the peace matter, during which it was indicated that the demo- crats would vote almost solidly against the resolution. Representative enable, democrat, Mississippi, attacked the con- stitutional power of Congress to take such action, characterizing it as an attempted usurpation of the treaty. making functions, while Representative Mondell republican leader. asserted that as Congress has the power to ere ate condition of war, it had the power to end it.
 AUTHORITIES CITED
 The majority report recited num- Der of authorities on international law to support the committee's contention that there were three methods of ter minating belligerent status. by treaty by conquest, and subjugation of one or by the mere cessation of hostiIities so long continued that it is evident that there is no intention of resuming them"
 It has become ''the plain duty of Congress- to declare the admitted fact" that the war with Germany was ended. the report said.
 There has been,' 1t continued. a complete suspension of hostilities on both sides without any intention of re- suming them. Congress clearly is exer- cising powers which are within the con- stitutional rights in recognizing and declaring that the war is at an end. As by the resolution of April G. 1917, Con- gress officially recognized the fact that war had been thrust upon us so now it becomes the duty of Congress to give official recognition to the fact that the war is ended. Moreover, the general welfare Of the United States impera- lively demands that all uncertainty upqon this subject shall cease, and that the extraordinary war powers of the governinent shall be vacated and set aside
 EXTRAORDINARY POWERS
 "The laws conferring extraordinary powers upon the president for the dur etion of the war are still in full force and effect, and constitutional rights are still suspended.
 Many of these laws are extremely drastic. and could be justified only as war necessities. but since the war has. in fact, long since. ceased, the justifi- cation for these laws no longer exists
 The effect of this resolution on all of the war legislation will be precisely the effect that the ratification and proclamation of the treaty would have had. Laws that were to be in force for the period of ire war would have ceased with the Presidents proclamation; with the date of it's passage.
 ''On the other hand. laws that were to continue in effect for a time after the ratification and proclamation of the treaty of peace will continue in ef- feet for the specified time after the passage of this resolution. The reso- lution, therefore, has no effect upon ex- isting laws other than the effect that the ratification and proclamation of the treaty would have had.
 TRADE RELATIONS
 Section provides for the resump- tion of reciprocal trade relations be- tween Germany and the United States for a period of forty-five days and further provides that such reciprocal
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