Perth Amboy evening news., 1917-05-18
.DAAFT BILL READY FOR
PRESIDENTS SIGNATURE
Continued from page u


The senate's action closed a parlia-
mentary struggle Of more than a
month and disposed of one Of the big
gest war problems yet laid before con-
gress. The measure was sent to con-
ference three times, and for awhile
during the debate 1t seemed in immi-
nent danger of being recommitted again
T, for modification. When the conference
agreement on the bill was submitted to
the senate for ratification it ran against
unexpected opposition based on the
omission OF the senate provision spe-
cltically limiting conscription to the
period of the war with Germany.
Roosevelt Move Attacked.
Charges of improper motives on the
part Of the conferees and insinuations
of deep laid scheme by the war de-
partment to use the bill to fasten per-
manent universal liberty service upon
the country few thick and fast. The
controversy was finally smoothed out
by unanimous consent agreement to
incorporate the omitted provision In
|the army and navy war budget now
pending before the senate.
A spectacular tilt between Senator
Stone of Missouri and Senator Hiram
Johnson OF California marked the clos
ing hour of the debate on the confer
ence report. Senator Stone assailed
tho Harding amendment authorizing
acceptance Of Colonel Roosevelt's offer
to raise a division Of volunteers for
service in France. He charged the
colonel with unfltness to command and
said the amendment was ''smeared all
over with politics" This drew vigor-
Gus fire from Senator johnson, one OF
the colonel's closest friends. Senator
Johnson pleaded for more Roosevelts
and more divisions to follow him"
"Thls amendment was an outrageous
thing to put into the BILL" said Senator
Stone. II am going to talk about this
as the Roosevelt amendment because
1t is Roosevelt's law. don't question
Roosevelt's courage, but do question
Ibis judgment In commanding men. He
Is unfit, he has no respect for authority
and is incapable OF subordination. He
hasn't the military experience, training
or temperament
! johnson Defends Colonel.
| Senator johnson said: He would be
wanting in affection for the colonel II
he did not register an emphatic protest
against the remarks of the senator from
Missouri. / am a friend Of Colonel
Roosevelt and In my country when a
mans friend il assailed 1t Is considered
his duty to defend him with all his
power" he said. 81 have listened with
surprise, chagrin and humiliation to
the speech Of the eloquent senator from
Missouri, In which he has excoriated
Colonel Roosevelt and held his division
UP to the scorn Of the country"
When the opposition threatened to
send the bill back to conference again
Senator Chamberlain, in charge Of the
measure, warned the senate that from
thirty to ninety>days would ensue from
such action. He explained that the
conferees had decided not to limit con-
scription terms to the present war be-
cause, under strict Interpretation of
the law, the army would be disbanded
the moment peace was declared with
Germany, no matter how disturbed
might be the other foreign relations of
Germany.
| La Toilette Secs Militarisrn.
Senator La Toilette Of Wisconsin
said mo microscope was needed to see
The motive behind the omission of the
provision" and openly charged that 1t
was part of the war departments plan
to establish CONSUMPTION as perma-
nent policy in the United States. Sena-
tor Hoke Smith of Georgia put an end
to the objection by Offering the omit
ted section as an amendment to the
army and navy $4,000. .000, 600 war bud
get.