Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
MEASURE IS READY !
FOR 100000 MEN
PRESIDENT GIVES FINAL STUDY
TO BILL CALLING CITIZENS
IN THEIR TWENTlES.

Washington, D. c., April 5.-Presi-
dent Wilson today gave final STUDY W
the bill under which the war depart
ment plans to give compulsory mil
tary training to probably 2,ooo'ooo
men within two years, and the meas
ure may 20 to the house and senate
military committees today. if the war
resolution is disposed of IN the n Use.
Details Of the bill will be made po"llc
later.
The government had demonstrated
today that it will deal sharply Win
manufacturers who try to make e&'
orbitant profits from war supply con
tracts. The navy department exer-
cised for the first time the authority
given by the last naval appropriation
bill to order naval supplies at price
fixed by the government and lower
than that submitted by the manu-
facturer. The identity Of the concern
was not made public.
The naval department up to TO-DAY
had ordered 200 patrol boats to pc
used as submarine chasers, and addl'
tional contracts are being signed daily.
Most are ordered at fixed prices rather
than on the basis Of 10 per cent profit,
because Of the vast amount OF booK-
keeping involved in the latter arrange
ment.
The war departments plan for build
ing an army now is understood to pro-
vide for enrolling only men in thelr
twenties, free from home responslblll-
ties. for calling out the older men with
in the prescribed age limits first, ana
taking subsequently each younger In
crement Of 100000.
The brass making industry has
agreed voluntarily to supply the gov
ernment's needs at cost, and similar
arrangement is being sought OF steel
and fuel oil producers.
Details OF Estimate.
The details of the estimates approv-
ed by President Wilson follow:
To be Immediately available to the
war department s2,932,535.eS3.
Secretary Baker stated that this
amount was required for the period of
one year from the date the approTria-
,tien is made availaGi5. t.,3 = 8. - :. !.
To raise the authorized enlisted
strength Of the navy and marine corps
to 10000 men and 10000 men respec-
lively, $175,S55,762 was asked to re-
main available until June 80, 1918.
For actual and necessary expendi-
lures for the naval establishment, in
addition to other appropriations to be
expended. at the direction and in the
discretion of the president, $292,53s,-
790 was asked.
tn1r fhn IA
ferred to the appropriations commit
tee.
Discuss Army Plans.
Plans for raising an army were dis
cussed at the capitol today by Secre-
tary Baker and Chairman Chamberlain
of the senate military committee. 1t
was agreed to expedite the regular
army appropriation bill and the new
administration army bill.
The new army bill has been submit
ted to Senator Chamberlain and Chair
man Dent Of the house committee and
will be introduced in both houses, prob
ably tomorrow.
The principal provisions for raising
the new army follow:
Immediate recruiting of the regular
army and national guard to their full
war strength, about 100000 men, and
calling of all national guard units into
federal service. Compulsory enlist
ment to recruit both the regular army
and national guard to their full war
strength If voluntary enlistments are
not sufficient.
Increase of the present authorized
war strength of the regular army and
national guard by about 25 per cent to
provide an armed force at once OF
about 1 900, 900 men by compulsory ser.
vice II voluntary recruiting fails.
Increase by compulsory recruiting in
increments to about 100000 men
within two years.
All new enlistments, It is planned.
shall be for the term of the war with
Germany.
Taxes Not Decided.
Formulation of tax measures for the
war has not reached definite stage,
but there are indications that the treas
ury will endeavor to raise by one bond
issue as much Of the s3.400, 100000 ask
ed today as cannot be obtained by new
and increased taxation.
Unofficial estimates to federal re-
serve board officials indicate there
would be no great difficulty in raising
81, ,OOO, 900 900 at once by bond issue
at 31h per cent. Governors Of the
banks now in session here discussed
the contemplated issue today and the
interest rate.
Through present internal revenue
taxes the government will obtain ap-
proximately $750,000.000 this year.
Suggested increases in the inheritance
tax rate, 1t is estimated, would in
crease the return from that source
alone to $50o.oO0,000. One plan being
considered Is to raise the rate Of taxa
tion on large estates to 80 per cent.
The income tax, under existing rates,
will yield approximately sS25,000,000
this year. Lowering of the exemption
to $4,000 and increasing the rate on
large incomes-one of the proposals