The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-11
1t VIII Be Battle of Porter
Resolution VS.. Knox.
DEMOCRAT LEADERS OPPOSE
''Air Tight" Rule on to Prevent
Amy Amendments.
Demos Start New Fight on Post
office Revision Bill.

Washington. June 11-Blocking of
all amendments to the Porter peace
resolution was approved in the house
today by a very strict party vote.
The resolution will be debated until
4:30 Monday afternoon, when it must
be approved or reelected in the farm
in which it was reported from the for
eign affairs committee.
The vote on the rule followed a
sharp partisan debate. Following it
began.
Washington. June 11.-After exact
ly six weeks OF delay since the Knox
the Porter peace resolution substi-
tute measure of Republicans in the
lower branch of congresS-Was called
up for action in the house today.
Plans are to- force the measure to a
vote before 5 o'clock today, after
ate and house will be necessary to iron
out differences before peace can be
declared.
"Air Tight" Rule On.
The house resolution probably will
be considered on an "air tight" rule,
which will prohibit the offering of all
amendments. hot preliminary skir-
mish was expected over the adoption
of the rule, as Democratic leaders
ously as gag" tactic.
The main contention of the Demo-
Gratis in opposing the resolution will
be that it will jeopardize American
rights, the claim being that Germany
can easily refuse to grant this country
the advantages which it would have
received had it approved the Ver-
sailles treaty.
A fight may be made by some Re-
publicans to insert in the resolution
provision requiring the withdrawal of
the American army of occupation. but
this probably will be opposed by the
Democrats who claim such action
might encourage Germany to oppose
the allies.
Democrats Plan Expose.
Democratic leaders in the senate are
getting ready for grand expose" of
what they assert is a Republican plan
to perpetuate the party's grip upon the
national government by building up a
political machine whose cogs will be
thousands of postmasters
The Democrats first scented the Re-
publican plan they claim, when Presi-
dent Harding's recent order regarding
the filling of postoffice vacancies was
issued.
That order. they allege, was an at
tempt to set aside the civil service law
long enough to let Republicans oust a
lot of Democratic postmasters and fill
their places with Republicans.
Life Jobs for Postmasters?
Now the Democrats have discovered,
they assert, that the Republicans plan
to give their postma asters life jobs and
remove them entirely from control of
the senate by providing that when
nominated, they need not be confirmed
by the senate, as they must be now.
The Republican scheme is to be car
ried out, the Democrats assert, thru
the Townsend bill. just introduced in
the senate. This bill empowers the
postmaster general, "on direction of
the president" to revise existing classi-
fication of postal employees so as to
put first, second and third class post
masters under the civil service law.
Upon such direction of the presi-
dent" the bill continues. "the advice
and consent of the senate shall be un-
necessary to the appointment or re-
moval of the postmasters thus classi-
fled; and thereafter they shall be ap-
pointed and may be removed by the
postmaster general and shall hold
their offices without term"