Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-15

| Washington, Fob. 1.-the diplomatic
breach with Germany having been en-
dorscd by the Senate by an overwhelming
vote last week, Congress Is devoting it.
self to overtime consideration Of impor.
tant general business, together with emer-
gency measures necessitatcd by the
strained international situation. Leaders
OF both sides Of the Capitol are doing all
possible to suppress talk that might en-
barrass the government as we'll as inter-
fcre with business.
| Work on preparedness bills is progress
Ing steadily. Tuesday tho House will pass
the naval appropriation bill. together with
amendments urged by Secretary Daniels,
providing authority to commander ship
YARDS and munitions plants and appropri.
ating 100000 for the purchase of basic
patents OF aircraft When this is done
the army appropriation bill carrying ap-
proximately $500 10000 will be put through
as quickly as possible.
Emergency measures awaiting action
in the Senate include espionage and con-
spiracy bills recommended by the at
torney-gencral and amendments to the
shipping laws giving tho government au-
thority to commander vessels being
built in this country for foreign owners
In time Of war or threatened war.
Tomorrow the Senate expects to pass
the Porto Rican citizenship bill. As soon
as this is disposed Of fight again will
be instituted for Legislation In the pend
ing postofficc appropriation bill increasing
the rate on newspapers and periodicals
and providing for one cent drop letter
postage. These provisions we're thrown
out of the bill Saturday on a point of
order. but their champions tomorrow
propose to move for suspension of the
ttan AA-< =
on. To suspend the rules requires a two.
thirds vote.
Revenue legislation also will be pressed
in the Senate within a few days.
| MILITARY SERVICE BILL.
Washington, Feb. Ex-senator Chamber.
lain. for the committee on military af-
fairs. reported favorably to the Senate
Saturday a bill providing for universal
military training and asked that the
measure go to the calendar.
| The bill provides for six months train
ing of all male citizens of the United
States at the age of 10.
! Under the bill. when boys reach the re-
CURED age they may express their pref.
erence for training ''in the army or the
navy. or in any arm or corps OF either
service. or in any time Of the year." and
so far as practicable such preference
training. Liability to training covers not
only citizens. but also those who have
made a declaration of intention to be-
come citizens Of the United States" and
IN case such persons have passed the age
OF 10 the liability extends until they reach
the age of Is.
SERVICE ENDS AT Is
Upon registration. each person liable to
training becomes a member Of the RE-
serve citizen army or reserve citizen
navy" from the date fixed for the begin.
ming OF his training until the end of the
calendar year in which he reaches the
age Of g. The act provides that lin the
event OF defensive war or of imminent
danger thereof" the President may call
out these reserve forces by classes. &C.
cording to the year in which they have
been trained. the youngest being available
for service first. II provides specifically
that no part of these forces shall be used
for strikes or other industrial disputes.
THE EXEMPTIONS.
The exemptions from training are MEM
bers of the permanent military or naval
| forces OF the United States. those physi-
caily UNFIT. and persons who have rela-
tives wholly dependent on their earnings
Tho last two divisions arc required to re-
port at stated periods to be re-examined
as to their availability. and II their stat.
US proves to have changed they have to
report for the next training period Spc.
cial credit is given those who have had
previous military training OF charac.
| ter approved by the departments. Persons
who have religious scruples are to be
compelled to undergo training for NON
| combatant branches Of the military or
naval service" A penalty Of 5000 fine or
| irnnrfS0nDnGnt g Mt IN ta
| failure to observe tho provisions of the
act.
Those undergoing training arc to be pro.
vided with transportation. subsistence.
clothing and medical attention during its
! course. The bill outlines a comprehensive
, scheme of training and registration dis
tricts and provides for medical examina-
| tions and for boards OF regulation to pass
On applications for exemption and other
special privileges Tho bill suggests that
as far as possible the training districts
embrace single States or groups OF States.
PROVISION FOR OFFICERS.
instruction for the training camps Is to
be provided by officers Of the regular army
| and navy, and the officers OF the reserve
| citizen army and navy are to be drawn
both from the regular army and navy and
! from volunteers who have passed the ex-
aminations prescribed by the secretaries
of war and navy. Ofncers Of the State
militia and graduates OF approved schools
are eligible to such examinations. Tho
reserve forces are to be organized into
units in the same manner as the regular
service.
The act specifically provides that no en-
ployer shall penalize or prejudice any
employe for appearing for training. rog-
istration. or examination. but that he
shall not be compelled to pay the en-
ployc for the time during which he Is alb
sent. No substitute may be accepted and
no one is to be allowed to escape training
by payment OF money or other induce
ment. Tho bill includes prohibition regu-
,,'la'ions to govern the training camps.
Senator Chamberlain estimates that tho
bill would raise an annual trained force
OF 10000 men. while In the nine-year Pc
rod In which they would be liable to serv.
ice II Is believed that the reserve force
would be between 100000 and 100000.
LIMIT TO U-BOAT WARFARE.
In the House debate on tho naval ap.
preparation bill Saturday Representative
Henry W. Temple at Pennsylvania a..
sorted that the invention of the submarine
had not changed International law In any
respect and no special privilege should
be claimed by undcrsca craft. Tho rights
(Continued 81 Page Five.)