Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-05-19
WAR MEASURE
UP TO WILSON
DECISIVE ACTION TAKEN BY
CONGRESS. PRESIDENT is Ex-
PEcTED TO SIGN BILL TODAY.
REGISTER. ELIGIBLES
HIGHER PAY. r RS. DIVISION.
LIQUOR RESTRICTIONS RETAIN
ED. AGES FROM 21 TO 30.

Final action was taken by con-
gress Thursday on the war army bill,
the second of the major measures Of
the war.
The senate, by a vote OF IS to !,
adopted tn conference report, accept
ed Wednesday by the house. Vice
Pres dent Marshall and Speaker Clark
will sign the bill Friday and send it
to the White House. 1t probably will
be law before Friday night.
As finally approved, the bill pro-
vides for raising by selective con-
scmption a war army in increments
of 500 900 men from Il to 80 years OF
age. 1t also authorizes, without direct
ing, the president to raise volunteer
forces which Colonel Roosevelt de-
sres to take to France, and greatly
increases the pay OF all enlisted men.
Machinery to register and draft
the first 500 900 men already has been
set up by the war department In
mediately after the president signs
the bill he will, by proclamation,
designate the day for registration OF
the 100000 or more men OF the
prescribed age. Registration books
will be In the hands of state and
local authorities who are to CO.
operate in the work, and Brigadier
General Crowder the provost marshal
general, expects to have his COM
plete lists in Washington within five
days after registering begins.
Then will come the task OF select
ing the first half million, exempting
the physical unfit, those with de-
pendents and men who are needed ON
the farms and in industries. The pro-
cess of selection probably will be COM
pleted long before the men are want
ed. Secretary Baker SAID Thursday
that, because of lack of supplies, the
new army would not be called to the
colors for training before September.
Whether Colonel Roosevelt shall be
permitted to raise an expedition now
rests with President Wilson. His
views have not been disclosed. Thurs
days closing debate centered upon the
30 called Roosevelt amendment
Colonel Roosevelt was vigorously at
tackled by Senator Stone OF Missouri,
and AIS ardently defended by his
friend, Senator Johnson of California.
The senate's approval of the meas
ure agreed upon by the conferees and
accepted by the house came late In
the day, after attempts to send 1t
back to conference, and an earnest
appeal by Senator Chamberlln, Chair
man of the military committee, for
final action.
The eight senator's who cast the
negative votes are:
Democrats-Gore OF Oklahoma,
Hardwtck of Georgia, Kirby of Arkan-
sas, Stone of Missouri and Trammell
of Florida.
toilette of Wiscon-
sin, Gronna OF North Dakota and Nor.
ris of Nebraska.
The bill, backed by the administra-
ton, was introduced in the senate
April 10, was passed April 2S-in the
senate by vote of 81 to and in the
house 397 to 24-and since has been
tied up IN conference, returned there
twice by the house to include the
Roosevelt volunteer provision and
further pay increases for enlisted
men. Its chief provisions are:
Raising of armed forces by the Sc
lective draft system, imposed upon
all males between the ages of 21 and
80 years, inclusive, subject to registra-
ton and certain exemptions from
service.
Increasing the regular army to
maximum war strength.
Drafting into the federal service OF
national guard units.
Rails ng of an initial force by con-
scription of 100000 men, with addi-
tlon OF 500, 900 if deemed necessary.
Raising, OF the president sees fit, OF
four dvis OILS of volunteer infantry
(the Roosevelt amendment). Increas
ing the pay of all enlisted men as fol.
lows:
Fifteen dollars additional monthly
for those now receiving less than $21,
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