The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1917-05-22
WILSON APPROVES
THE WAR ARMY BILL

| ton was taken Dy congress, thursday,
on the war army bill, the second Of
the major measures of the war.
The Senate, by vote of So to 8,
adopted the conference report accept
ed Wednesday by the House. Vice
President Marshall and Speaker Clark
signed the bill and sent it to the White
House for President Wilson's ap-
prevail.
AS finally approved the bill provides
for raising by selective CONSUMPTION d
war army in increments of 900
men from Fl to 80 years of age.
1t also authorizes, without directing,
the President to raise volunteer forces
which Colonel Roosevelt desires to
take to France, and greatly increases
the pay of all enlisted men.
Machinery to register and draft the
first $1,000 men has already been set
up by the War Department. The
President will by proclamation desig.
mate the day for registration of the
10 1000, 900 or more men of the prescrib-
ed age.
Registration books will be in the
hands of State and local authorities,
who will cooperate in the work, and
vost Marshall General, expects to
have his complete lists in Washington
within five days after registration be-
gins.
Then will come the task of selecting
the first half million, exempting the
physically unfit, those with dependents
and men who are needed on the farms
and in industries. The process of Sc.
lection probably will be completed long
before the men are wanted.
| Secretary Baker said yesterday be-
cause OF lack of supplies the new army
would not be called to the cOlors for
training before September.
After stating that the labor question
was receiving serious attention from
all departments, Secretary Baker
wrote to Senator Jones:
! Owing to the depleted state of our
supplies it will not be practicable TO
call out the first 100000 men to be
raised under the provisions of the bill
now pending before Congress until
about September /, so there will be no
Improbable interference with the Ia
Dor supply of the country until that
date
| when these men are called they
will have to be continuously trained
with the colors until they are sent
abroad AS the period of training be-
fore they are sent abroad will be at
the best all too short, in justice to the
men it must be intensive and contin
nous"
Whether Colonel Roosevelt shall be
permitted to raise an expedition now
rests with President Wilson. His
views have not been disclosed, but 1t
is believed he probably will postpone
decision while the draft system is be-
/ ing put into operation.
AS during the early stages OF the
long dispute in Congress, Thursdays
closing debate centered upon the so
called Roosevelt amendment. Colonel
Roosevelt was vigorously attacked by
. Senator Stone, of Missouri. and as ar
IDENTIFY defended by'his friend, Senator
Johnson, of California.
The Senate's approval of the meas
ure agreed upon by the conferees and
accepted by the House came late in
the day, after attempts to send it back
to conference and an earnest appeal
by Senator Chamberlain, Chairman OF
! the Military Committee, for final &C
! ton.
The eight Senators who cast the
negative votes were:
! Democrats-Gore, of Oklahoma;
Hardwick, of Georgia; Kirby, of Ar
kansas: Stone, of Missouri, and Tram
nell, of Florida.
: Republicans-LaFole of Wiscon-
sin; Gronna, of North Dakota, and
, Norris, of Nebraska.
The bill backed by the Administra-
ton was introduced in the Senate,
April 10. was passed April 2S-in the
Senate by a vote of 81 to s, and In the
House 397 to 24-and has since been
tied up in conference, returned there
twice by the House to include the
Roosevelt volunteer proposition ana
further pay increases for enlisted men.
It's chief provisions are:
Raising of armed forces by the selee-
tive draft system, imposed upon all
males between the ages of Il and 80
wears. inclusive, subject to registration
and certain exemptions from service.
Increasing the regular army to maxi
mum war strength.
Drafting into the Federal service OF
national guard units.
Raising by an initial force by con-
scription of 100000 men, with addl-
Ition of 100000 If deemed necessary.
Raising, il the President sees mt, OF
four divisions of volunteer infantry.
THE Roosevelt amendment.)
Increasing the pay of all enlisted
men as follows: Fifteen dollars addl-
tional monthly for those now receiving
less than $21, comprising the bulk OF
the army, graduated downward to 30
additional monthly for those receiving
S45 or more.
Prohibiting sale of liquor at or near
army training camps and otherwise
,portecting morals of the soldiers.
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