Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-19
EVENTS OF A WEEK

EVENTS OF A WEEK
After weeks of discussion the army bill has been
passed. and for the first time since the Civil war the Uni
ted States adopted the policy of universal service as the
basis for creating an army. The army bill in its final
form provides for the enrolment for possible service of
all men between the ages of 81 and 30; for increased
pay for all enlisted men, this increase to be SIS per
month for all now receiving less than s21. down to Sc
per month for those now receiving s45 or more: draft
ing National Guard units into the federal service; in
creasing the regular army to its maximum war strength:
raising n new army of soc, 900 men by selective con-
scription, with another 500, 900 to be raised later; ar
ranging for registration, exemption and draft; author
izing, but not directing the president to raise four divi-
sions of volunteers as proposed by Roosevelt: and pro-
hibiting the sale of liquor at Or near army camps, and
making other arrangements for the maintenance of or
der and decency at such places.
y
The so-called Roosevelt amendment has been up
and down several times. For a time it was considered
lost, but the clause was revived, and it is now a part
OF the law. This amendment, contrary to an opinion
occasionally manifested, did not create a volunteer
force or give Roosevelt charge Of one. 1t placed the
whole matter in the hands Of the president. He is an
powered to call for the volunteers If and when he be-
lieves such a course to be advisable, and he may select
such officers as he sees fit to command it, He did not
see fit to send Roosevelt.
One of the most important steps taken with refer
ence to the war has been that virtually consolidating
into one great system all the railroads of the United
States. General plans for this purpose were worked out
some weeks ago, and the boards in charge have in the
meantime been at work on the details. The roads have
now been called on by the war department to put into
operation many changes whose purpose is to facilitate
the work of military transportation. The feature of the
whole work may be said to be the elimination Of waste.
so far as possible it is proposed that there shall be no
idle cars. idle rails, idle engines or idle men. Needless
trains are to be cancelled. Motive power. regardless Of
ownership lis to be sent wherever needed. Cars are to
be disposed Of in like manner. Entire railroads NAV he
Mixed trains are to be substituted for separate freight
and passenger service on many branch lines. The pri-
mary purpose, of course, is the rapid Transportation of
military material; but inseparably linked with that is
the rapid movement of necessary traffic Of all kinds and
as one OF the results of the consolidation for purposes
Of war. we are likely to see the transportation Of the
country during the harvest season conducted with less
congestion and confusion than in times of peace.
It will be interesting to note what will he tn. ef-
rect OF all this on the transportation business after the
war IL over. Will the advantages of unified control have
neen 80 manifest that the plan will be continued? Will
the people realize so fully that they have been paying
Tor the running of almost empty trains. luxuriouslv At.
ted, that they will be willing to get along with a little
less display and enjoy generally more efficient service
at a lower price? Stranger things have happened.
American soldiers as such are not vet on the hattie
front, but American sailors are. Somewhere in the
North sea or in the waters of the eastern Atlantic Amer
lean destroyers are now keeping watch and ward with
the French and British ships to guard the lanes Of travel,
to aid In the botting up Of the German fleet, and, if
possible. to send to the bottom such German submarines
as may show themselves. The first inttmation that the
American public had that such an expedition was on
the way was when the press dispatches told Of is ar
rival al queenstown, where a British fotilla was waiting
to receive with honors the American arrivals. In an
s"er TO the inquiry as to when he would be ready for
business the American commander replied that he was
READY 70 start at once, and somewhere, according to the
disposition that has been made, these American ships
have Joined in the vigil that other vessels. committed
to the same cause, have been keeping ceaselesslv for
nearly three years.
. @sss
Interest has been aroused in the distribution -, the
AioeTty Loan DonOS during the week by MANY public
meetings in all sections Of the country. The meeting at
Grand Forks was one Of the most enthusiastic ever held
in tho city, and similar interest has attended other meet
ings in other parts of the state. Former Governor Hanna
who 10 a member of the board in control of the federal
reserve bank in Minneapolis, has devoted much time
and energy to this work. The banks Of the dtstrtct and
of the state, are taking care Of the work of distrihution
performing this service without charge. It is regarded
as certain. not merely will the full two billions now
called for be fully subscribed. but that it will be greatly
over-subscribed. The bonds will be issued in denomina-
nons AZ low as $50. and, If desired. they may be paid
for In installments.
The Russian situation has continued IN ~,v. great
an1ae1 70 the government Of the United States and the
governments OF the countries with which It is in ALL
ancs.. Sastional quarrels the work of eactionaries who
nope ZOE the Fsstoraton OF the privileges which they
would loss undsr q modern government. the ACTIVITY Of
0esznan 0mpathisers, and the Illogical and unreasonable
8dsnnaaAs Of men who. with no experience in sovefnment,
nov Npsot government to do for them those things
which can - accomplished only by ~indfvldual industry.
gsntaErriss and thrift have all contfbt,tsA TO comulica4e
ths atttuation. Tho Russian armies have bssn on the
DotnE e dsnsralisation. ana doubt soaS unosrtaanty pre-
O0s e0spf ~ this condition = sssn n IT, shiftiux
~ NaDg - 04rnaan troops from the eat to M west
AfsssA IL saaksnins of ms Rnalan activity has IN
ShblsA stAs A0sr1nans to thin ont Their Inns in Ruauaasw1th
sN11SN AnA tthsg havs thrsfssss Nfhtown mors nsn int
y 49, -. 49, 80 osns.sssn.a , - .s .s.sa
ri = 1kA siAak ssN.Ens aensGs - assat.s -
a@@sS@sssss