The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-19
Take Up Bill Monday.

| Take Up Bill Monday.
WASHINGTON, April 19.-The pres
ident's plan to raise a great American
army by seIective CONSUMPTION will pc
fought out on the house floor.
| answering in their determination
to force all responsibility for any draft
system ON the president, the house
military committee through Chairman
Dent today formally reported the
greater army bill, putting it up to the
president to choose between conscrlp-
tion and volunteering.
| Men who are standing behind the
president in his CONSUMPTION plan said
they will deliver minority report
which will show the country how poll
tics and fear of defeat at the polls
caused the committee majority to cast
of responsibility"
The bill which will be taken up
Monday, provides, in the CONSUMPTION
feature. that all physically able males
between 81 and 40 years are eligible.
Under an agreement reached later
this afternoon by Representatives
Kitchin. Mann, Dent and Kahn there
will be eighteen hours of general de-
bate with further debate under the five
minute rule.
While this preliminary action oc-
CURED in the house, Senator McCum-
Der introduced in the senate an amend
ment to the administration measure
proposing to raise an army if needed
by calling for volunteers proportionate-
| " from each voting district; a resort
to draft is made possible only after
the volunteer plan fails.
Senator Swanson, acting naval COM
mittee chairman, reported formally his
| bill authorizing the requested increase
| in the marine corps of from 1900 to
| 10000 and increase in navy personnel
from $1,000 to 10000. Both bills are
expected to pass quickly after they are
taken up either late this week or early
next week Other congressional war
steps of today were introduction of
bill by Repres sentative McKeown, Okla
homa. which would prevent the sale of
explosives throughout the war except
ing by special license and Introduction
of a measure by Representative Ayer-.
Kansas, making artificial specula-
ton" in food stuffs punishable by a
fine of from $500 to $1,000 Or sentence
Of one to five years Or both.
Shortly after the McKeown resolu-
ton was introduced Secretary of Inter
man mining committee a bill provid-
ing manufacture, sale and use Of all
explosives.
The executive end of the government
continued it's war work. At the navy
department Announcement was made
that building of warships Is not to i'm
pede commerce ship construction.
Secretary Daniels issued orders that
no special hurry need be attempted
as to building of ships on the second
year Of the program. The department
believes that right now merchant ships
in great numbers are as essential, II
not more SO, than warshtps.
Plans to meet threatened food short
age concerned the agricultural de-
partment and council of national de-
Tense.
Secretary Houston today sent out
call to heads of various farmers organ
izations to meet here for a conference
April c3, when the food producers of
the nation are to be organized into CO.
operative units to act with the depart
ment in determining amounts and
kinds Of planting every farmer in the
country will be expected to carry out.
Those called are: D. o. Mahoney,
American society Of equity; H. r..
StOckDT1dge, farmers natlOnal con-
gress; c. A. Barrett, farmers educa-
tional and cooperative union; H. l.
thinner, ancient order of cleaners and
Oliver Wilson, national grange.
Bond Bill Soon Settled.
WASHINGTON, April 19.-Ameri,
cas- greatest bond issue will probably
be written into the statutes tonight.
Final conferences on the gigantic
81 900 100000 war loan, to settle
minor differences in house and SEN
ate desires, are being held this after
noon.
Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo
at the same time conferred with Rep
resentative Fitzgerald and Senator
Simmons, urging that the legislation
be wound up by tonight in order that
the treasury may start tomorrow on
the vast job of advertising and float
ing the bonds.
Also. for practical as well as senti-
mental reasons, it is desired to make
the loan a reality by the time the
British war commission reaches the
capital to discuss cooperation.
1rr r1nnEA Hrey