Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-22
WAR OFFICE TO.
PUT DRAFT BILL
UP TO CONGRESS
Military Department Shaping
Measure for Universal Train
ing for Presentation to
Legislature.
COST ESTIMATES GIVEN
Scott Tells House Committee
That Work Of Framing 1t
Is in Progress.
GENERAL CROSS EXAMINED

Washington, Dec. 2f-A definite
plan for universal military training
will be laid before congress next
month in the shape Of bill formu-
lated by the general staff of the army,
accompanied by complete estimates of
cost as compared to the present vol
unteer system. Major General Hugh
L. Scott, chief Of staff, told the house
military committee today that the
work was in progress and would re-
quire month to complete, Chairman
Dent said the committee would be
gla dto see the bill.
General Scott was subjected to
sharp cross-examination today on his
reiterated recommendation for a uni
versal service measure based in part
on results of the volunteer system as
shown in the mobilization of the Ma
tional Guard for border service.
Five for Universal Service.
Five OF the twenty-five members OF
the committee took occasion to assert
their belief in the theory of universal
service, while two emphatically de-
clared against such system. Those
favoring were Representatives Kahn.
Green of Vermont and Tilson of Con-
necticut, republicans; and Olney of
Massachusetts, and Farley OF New
York, democrats, while those opposed
were Representative Mcclellan of
Tennessee and Representative Quinn
of Mississippi, democrats.
The statement of Mr.. Tilson. him
self colonel in the National Guard,
followed General Scott's repeated as
sertion that the federal mobilization
Of the National Guard accomplished
as far as possible by the national de-
tense act would not meet the coun-
try's military needs.
Nature of Bill.
The probable nature of the bill now
being drafted by a committee of the
geenral staff was not disclosed by
General Scott, who also refused to es-
innate the cost of such a system. ex-
cept to say that proportionately it
would be much less than the expense
OF the volunteer method of training
troops. 1t is known, however, that
the possibility of welding into the
ne wprojeet the various sections of
the defense act dealing with industrial
organization for war purposes, the
right to- take over and operate manu-
featuring plants, railways and other
peace time agencies, is under consid-
Grafton.
Secretary Baker told the committee
recently he was undecided as between
universal military service and a sys-
tenn of selective conscription, the lat
ter plan being understood to include
the industrial as we'll as the military
services.
Not Fairly Treated.
When General Scott said that many
members of the National Guard be-
llevc in universal service, Represen-
tative Mcclellan interrupted:
That may be because you are keep
ing them on the border at police duty.
get letters every day indicating that
many of them believe they are not
fairly treated. The great body of the
Guard want TO do their duty"
Il think that is So" said General
Scott.
Then why not give this new sys-
tom fair trial before you con-
demh it,"
I'VE arc giving it a fair trial and
working in good faith to get the
best results from it,
DO you think we will ever get the
kind of an army We should have as
long as high officers of the regular