The courier-index., 1918-01-18
TO DRAFT YOUTHS
OF Il SINCE JUNE
WILL BE REQUIRED TO REGIS
TER AS SOON AS THEY BE-
COME OF AoE-31 TO REMAIN
AGE LIMIT.

Washington, Jan 15.--The govern
ment has decided on draft registrar
ton OF all young men as fast as they
become 81, as the means of keeping
filled the ranks of the army. 1t has
decided against raising the draft
age limit above 81.
An administration bill was intro
duced today at the request OF the
war department, by Chairman Cham
berlain of the Senate Military Com
mittee, to register for draft all men
who have reached the age OF II
since June 5, 1917, when the draft
law became effective. The admin
istration's support means its prompt
passage The bill agrees with the
recent recommendations OF Provost
Marshal General Crowder.
Other administration bills intro
duced today by Chairman Chamber
lain at the request of the war de-
partment, will supplement the draft
law to make 1t workable under con-
ditions that have developed. Ono
would permit the furloughfng Of
National Army units for harvest
work or other civilian duties; would
eliminate enemy alien population
from basis of populations for draft
quotas by making the basis for each
state the number of men available
in class l.
Registration of men who have b.
come of age since the draft law was
enacted was referred to the recent
report of Provost Marshal General
Crowder, one of the means by which
supply of men for the national
army might be assured without TAX
ing those who might have other
dependents 1t could be done, the
provost marshal general said. by ex-
tending the age limit above the pres
ent line of 81. The war department
has adopted the first suggestion. Il
is estimated that It will add about
100000 men to the draft available
this year
Another bill introduced by Senator
Chamberlain would provide a dis
tinctive badge or button for ex-
empted men.
The bill changing the basis OF
state quota is believed to provide .
more equitable system. as It will
exclude entirely enemy aliens from
the basis. Enemy aliens we're in
cluded I'm the basis for the first draft
and there was much complaint
Ioouxv o,ax,xv allan pnns.yoffono IN
some congested districts forced
Americans to duty regardless Of
exemption claims.
The bill to permit troops to go
to agricultural work merely would
authorize the secretary of war to
furlough men for civilian duty. How
ever that the war department In
tends to use the authority principally
to provide men for harvest time and
other agricultural work necessary
to the food supply.
To facilitate collection Of private
insurance policies presented by tho
troops. another bill introduced would
require private insurance companies
to accept the official army record
as proof of death OF men among
the army insured. 1t is designed to
meet the cases OF men reported miss
ing to which there is no actual proof
OF the death. In case OF payment
by insurance companies upon policies
held by men reported missing and
who later appear, the bill provides
for reimbursement to the Insurance.
companies by the government.
Exemption OF the government from
payment of the new war tax on auto
mobiles is the purpose OF another bin
introduced by Senator Chamberlain
to deal principally with the large
government purchase of motors.
Arrangements have been made by
the war department to fill from the
second draft some time this spring
the extensive vacancies in the coast
artillery caused by the organization
OF provisional regiments of mobile
heavy artillery for service in France.
A limited number OF men who have
particular aptitude for the spiral
work of the corps were obtained
from the first draft, but there II
still deficiency of several thousand.
Unless some unforeseen emergency
develops. organization of regiments
for foreign service In the corps win
not be carried any further than to
complete the units now In progress
OF development.
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