Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-18
DRAFT ACT PLACED 4
BEFORE PRESIDENT.
Only His Signature Needed to
Make Army War Bill
Effective.
COMPLETED BY CONGRESS

CUMFLEIED BY CONGRESS
President Wilson's approval was the
final step necessary today to make the
war army bill law.
As soon as the President signs the
selective conscription law passed last
evening by the Senate. and issues his
proclamation announcing the putting
into effect of the measure which is to
provide the first army of 100000 tho
machinery of the draft will be put in
motion.
AS preliminary. Vice President
Marshall and Speaker Clark signed tho
bill today after which it Went to tho
White House. The President was ex-
pected to sign the bill Immediately
ana TO issue proclamation fixing the
day for the registration of men for the
army. The War Department then will
set IN motion the machinery for rafs-
ing an army in increments of 100000
men from twenty-one to thirty Yeas
of age by se1ective conscription.
Senate Limits Length of Service.
After the army bill had been per-
fected in both Houses of Congress to-
day and sent to President Wilson for
ment proposed by Senator Smith
of Georgia to put conscription out of
force four months after the end of the
war.
The Smith amendment had the support
of senators who unsuccessfully fought
the conscription plan and fought unsuc-
cessfully to confine the new army to
'the duration of the war" instead Of
''the xisting emergency"
Senator Smiths amendment was adopt
ed without record vote. It provides that
the measure shall remain in effect until
four months after the President has issued
a proclamation announcing that peace has
been made.
Final Action by Congress.
Congress completed the legislation
late yesterday when the Senate apS
proved the conference report which all
redy had been approved by the House.
Senate debate on the report was fea.
tured by vigorous attack on Col.
Roosevelt by Senator Stone and
strong defense of him by Senator
johnson.
President Wilson will determine
whether Col. Roosevelt shall be per-
mitted to raise a>Xo2unteer expedition.
as authorized in the bill
Arrangements are completed in every
state of the Union for beginning thnl
work of registration. and telegraph Or
ders to start the work VIII be all that
is required. State. county and city
GERS either have received their sup
plies and complete instructions or will
receive them within q few hours.
As soon as practicable after the reg
Of men to be furnished by the states
and the District of Columbia will be
determined. The size of the various
quotas will be determined according to
,tnkf "a n6s ,f xrxfkH
the age limits fixed in the law, and will
be an arfthmetical task Of no me1n-
proportions.
Patriotic Demonstrations.
Registration day for service under the
war army bill will be made the occasion
for patriotic demonstrations all over the
country. The date soon will be fixed by
proclamation of the President, and
Secretary Baker, as chairman Of the
council of national defense. has asked
the state councils of defense to take the
lead. with the assistance Of the Chamber
Of Commerce of the United States and
the national committee Of patriotic and
defense societies. in making it memor-
able occasion. There win be celebra-
tionS in honor Of those who register,
with talks by governors, mayors. presf-
dents of chambers Of commerce and
patriotism.
Committees of men and women will
be at every registration booth to pin
an emblem on each man who registers
This may be red. white and blue rfb-
bon drawn through the buttonhole, or
possibly a button bearing the words,
81 am registered-are you?"
Camp Plans Completed.
Complete plans for housing $4,000
men at each of thirty-two divisional
cantonment camps in which the wsr
army is to be trained have been :
worked out by War Department Off
cials. and construction work will be
undertaken as soon as commanders OF
the military departments have dests.
mated the sites.
Twelve of the camps will go to the
new Southeastern Department. COM
manded by Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood.
making 264. 1000 troops assigned to that
department Six camps viii be estab-
lished in the Central Department. six in
the Southern, three in the Western.
four in the Eastern and one in the
department.
The building will be done by contract,
under supervision of army officers. Col.
7. w. Littell of the Quartermasters'
Corps has been placed in general
charge of construction by Secretary
Baker and has nearly completed thu
organization of his forces.
Will Build Thirty-Two Towns.
In effect the project is to build thirty. !
two towns complete with all necessary
equipment and facilities. 1t will require
S. .OO0, 900 feet of lumber. which was
adopted because the price of canvas is
so high and the supply SO short IL
tents We're used it would require two
sets year to keep the men
under cover.
There will be 1000 buildings in each
"a pnnpoepf These will iDc1nde nnar-
.ers for officers and men. stables, kitch-