Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-04
KNOW LITTLE
OF DRAFT BILL

OF DRAFT BILL
"DETAILS OF CONSUMPTION MEAS
URE REST WITH THE PRESi-
lDENT; MANY GUESsES.
It was merely blanket CONSUMPTION
bill which was passed by congress
last week. About the only definite pro-
vision in it as regards actual opera
ton of the law is that it is to apply to
men between certain ages.
President Wilson holds the balance
of power on the other parts of the
bill. Who shall first be called, who
shall be exempt, how the men will be
chosen, what ages shall be first con-
scripted, married men will have to go
all these matters will be decided by
the president, as commander in chief
of the military forces of the country.
Many Schemes Suggested.
And, it appears that, so far, Presl-
dent Wilson is the only one who does
know how conscription will operate.
Various plans have been outlined which
may be followed. There are some GER
one is agreed.
Based upon Associated Press reports,
information gathered by the Washing
ton correspondents Of several metro.
politan newspapers and the ideas OF
United States army officers, this story,
in a measure, outlines the proposition
as nearly correct as the present status
Of matters will warrant.
Must Fix Ages.
Congress must first fix the con-
scription ages. The senate passed the
bill providing for CONSUMPTION of men
between the ages of 81 and %. The
house voted to call men between q
and 40. A conference committee is ex-
pected to reach compromise age.
It is generally agreed the maximum
age finally agreed upon will exceed 80
years. Therefore men between the ages
of 81 and 80 are sure of being subject
ed to CONSUMPTION.
President Wilson no doubt will call
for soldiers by classes Men between
the ages of 81 and % make the best
soldiers, military men say. There are
100000 men in the country today be-
tween those ages. The first call will
be for 100000 men.
q and % First Class.
The president in order to raise the
first 100000 which are expected to be
In training by August or September,
probably will call out the men Of this
class.
For the second 100000 he would call
the class between % and %.
An army of two million men is pro-
posed for the United States Thus, I'M
der the above class plan, men between
the ages Of 81 and 26 or 27 would be
called. However, the president has
made no announcement of his plans.
Military men consider it highly inn
probable that the president will call
for the CONSUMPTION Of men between
the two age limits fixed by congress at
once. They are sure the younger men
will first be called.
Might Call at Once.
| Another plan has been advocated in
| Washington. Under it the president
would call the men from 81 to rs or
rs to 81 to the colors at one time.
Their names would be placed Gin the
The first man thus drawn would re.
port for training in the first army OF
100000, in August or September. The
next man drawn would report in the
second army Of 100000 six months lat
er, the third man in the third army in
twelve months and the fourth man in
the fourth army in eighteen months.
1t is generally accepted that con-
scription will be carried on through
the jury box system unless the presi-
dent designates a specific age class.
The names Of all men subject to con-
scription will be placed in the box as
are the names of jurors in our courts
and those drawn will bear arms.
To Issue Proclamation.
The president will issue conscrip.
ton proclamation within thirty days
after congress finally agrees upon the
CONSUMPTION act. All men between the
specified ages will report to their pre-,
cinct voting places and register with
out delay. Those who fail to register
will pay a heavy penalty, still to be
determined.
Exemptions as provided in both
house and senate bills include mem.
bers Of executive, legislative and ju.
dicial branches Of the government,
ministers. all persons belonging to re-
ligiosu sects opposed to war.
The latter division includes Quakers
and Mennonites.
Men physically and morally unfit
are also exempt.
Other exemptions are placed in the
hands of the president.
He has the power to exempt mar
ried men with dependent families.
men with dependent relatives and
such others as may be deemed neces-
sary.
Exempt Married Men.
The president is expected to ex-
empt married men with dependent
families. Whether he will exempt
married men whose families will not
be dependent by their going to the
front is not known. He is also expect
ed to exempt those who have mothers
or relatives depending absolutely up
on them for support.
There seems to be no doubt that
the president will exclude large per