The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-04-25
CONSUMPTION
| IS GAINING
Almost Certain to Pass Both
Houses of Con-
gress
FIGHT IS CLOSE IN
THE LOWER BRANCH
But the Pressure from the
White House Is Getting
in It's Work

Washington, d. c., April 25.--Though
bitter controversy still is ahead, the
opinion still grows daily that the con.
seription policy in making up the new
army will prevail. The debate in both
houses was continued to-day. Both will
pass the new army bill in some form be-
fore the week ends. Passage by the Sen
ate of the CONSUMPTION bill is regarded
as certain. The House situation is close,
but the idea of CONSUMPTION is apparently
gaining support under strong pressure on
Democrats from the White House.
| When the Senate resumed debate Sen
ator Chamberlain, in charge of the bill,
said he would not seek to fix time for
vote before to-day.
Senator LaFollette offered an amend
ment, for later discussion, to establish
system of tribunals, local, state and ma
tional, to determine exemptions from
draft.
| If volunteer system should prevail in
the House there still would be hope for a
CONSUMPTION victory in the conference re-
| port.
One change that is probable in the bill
concerns the age limits of the conscripts.
Strong sentiment has developed in both
houses for increasing the higher age linn
it from 25 TO 80, or even 40. More pay
for enlisted men also is likely.
The feeling in Congress that the gen
eral staff intends to wipe out the Ma.
tional Guard is undoubtedly one of the
chief obstacles to the CONSUMPTION bill
In other words, the controversy is good
deal bigger than the question of how the
new army shall be provided. 1t is re-
garded as involving the question of per-
manent military policy. If the con.
scription bill passes the believers in uni
versal training-and they are more nu
merous than the believers in CONSUMPTION
will command the strength to put uni.
versal training on the statute books.
In the course of the debates over con
scription there has been more or less ref
erenee to the time of sending an Amer
lean army to France. Senator Wads.
worth, who is on the military committee,
shed some light on this matter in his
speech. He pointed out that the general
staff planned TO have the new eonscript |
force modified and ready to begin train |
ing by Aug |. He estimated that eight |
months would be required to fit the men |
to go to the front, and month or more |
of training at the front before going into |
the lighting. But he also said that the |
forces of the regular army and National |
Guard would lie ready for service much |
earlier.
The inference from Senator Wads-
worths remarks is that this country can |
put large forces of regulars and guards
men on the fighting lines late next fall.
Speaker Clark, in receiving a deega-
ton from the National Security league
yesterday, opposed the selective draft
and predicted it never would pass Con-
gress Several hundred petitions, bear
ing million names, and asking Congress
to adopt the administration plan, We're
laid before the speaker.
''Conscription never will pass, in my |
opinion" he said. Il am for letting the
flower and youth of this country volun-
teer before we fasten the disgrace of
draft upon them. The war department
is jumping around trying TO bulldoze peo-
pie into passing this bill, and l don't
think they are going to do it,"