Evening star., 1918-08-24
FEDERAL WORKERS
At DRAFT DEBATE
Man-Power Bill Amendment
Would Draw Them Into
War Service.
HOUSE GALLRIES FILLED

for military service Is before the
House today. with the prospect that
it will be passed before night. AS
reported to the House from the COM
mittee of the whole, this bill fulhlls
all recommendations made by the
Secretary of War and the general
staff.
The first amendment considered in
the committee of the whole when the
House met today was the Madden
amendment including federal en-
ployes in the draft. This amendment
caused a -for-all discussion when
presented late yesterday afternoon.
1t was argued with heat again to-
day. The Madden amendment pro-
vides:
What Amendment Provides.
That no person employed in any
of the executive departments of the
government, government establish
ments, boards or commissions, now or
of such employment from military
duty under the provisions Of this act
The galleries were crowded when
the House met today and thousands
OF government employees who would
be drawn into the military organiza-
ton under this amendment took ad-
vantage of their half holiday In the
government establishment to be pres
ent during the debate in the House.
Age Limits Fixed.
Draft age limits were fixed at eight
cen to forty-five years by an over
whelming vote by the House in the
committee of the whole last night.
Every amendment offered to favor
the boys of eighteen and nineteen was
decisively beaten.
bers voted to include themselves in
the draft. adopting an amendment
offered by Representative Gregg of
Texas to make every legislative and
executive official of the United States
government and of the state govern
mSets liable for military service. This
VIII affect 125 members of Congress.
Aliens who are subjects of any coun-
try allied with the United States in
the war are also made subject to the
draft.
In the midst of confusion and uproar
over a proposed amendment by Rep
resentative Madden of Illinois. to
draft, the House hurriedly adjourned
at Z o'clock, deferring the final vote
on. the rnan-power bill until today.
r Agriculture 10 recognised as an In
dustry essential tot war under an
amendment by Representative Camp
bell Of Kansas. approved by the House.
providing persons engaged in that
draft.
Dramatic Touches in Debate.
Dramatic touches were given the
debate in the House by Representative
Tilson of Connecticut. who called.
amid cheers. upon four marines in the
galleries to. stand in evidence that
youths of eighteen make excellent
soldiers. This was after Representa-
scented a small eighteen-year-o1 page
in soldier coat and trench helmet to
support his claim that eighteen-year-
olds are mere children. Representa-
tive Olney of Massachusetts, accused
the patriotism of the House members
during the debate by declaring Brit
ish and Fernch officers conceded that
1t was the American marines who at
Chateau Thierry stopped the German
rush in July and saved Paris.
Representative Olney said a cabinet
member told him Thursday the Presi-
dent was much interested in seeing
the original War Department program
amendment that would interfere. He
declared that as result of the allied
retreat before the last German drive
on the Marne two allied generals were
court-martia1ed and another commit
ted suicide. British and French OH
American marines. flanked by four
regiments Of American regulars.
saved Paris by refusing to retire at
Belleu wood before a dozen or If
teen Prussian regiments.
Boy VS.. Stacker.
Representative Hardy of Texas said
1t seemed to him a question as be-
tween the eighteen-year-old boy and
the Stacker and he was for the eight
een-yearold boy. .
Representative Meeker of Missouri
said the Marine Corps advised him
that the average age of marines in
the service is twenty-six.
rs it not shame" asked Repre-
sentative Chandler. New York, that
a nation Of 10000, 900 population can
without calling out the eighteen-year-
old boys?"
Representative Reavis of Nebraska
said France lost SO per cent Of her
soldiers and has not yet found 1t nec-
essary to call out the eighteen-year-,
old boys.
Representative Fess of Ohio said he
declined to vote to interfere in the
slightest with the efficiency of the or
ganization, and action of the Army
and that the only point to consider
Is how to end the war in the least
possible time with the least possible
loss.
Representative Longworth of Ohio
championed the War DEPARTMENT. 8
plan unchanged. and remarked that
the President had been compelled to
turn from the chairman of the mill
tary committee to Representative
Kahn of California. republican, for
support for the vital war necessity
as outlined in the bill.
The Senate resumed consideration
Of the bill. with the probability that a
final vote on the measure could not
be obtained until next week. So many
amendments have been offered which.
1t is believed. will lead to consider
able debate and prevent passage of
the bill today. However, the Senate
has made considerable progress with
the consideration of the bill and an
early vote il expected.
The amendment pending when the
Senate met today was one offered by
Senator Shields of Tennessee, which
provides that the civil service law.
rules and regulations shall not apply
to the wives Of soldiers and sailors
while their husbands are in active
service during the present war.
The purpose of the amendment Is
to permit the employment by the gov
ernment Of wives OF men in the serv-
ice without compelling them to take
civil service examinations and to
take their places on the civil service
commissions lists.
Amendments to Be Fought.
Amendments which are expected to
lead to furthAr debate are fhaaa AZ.