The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-10
Affects All Male Citizens Be-
tween Ages 10 and 26. IA
Requires Six Months TryOut in
Army or Navy.
EXEMPTS "BREADW|NNERS"
Also Physically Unfit; Provides
for Religious Scruples.
Reserves To Be Called Out Only
for Defensive Warfare.

Washington, Feb. 10.-The senate
military committee today reported the
universal military training bill which
requires all male citizens of the United
States between the ages of 10 and 26
years, who are physically able to un-
dergo a period of six months military
and naval training beginning January
II, 1918.
The bill provides that on reaching
the age of nineteen all youths physi-
cally able, and having no dependents,
shall enter a training period of six
months.
The bill, as submitted to the senate
today, is said to be not unlike the
measure prepared by a group of gen.
eral staff officers under direction or
Major General Scott, which will be
presented to the president and after
wards probably be used by the mouse
military committee.
The Chamberlain bill provides that
no person shall be compelled to under
go the six months training after reach
ing the age of twenty-six-
Provides Exemptions
Those exempt from military service
are members of permanent military
and naval forces of the United States;
those physically unfit for military or
naval service; persons on whose earn
ings a father, mother, brother, sister,
wife or child, is wholly dependent for
support.
Those exempt because of physical
disability and the dependency clause
are subject to reorganization at Pc
RODS to be fixed by regulation.
The bill provides that members of
religious SectS whose orders forbid
members to bear arms in war shall
be trained in non-combatant branches
of the military or naval service; per-
sons convicted of felonies are to be
trained in special units.
Credit of one month is to be given
any person who has completed a
course of military or naval Instruction,
approved by the secretary of war or
secretary of the navy, these credits
to be applied to the training period
only.
exempted and to those completing the
training course. Employment of per-
sons up to the age of 26 without these
certificates is prohibited.
Can Choose Army or Navy.
At the time of registering for train
ing, applications are permitted to state
which branch of the naval or military
service they wish to be trained. In
emergencies the president can assign
such proportion of recruits as he sees
fit to either the naval or military
branch.
The reserves are to be called out by
the president only in case of a de-
fensive war or Imminent danger of a
defensive war;
The reserves are not to be used in
case of strikes or other Industrial dis
putes.
Regular army and navy officers are
to act instructors in training camps.
The present pension laws relat-
ing to membership of the regular
army and navy in time of war shall
apply to the reserves.
Includes Prohibition Provision.
Employers are prohibited from dis
charging or reducing the wages of
employees required to enter the train
ing camps.
The bill also provides that no intox-
icant spirituous liquors shall be sold to
any member of the military or the
naval forces of the United States
while in uniform