Evening journal., 1916-07-20
BILL GIVES plan FOR
UNIVERSAL TRAINING
Chamberlain Measure Only
One Pending That Deals
With Big Proposition
TO BE PERFECTED
IN DETAILS

WASHINGTON. July 2O.-In view
Of the widespread agitation over the
establishment of a system of univer-
sal military training in this country
and the reasonable certainty that this
question will be taken up soon in Con-
gress. an analysis Of the Chamberlain
bill, which seeks to create such a
system, is of special interest
This is the only measure dealing
with the question now pending re-
fore either branch of Congress. II is
not perfected project as yet,
but it has been introduced. its author
explains. to furnish the ground work
for a constructive bill He expects Il
to be generally overhauled. even be-
fore /. leaves his own committee. but
meantime it is the only tangible prop
osition under consideration and is
I therefore the basis of discussion both
in and out OF Congress.
In the first place, this bill provides
for the training of all boys and young
men between the ages of - and %
years who are not specifically exempt
Z by law. This includes all foreigners
who have recided within Continental
! United States for a period of twelve
months who may be American citi-
zens or who may have declared their
! intention 20 become citizens.
Those who are exempt from mill
tary training are:
1. Young men physically unfit for
military or naval service.
| 2. Members of the permanent mill
tary or naval forces of the United
States.
3. School teachers employed in
military or naval schools.
4. Persons employed in the police
or prison service of the federal gov
ernment or of the various States.
5. Those morally UNIT.
6. Members of any recognized re-
ligious sect whose creed forbids its
members to participate in war in any
form.
T. Mariners employed in the sea
service of the government or the mer-
chant marine within the United
States
8. Those excused by the President
in the interest of the public service.
All persons trained under the pro
visions of this act shall be known as
as follows: (a) Between the ages of
2and II years. inclusive, as the Citi-
zen Cadet Corps; (b) between the
ages OF Is and %, inclusive. as the
Citizen Army
The training Of the Citizen Cadet
Corps shall be divided into three pc
riods. The first shall commence on
July / in the year that the persons
liable reach the age of IL years and
shall continue Tor two years. This
training shall consist of not less than
80 hours in each year and shall be de-
| voted to calisthenics and such other
physical and military instruction
without arms. as may be prescribed.
Training in the second period shall
: begin on July l in which the persons
liable reach the age OF IA years, an6
shall continue for two years. Train.
ing during this period shall not be
less than 80 hours in each year and
shall include military training with
I rife and gallery practice.
; The training for the third period
] shall begin at 16 years Of age. and
shall continue for two years Ninety
, hours must be put in each year and
in addition the cadets must go into
! camp for ten days each year. This
training is to consist Of field exercise
An equally rigid plan is proposed for
4 the training of the citizen army. Ca
diets go into this army after attaining
the age Of 1S and continue in it until
they are % years old. The training
for the army shall not be less than
12O hours, or 20 days in each year. OF
this period 10 whole days must be
spent each year in camp.
l. l. 4
cadets after reaching the age of is
, may elect to go into the citizen navy
which it is proposed to create. Thi
: naval corps will contemplate six years
training for possible service at sea.
! The training provided for in the
. pending bill may be given in eithe
public or private schools, academies
colleges and universities, in the OF
ganized militia or the naval militia o
g the various States, in the Boy Scouts
/ or similar organizations, provided th'
It drills conform to the regulations pre-
f scribed by law.
p All members Of the citizen army VIII,
e may have completed the prescribe,
It training at the ago of "a may become
d members of the citizen army reserve
l. The Chamberlain bill does not requir
IS the men who have been trained TO be
l. come reservists, but merely afford
s. them the opportunity to do So
n II is provided however, that n
l. employer shall prevent or In any wa
Y. interfere with his employe who ma
Y be liable to military training An
lr employer who may cause an em
e ploye TO miss the military training O
g who may discharge such employ
,r may be found guilty Of a misdemean
o or and subject TO fine Of $500. TIL
i. law as proposed, will not require a
= employer. however, TO pay an em
~ ploye while the latter may be ali
= sent on military duty.
D Much of the bill is given over [
!. such details as registration Of cadet
and members of the citizens arm
and to the methods of promotin
each in their respective corps Pre-
visions are included. also. for proviC
r ing both bodies with proper officer
IN TO be selected from the regular arm
lg and the National Guard and the off
Or GERS reserve corps.
We As already stated, this bill will I
u much changed before il is presente
IN to the Senate for debate. A subcon
Il mittee of the Senate Military Al
Of fairs Committee is even now goin
o. over it line by line in an effort
perfect il before the present sessiC
Of Congress, ends. High military al
VI. thorities from the. Army War COLES
n and the General Staff are assistin
a the committeeman in this work