Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-22
Separate Minority Reports.

fornia, Gronna, La Toilette and Thomas.
Separate Minority Reports.
A minority report on the army bill
was filed by Senator McKellar of Ten
nessee. The minority report was signed
by Senators Thomas. Reed, Kirby and
McKellar. all democrats. Senator Hitch
cock, another democrat, filed a supple
mentary memorandum. Senators New
and Sutherland. republicans. declined to
sign the democratic report, but may
file a separate minority view.
In advocating the Mcclellan amend
democrats Joining in the dissent said
nen having had military service would
be excluded under the adminisf RI tfou
plan. although q splendid military
asset. 49,.
Traditions Of People"
ITO use immature boys il
a very dangerous policy" the report
said. THE traditions Of our people
favor the volunteer system. All of
our wars were fought under that sys-
tenn and all were won. Men are willing
to volunteer now and ought to be
given, an opportunity.to do SO.
THE minority believes. with the
President, that the conscription feature
should go into this bill. but that the
volunteer system first should be well
tried out. We believe men who vol
unteer are better fighters than those
conscripted."
Question Of Speed.
Citing anti-conscription difficulties
in England and Canada's lack of COM
pulsion, the four minority senators said
volunteers should be drilling within
thirty days, while Secretary Baker tes-
titled it would take until August to
enumerate and equip men conscripted.
The debate on the army bill was open
ed by Senator Chamberlain. In explain
ing the bill Chairman Chamberlain of
the military committee said that under
Guard may be raised to 1900 officers
and men. and that with the force to be
selected by draft there would be alto
gether 1.614,00 officers and men. He said
100000 more would be in training when
this other army is in existence. There
is opportunity, he said, for volunteers
between nineteen and forty in the guard
or the regular army for service during
the war.
"Must Use All Resources"
1T is impossible" said the senator, ito
! wage war against the greatest war pow
er the world has ever seen, relying on
the volunteer system. Unless we adopt
the principle of universal service. un-
less We adopt the system that will en-
able us to use all our resources, we
| can make no headway.'
He explained that there would be
| about 100000 men within the ages OF
nineteen and twenty-five liable to draft
out of 21.000,000 who could be called
into military service If necessary. He
said out of the six million 100000 could
first be trained. and If that is not
enough there could be a call for those
beyond twenty-five. He said by taking
men under twenty-five the country
ties and least likely to leave others to
become an economic burden on the ma
| ton.
Discuss Embargo Question.
| The senator had given only part of
his explanation when under the Senate
rules the espionage bill automatically
came up. A request that this measure
! be laid aside in favor of the army bill
was objected to by Senator Thomas of
| Colorado on the ground that one sec
! tion of the spy bill giving the Presi-
dent the right to declare an embargo
| on food is equally or more important
| than the army bill He said he would
| not object to taking up the army bill
next week. Senator Chamberlain moved
| to take the bill up despite this iopposi-
i ton. Senator Thomas began a speech
! on the embargo section of the spy bill
| before the motion was put.
| Objecting to setting aside the, espion-
age pill. Senator Fernald Of Maine said
the food question is vital to the wars
| success and that many canning plants
are closed because of a shortage OF tin
cans. While Senator Chamberlain
waited to resume his address, the Maine
senator read long prepared speech
| giving statistics pm the tin can manu-
featuring situation.
Vote to Take Up Army Bill.
After an hours delay the vote to take
up the army bill was cast and Senator
Chamberlain continued his explanation
| Of the bill Answering questions, he
Continued on Eleventh Page)