Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-03-01
NO DEFINITE ACTION
! TAKEN ON MEASURE
Opponents of the Draft Sys-
tenn Will Endeavor to
Muster Enough Strength
to Remove Provision Be
fore the Final Vote.

Compulsory military service made
possible by stringent draft clause
In house bill No. 325 caught the house
of representatives unawares late yes
terday afternoon and a lively debate
followed in which a personal encoun-
ter between Majority Leader Moody
and Representative Grice Of Shoshone
county was narrowly averted The
sergeant-ut- arms was instructed to
use force If necessary to maintain Or
der in the assembly. Some idea of
the strength in the house behind the
draft clause in the bill can be ascer-
tanned from the fact that an attempt
to strike it out while the house was
in committee of the whole failed, SO
that 1t stands.
Definite action was no taken on the
measure and the committee will con-
slider 1t again later. In the meantime
an effort will be made by the oppon-
ents of the draft system to muster
enough votes to defeat the bill or at
least remove from it that provision.
SAYS IT'S DANGEROUS GROUND.
Representative Grice, in speaking
against the bill, drew the attention of
his colleagues to the clause contained
therein providing for the appointment
of an adjutant general, contending that
was the only reason there was such
pressure being brought to bear to pass
the measure. Majority Leader Moody
was former adjutant general and re-
signed to serve in the house, intend
ing after the present session to take
up his duties as adjutant general He
took the Grice remark as directly per-
sonal.
You're treading on dangerous
ground" declared Moody as he turned
about from his desk and faced Grice,
repeating as he arose and stood over
him. You're treading on dangerous
ground"
Grice did not appear to think so,
and said as much when the majority
leader strobe toward the door, invit-
ing Gricc to follow him to the CORR
dor, where they could settle the matter.
Il will" replied Grice, rising, but it
will not be a fair fight"
The sharp pounding of the gavel in
the hands of Representative Shearer,
of Nez Perez, who was in the chair,
brought the house to order and stayed
the controversy. THE sergeant-at-
arms will preserve order in the cham
ber with force, II necessary" ordered
Shearer whereupon that official who
weighs $50 pounds, more or less, took
seat in front Of the assembly door.
The episode was passed by without
serious trouble to the quarreling mem
bers.
MILES ExPLoDEs SHELL.
Representative Miles of Nez Perez
county exploded n miniature six-inch
shell over the lower house when, after
1t had gone into the committee Of the
whole at the afternoon session, he
drew attention to the draft clause in
the bill and moved, for the sake of
bringing the Issue directly before the
house, that the clouse be stricken. The
bill had reached third reading with
but few of the members aware the
measure contained such a clause re-
CARELESS of the fact that at the time
of its introduction the newspapers had
drawn attention to it's existence. To
amend and consider the measure more
fully before taking final action, the
house went into committee of the
whole with Representative Shearer in
the chair.
WHAT PROVISION CONTAINS.
The draft provision is found in sec
ton II of the bill. In substance il
provides that in case the number of
volunteers is not sufficient to COM
plete the complement of organizations
OF the national guard, the governor
may order mayors of cities, towns or
villages, or the sheriff of any county,
to draft such numbers of men as are
needed. The drafting is done by lot
That is the names are drawn. Provi-
sion is made that the names of mar
ried men will not he considered until
all unmarried men have been exhaust
ed. Failure of any person to report
for duty who is drafted is made a mis-
demeanor punishable by a fine of not
less than $500 nor more than $500, or
Imprisonment in the county Jail from
pne to six months, or both.
Aside from the draft provision the
measure is similar to former national
guard bills. 1t is drawn to conform
with the national defense act. An an
preparation Of $4,000 per annum is
carried for the support of the national
guard in Idaho. The object of the dr1 IT
clause, it was Explained by Majority
Leader Moody, is to enable the Idaho
regiment TO be brought up TO its fun
quota OF men in time of war He de-
clared that such provision is needed
In order TO properly carry out the
terms of any workable defense act. lie
vigorously defended the bill. In the
event, he said. of the president calling
for troops in case they were needed. he
&uld telegraph the governor that UNI