Evening star., 1920-04-08

Inc rule nm1t1nX 0eDatc ON the
peace resolution to nine hours was
adopted by the House. with some
democrats joining the republicans
I'm supporting it.
Declaring that the war with Ger
many was over and that Congress
Campbell of the rules committee
opened in the House today the fight
for adoption of the joint resolution
declaring the state of war at an end.
The galleries were crowded at the
beginning of the debate, which will
close late tomorrow. to be followed by a
vote on passage of the resolution.
The first phase of the battle begar
on presentation of the special rule
hours will be allowed for discussion
of the rule. the vote on which will
give the first test of strength.
Declares People Wearied.
Chairman Campbell said the people
We're wearied by n year and a half OF
life under an executive with war pow
ers in time of peace and longed for
the freedom of a government with
three separate and independent
branches.
Passage of the peace resolution. he
continued. would put the United States
back on a normal basis without sac
rifcing or surrendering any of the
rights or privileges to which it was
entitled by reason of it's participation
mestic questions make the proposed
action imperative.
The war is over" he declared
s"That is known to every one. Congress
Is therefore within its rights in de-
claring a state of war no longer eX-
lists. Autocratic war powers are gall
ing to free people in time of peace
Labor, industry, business and COM
merce are all impatient to resume a
status under the laws and conditions
Congress to withdraw from the
President the powers granted to him
for war purposes We take no powers
from him that belong to him in time
of peace.
mo one has suggested a possible
justification or excuse for resuming a
state of war with Germany or tor
continuing war powers in the PreSi-
dent. He is left with the utmost free
dom to negotiate treaty with the ad-
viee' and consent of the Senate. as pro-
vided in the plain terms of the Con-
stitution."
Representative Pou, North Carolina.
ranking democrat on the rules com
mittee. made the first address in op-
position to the resolution. which he
characterized as "the peace humbug.
to be debated for two days" Passage
of the measure, he declared. would
be playing Germany's hand"
Mr.. Pou charged that the repub-
licans were seeking to make political
capital for the next campaign and
were offering the resolution as an ex-
cuse for broken party pledges. Howls
from republicans greeted his state
Iuent that the measure was designed
10 embarrass President Wilson. and
-nd td ha Gai n
President had no selfish ambitions"
Few members of the House believe
anything will ever come of the reso
luton" Mr.. Pou declared. 1T is an
other stunt of the steering committee
and the autocratic power which has
ruled the House during this Congress.
You have to take this resolution
whether you want ii or not. The
House has no more power to propose
peace than any other body of men. II
is utterly powerIess. But it seems
ready to initiate treatymaking pow
ers."
Believes Germany Glad.
Representative Pou said that in de-
feating ratification of the peace treaty
the republicans had played the game
that Germany wanted you to play
News OF the passage by the House o!
the miserable. makeshift" peace reso-
luton. he declared would be more
welcome III ItTIudHy iidI any SLICE
the announcement of the Senate's
failure to ratify the treaty.
The resolution is "a business propo-
sition from start to finish,' Repre-
sentative Smell. republican, of New
York. declared 1T is what the
not for outside political reasons there
would not be a single vote against it
The vote Will come tomorrow even
ing after 5 o'clock and under the spe-
ciai rule no amendments or substi-
tutes can be intruded into considera
lion of :he fiat issue presented by the
joint resolution prepared by the for
tiSn affairs committee.
Majority and minority reports on the
proposal already were before the
House. That written by Chairman
Porter of the committee described the
action contemplated as merely restor-
ing conditions of peace and opening a
way to resumption of trade. but leav-
ing il to the executive to work out a
formal treaty with Germany later.
Representative Flood of Virginia
with which the democrats generally
were said to be in agreement, charac-
terized the resolution as an attempted
INVASION of the treaty-making power
designed 10 embarrass the executiy,
department for political effect.
The constitutional power of Con-
gress to enact such legislation was
fatty challenged and 1t has been in.
Gicated that the debate would turr
largely upon that point.
The first proposal for adoption OF
such a peace resolution was made
by Senator Knox, republican. Penn.
sylvania. at the close of the frs
phase of the treaty fight in the Sen.
ate. The House resolution. however
- the first serious attempt to pas.
such a measure in either branch
and IL marked also. the first e1tr,
of the House into the genera! treaty
right in more than an oratoricai way
Republicans Confident Of Adoption.
There appeared to be complete con
fdence among republican leaders tina
The resolution would be adopted. sub
*tantialIy by a party division of tb,
House. What it's fate might be i,
the Senate. however. where il mus
also be adopted before 1t can go =,
rhe President for action, was not g.
clear to these chieftains Nor yrouJ,
they hazard any prophesies as :,
What vote could be assembled to re-
pass IL over presidential veto free
y predicted by democrats. shouI,
the resolution reach the White House
The proposal gave an opportunjt,
for constitutional lawyers anon;
House members to enter into the dis
ruSSlon- which was not expected n
he overlooked. At least one care
fully prepared argument against IN,
authority of Congress to take s1icl
action as that contemplat alread,
has been placed in the Record and tn
eleven hours of equally apportione,
general debate time. il was indicate
would give many more specialists oil
y the sense and meaning of the Con