The Washington times., 1917-04-29
TO RUSH ARMY BILL
INTO CONFERENCE
House and Senate Committee
to Take Up Administration
Measure Tomorrow.

The Administrations army bill, au-
thorizing the President to raise by Sc
lective draft an army of 100000
men to wage war against Germany,
will be sent to conference by the
Senate and House tomorrow.
Shortly before midnight both bodies
passed substantially similar bills, re-
jecting the volunteer system.
In both Senate and House the Ad-
ministration victory was sweeping.
The army bill finally passed the
House by a vote OF 397 to "a. with
one voting present The Senate vote
was 81 to s.
ments were rejected on a roll call by
a vote of 313 to 100.
The chief point at issue between
the two houses is the conscription
age limit The Senate bill provides
for the calling out OF men between
the ages of twenty-one and twenty
seven. The House bill would draft
men between the ages OF twenty-one
and forty-all figures being inclusive.
Roosevelt Amendment.
The Senate inserted an amendment
permitting the President to accept
the services OF Col Theodore Roose-
velt and his division OF volunteers
Such an amendment was defeated in
the House on Friday.
Another point OF difference relates
to the liquor problem. The Harding
amendment finally approved by the
Senate authorizes the President to
make regulations governing the sale
of liquors near military camps and to
officers and enlisted men. The House
consistently refused to write into its
pill anything relating to the liquor
Issue.
In the lower body the army bill
went to final passage at 11:40 o'clock
last night after nearly twelve hours
OF debate, and much disorder. Scores
of amendments were proposed, but
comparatively few were accepted
The comparatively important features
In the House bill as passed were:
Features In Bill.
Adoption of Kahn amendment
striking out all reference to vol
unteer system and carrying out
Administrators program for
selective draft.
Approval OF Good-Austin
amendment, increasing pay OF en-
listed men during war from SIS
10 SoO per month.
Striking out OF $4,000, ,0oO, 900
appropriation for expenses OF new
army. This developed a clash
over Jurisdiction between the Ap-
propriations and Military Affairs
Committees. Chairman Fitzgerald, :
of the former committee, moved
to strike the item from the bill.
Both he and Congressman Sherley
explained the Appropriations Com
mittee was preparing a general
war budget covering both the
army and navy, and contended ap-
propriations must be made in =
systematic, sensible way. The
House was with the Appropria-
tions Committee, and only twenty
five members, led by CongresSrnan
Sims of Tennessee and Mr.. Dent
of Alabama, held out for the ap-
preparation as carried In the army
bill.
Adoption Of amendment by Mr..
Hayden OF Arizona prohibiting
any person from engaging q sub
stitute to do his fighting.
Inclusion OF Lever amendment
enumerating persons engaged in
agriculture" as among classes
which President may exempt from
military duty.
Adoption Of Lenroot amend
ment authorizing exemptions by
President from time to time" so
that all classes need not be ex-
empted at once.
Approval OF Madden amend
ment requiring all States to fur
nish their quota OF men, exemp-
tions notwithstanding, SO that
some States will not become
"slackers."
Amendments Beaten.
The House voted down many
amendments, including one specially
stating that members Of Congress
shall be subject to the military draft.
The Heating amendment to exempt
those with conscientious scruples"
against war, and the Stephenson
amendment to draft not more than |
20 per cent OF the country's farm
ers and textile workers were re-
jected.
Strong opposition to a young
mans war" was shown by the defeat |
OF an amendment by Congressman |
Miller of Minnesota, to draft men be-
tween the ages of nineteen and |
twenty-flve-as originally suggested |
by the War Department But six |
members arose in favor OF this.
Efforts to raise the maximum age
limit to foTty-ive, fifty, and sixty |
years were likewise defeated.
The principal fight centered all yes
terday about the volunteer and con-
scription plans. When the volunteer
advocates were routed most OF them |
voted for the bill on fnal passage. |
This number included Speaker Clark,
Majority Leader Kitchin, and Miss
Jeanette Rankin.
The tWanty-four meuhera who