Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-30
SENATE READY TO MAKE CON-
cEssIoNs TO HOUSE
coNFEREEs.
MAY FINALLY AGREE
ON 40 AS MAXIMUM
Chairman Chamberlain, Of Senate
Committee, Announces Willingness to
Accept House Provision - Would
Make 100000 Men Available -

Washington, April 3o.--As result
of concessions which will be made by
the senate the military draft will ap-
ply to men certainly above 80 years Of
age and perhaps as high as 40 years
Senator Chamberlain, chairman of
the senate military affairs COMMITTEES
will be the ranking member Of the
committee appointed by the vice pres.-
dent to confer with committee to be
named by the speaker of the house.
1t was with considerable reluctance
that Mr.. Cham berlain abandoned the
CONSUMPTION ages-19 to 20 inclusive
fixed by the war department. but the
temper of the senate favoring 81 years
as the minimum age Mr.. Chamberlain
now believes it desira Bile to accept the
proposal fixed by the house making 40
years the maximum age.
Senator Hitchcock who will be a
democratic member Of the conference
committee. and Senator Warren, who
will be republican member, both
voted to increase the maximum age to
IS instead of %.
House to Stand Firm.
The house fixed the draft ages from
81 to 40 inclusive by vote OF POI to s.
There is little doubt that il will In
sist that the senate accept It's judg-
ment in the matter.
The senate however. rejected an
amendment making 40 the maximum
age, offered by Mr. Mcclellan of Ten
hy Ia. al, ~
so to %. Among the nen voting
against the Mcclellan amendment
were Chamberlain Hitchcock and
Warren. Notwithstanding their action,
however, the disposition Of all OF them
today is to increase the maximum age
beyond that the senate fixed27.
II is estimated there are 1000, 900
males between II and 81 years inclu-
sive, and about 100000 between 81
and 40 inclusive.
There is sound experience against
the selection OF men in the thirties,
and particularly those OF 40. Mr. Ben
nett in charge OF Canadian military
organization, made a thoro investiga-
ton OF the effect of military service
upon age. ~
Mon From 10 TO 80 Best.
This Is his report:
The experience al the front all goes
TO show that men from IS 10 80 are
the best type 10 stand up under the
strain upon infantry in modern war
fare From 80 TO 81 there Is marked
increase in wastage by disease ana
breakdown and corresponding loss OF
efficiency. From 35 to 40 the increase
Is 100 per cent
Whatever the maximum age fixed.
and. as indic-ted. the view OF the
house may prevail, it is not intended
by the men who will be the conferees
to permit call to the colors Of al
those between 81 and 40 in the coun-
try.
The provision OF the act will be re-
written so that the president will be
able to create classes" for report for
service. For example he will be au-
thoriZed to select the number OF men
required from between u and % years.
II the emergency should be pressing
he can order selection of men between
&c and 80 years. between 81 and d
years and between &c and 20 years.
May Never Call Older Men.
The chances are that the older men
will not be called at ALL as the re-
suit would be to disorganize industry
and agriculture. The president and
his advisers realize that the first duty
resting upon the United States is to
supply food and other necessares to
the allies. This means that the farm
ers, the factory hands, shipbuilders
and railroad hands among others.
must be affected az little as possible
in the application OF the CONSUMPTION
scheme.
If the conference committee accepts
the house ages II is evident that
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt's plan for
raising a division will not be adopted
AS approved by the senate, the
Harding amendment provided that
there shall be no enlistments In said
force Of men under IS years of age at
the time Of enlisting.'