The sun., 1917-04-17
CONSUMPTION
FIGHT STARTED
House Military Committee
Seeking Methods to
Avoid 1t.
SENATE FOR ARMY BILL
Chamberlain Expects to Re-
port Measure To-day
Administration Firm.

WASHINGTON. April 16.-Faced by the
absolute refusal OF the Administration to
compromise on the army bill. the foes OF
conscription are beating 1t to cover. The
chief trouble lies in the House Commit
tee on Military Affairs, where a close
vote is Indicated. Indeed. tentative votes
In the committee to-day disclosed n ma
jority in favor of making some pro-
vision for volunteers in the bill which, as
drawn by the General STAFF and approved
by President wilson. is based entirely
upon the selective conscription system.
Two members of the committee were
absent. and the question OF preparing a
substitute for TIE Administ ration bill
will be dectled Tomorrow.
Various methods OF raising and Or
ganizirS the great lighting force for
which the President asks have been ad-
vanced by members opposing immediate
application of conscription. ranging from
proposal TO eliminate the provision
entirely to Chairman Dents scheme to
authorize call for 100000 volunteers
and authorize the President to resort to
coEscraDtion Il the volunteers do not
come forward in reasonable time.
The Administration is standing
squarely OH the General Staffs unani-
nous opinion that the volunteer system
can have no place. beyond enlistments
in the regulars or National Guard. in
the raising and training OF the army
needed
Rushing Bill In senate.
Taking the initiative out Of the hands
Of the House Military Affairs Commit
tee. the Senate committee to-day began
the consideration OF the Administration
army bill and progressed to such point
that the measure may be reported to
the Senate Tomorrow.
IL this can be accomplished, Sena-
tor Chamberlain, chairman OF the Sem
ate committee will make an effort TO
bring 1t before the Senate Immediately
after the war credit bill has been passed.
n final vote on the credit measure by
tomorrow night being in prospect,
Secretary Baker and Gen. Crowder.
Judge Advocate General OF the Army.
appeared before the Senate committee
to-day to explain the provisions of the
army bill and the plans contemplated
BY the Administration in the event OF
its passage. The discussion indicated
clearly that the conscription system will
have the support OF a majority Of the
members and that favorable report
will be made. The attitude of Senators
Reed. New and Kirby appears doubtful.
| senator Kirby is expected to vote against
the conscription plan.
The objection most persistently made
against the bill was not directed to the
compulsory service plan. but to the idea
| that 1t affords no opportunity for vol
| untary enlistment before conscription IL
made. This was successfully met by
, Gen. Crowder and Secretary Baker. who
pointed out that some time will elapse
before the draft for compulsory training
| will be In order so that officers may be
| trained and equipment, clothing and
camp sites may be provided. In the
| meantime there will be ample oppor-
tunlty to determine whether the country
| will be able to rely on voluntary enlist
ment to raise an adequate army.
| The discussion in the Senate COM
| mlttee to-day also indicated that few
| changes will be made In the measure. 1t
| is possible that an amendment exempting
| from the compulsory service obligation
persons such as Quakers, who are pre-
vented by their religious beliefs from
! going to war. will be adopted.
The committee went over the entire
! bill with Secretary Baker and Gen.
| Crowder, Tomorrow it will review It
! in detail and vote on any changes 1t Is
| the expectation OF Senator Chamberlain
that he will be able to make his report
| to the Senate before adjournment.
Roosevelt's Plan Ignored.
The proposal Of Col Roosevelt that he
he permitted to raise division for SER
! vice IN Europe was not discussed In con-
! nection with the army plan. Comment
/ however, indicated that the committee
does not favor modifying the War De-
! partment plan to enable Col Roosevelt
to carry out his project It will prob
ably be presented as a separate measure
If It is considered at all.
| Secretary Baker was assured to-day
by the Republican leader Of the House
committee that II he you'd stand un-
compromsingly for the 'Administ ration's
plan. efforts to amend II In committee
would be futile.
| Secretary Baker responded that he
had no intention of yielding In any ma
terlal way from his original position of
refusing to compromise between the vol
unteer system and that based on "uni-
versal liability to service" Representa-
tive Kahn predicted that on tho final
vote in the committee compulsory service
will be accepted.
without affecting the material con-
tentlons OF the War Department a very
narrow ma ajority of the committee favor
amendments which they believe will in-
| sure the success of the Administrations q
| policy. These amendments involve:
Raising the conscription age mini
mum from 10 years to 81 years.
Extending specifically the operation
| Of the conscription plan to an age
limit of 40 or +5 years. with the pos
sibility that the interim will be spe-
c,fcally divided into conscrption
classes. as from 81 to 2s, inclusive.
from 26 to 80 inclusive, &C.
| That the judgment as to the opera
1 tion of exemptions shall be left. AZ In
the English system, to a board OF
which the military authorities shall he
| clearly In the minority.
That without putting in jeopardy
| Continued on Second Page.