The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-04-28
HOUSE GIVES BIG
MAJORITY FOR
CONSCR|PT|0N
Votes Shows But 90 Opposed to
SeIective Draft Plan
SENATE DECISION T0hlGH
SENATE DECISION ToaIGH
M easure Should Be Ready for Presi-
dent Wilson's Signature Early
Next Week.

279 to SO in the house shortly before
noon today the passage OF the ad
ministration army bill providing for
the selective draft plan was assured
Barring the unexpected the senate
will vote on the measure before mid
night
The bill provides for the raising OF
an army of 100000 for service in
Europe at some future date II needed,
The vote came on the Kahn amend.
ment which converted the bill so as
to conform to the plan of the presi-
dent and the army heads.
The vote was in committee of the
whole The roll call will come later.
Washington, April 2S.-Both houses
of Congress sat until late last night
to clear the way for passage today or
the war army bill under which mil
lions of men are to be raised and
trained. Ausarently enactment of
the administration selectiye draft
by large majorities is assured, al
though the volunteer advocates will
fight until the roll-call.
Champions in the House of an
amendment designed to permit Col
Roosevelt to recruit volunteer force
for Immediate service in France, lost
their fight late yesterday on the first
vote taken after the close Of general
debate. The amendment, offered by
Representative Austin of Tennessee
and vigorously supported by Repre-.
sentative Gardner of Massachusetts,,
and others, was defeated, 10 to l06.
Among those who voted for IL was
Miss Rankin of Montana, who tear
fully opposed the war resolution.
The House leaders agreed to have
a vote Immediately after convening
today on an amendment which would
restore the measure TO the form in
which it came from the war depart
ment, eliminating the volunteer
section substituted by the mill
tary committee General debate was
closed early in the afternoon with
final statements by Chairman Dent of
the military committee for the volun-
teer section, and Representative Kahn
of California, the republican member
leading the administration fight for
the general staff plan.
Scores OF members spoke last night
under the rule permitting five-minute
speeches on amendments. One of the
first was Representative Mann, the
floor leader who broke
his silence on the subject of conscrip-
tion for the first time with an empha-
tic declaration in favor of the staff
bill
On the Senate side the debate
continued throughout the day and
last night with only occasional flares
of interest from the floor and gal
leries. The leaders have agreed TO
take the final vote before adjournment
tonight.
Minor differences in the measure
as it will pass the two houses PROB
ably will necessitate conference, but
the bill is expected to be ready for
President Wilson's signature by he
middle of next week. Then the plans
of the war department, already care
fully laid, will be put into operation
Near midnight when the Senate
was about to adjourn, Senator La
Toilette of Wisconsin took the floor
and announced his intention of speak
ing. He has pending amendments to
strike out the draft provision and to
submit the question of raising an
army to a referendum.
Senator La Toilette had a great
pile of books and papers before him
and apparently intended to talk sew
eral hours. Under the rules sena-
tor cannot be taken off his feet by
motion to adjourn so the handful of
senators on the floor settled down for
an indefinite stay.