The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-12
CONSCR|PTI0N
 NECESSARY, IS
 OFFICIAL VIEW

ing. his testimony before the House military committee yesterday, Secre- taL.y Baker reiterated his belief in the necessity of conscription to raise an army. As provided in the bill volunteers will be called for to fill up the ranks of the army and the National Guard to war strength. This, it has been estimated, will require 35o,000 men.
 that this total would be made up of those now reported to be anxious to enlist After that 1t would be diffi- cult, he said, to get any considerable number for the army of 500,00O men by the volunteer system.
 Conscription In End. Conscription will be reported from the committee in as easy 8 form as possible Those who favor 1t insist, and even some of those against 1t ad- init. that if the government under takes to raise an army of million or yer it soon will be necessary to re- sort to conscripdon-
 "I beAeve,' said Senator Chamber lain, chairman of the Senate commit tee on military affairs, that some provision should be made for volun- teering for a limited period. But we will be whistling down the wind if we think we can raise million or moro men by volunteering alone We will have to resort to conscription.
 Selective conscription, MT. Baker told the committee, would be the fair est method that could be adopted, as by it the burden of defending the nation would be- equally distributed among all classes. The plan favored for securing the first quota of 500, 900 men would be:
 To register all unmarried men
 between the ages of 19 and 24-
 To put the names, numbered,
 in a box and then draw mum
 Der corresponding to a number
 indicated by wheel of fortune"
 Select from those drawn the
 men best fitted for service
 Choice From 1000, 900.
 It is estimated that there will be found approximately 100000 men between the ages of 19 and 24. Of these 5000, 900 for various reasons would be exempted from military duty. From the remaining 4,0OO, 900 men, the army officers would select those best qualified to make the sol Gers now needed by Uncle Sam.
 The actual work of putting the army bill into shape will begin in the committte today Major F. E. Pierce of the War College. will go before the committe on Friday to give in detail hn nf ho "a ir. man Dent asked him for figures show ing how much money would be re- quired per capita. for clothing, food decide today whether further testi- money is to be taken.
 May Pass Next Week.
 The purpose now is to introduce the Army Bill in the House not later than the middle of next week. It will be taken up at once and passed, if possible, by the end of the week. It will not be considered under rule unless the necessities of the war sit uahon demand that it be put through with brief debate. The debate over the conscription feature will. unless checked, require many hours.
 Senator Sherman of Illinois, sentro- duced in the Senate yesterday a reso- lution authorizing the President to call for 100000 volunteers, 500,0 ,0OO to be called at once, and 5OO,0OO re- ,maining when needed. He said. he is opposed to conscription, and would giv etthe volunteer system a thorough trial first
 Army Money Bill Passed. The ArmyrAppropriation Bill (held up last session by the Senate f1libus- ter), providing for $2S1,136, 496.O2, passed the Senate yesterday Ire House already has passed the bill.