The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-22
mckenzie Amendment
to Keep Youths From
! Going Abroad.
bill IS UP TODAY
War Department Off
Gals Would Give the
President Power
OF Selection

Washington. Aug. 2l-Both houses
sbf congress VIII begin consideration to-
b,norrow Of the man power BIN which
is to add approximately -four million
shnen 10 the American fighting force
ksn France Ii is believed the hlN viii
be pass6d by the house before the
lsiay's session ends, while passage in
1.-THE senate by Saturday IS confidently
looked for.
The bin was reported TO the house
to-day by Chairman Dent. OF the mill
sary affairs committee Three corn
,nittce amendments were made and
on these the fight Will be made IN the
house rather than on the essential
terms OF the bin Itself.
The first amendment IL that Of
Tered by Representative Mchen-
xic. of illinois,. directing that the
men between eighteen and nine
teen and those between nineteen
and twenty should he placed in
classes by themselves and In last
called into service.
The second amendment VAS Of
sercd by MIR. Dent and provides
that commissions shall not he de-
nfei to men under twent y-one
years of age. Tho other amend
ment. offered ny Representative
LINN. of New York. provides that
the secretary of war may assign
such of the drafted men aS he
may deem proper to technical and
scientific training.
BOYS for Reserve.
, The principal contest over the pro-
,visions of the bin will center around
the Mckenzie amendment which aims
to place the younger reCistrants be
fyond the possibility of being sent out
of the country Tor service. Mr., Nc
fKenzies idea is that the boys Of tn"
younger ages should not be drafted
Except for the purpose of making up
k4he reserve million" which is to he
Kept in America while the other eighty
divisions are sent abroad,
The high officials OF the war de-
partment are opposed to the amend
'ment, because ii seeks to tie the hands
of the president i'm selecting tho men
for service Representative Kahn. OF
California. VIII support the war de-
partment's view in fighting the amend
ment on the floor Of the house,
Mr.. Mckenzie will have assistance
I'm his fight 10 save the boys OF eighteen
and nineteen till the last, He had
1.-THE votes of eight other members OF
the committee on the adoption of the
amendment Thousands of kilograms
have been received by members from
all sections of the country urging them
10 support the Mckenzie amendment.
Mr. Kahn is confident that the
amendment will he defeated and that
the house will vote to give the presi-
dent free hand in calling the regis
frants into service as they are need
ed.
Anti-Strike Amendment
II Is probable an effort Will be made
ct HI
amendment similar to that adopted
nv the senate committee written into
the bill In view of the stand pre-
lSfously taken by the house on all mat
ters OF legislation affecting labor, how
ever. it is not believed there will be
much chance of success for the
amendment,
Senator Calder, of New York. made
public today a letter received by him
few days ago from Mayor Hylan. of
New York. urging the adpotion OF an
amendment to exempt members OF
the police and fire departments from
the draft Mayor Hylan in his letter
SAYS that the city has already lost
700 policemen through the draft and
that by the end of the year at least
1000 will have been taken; ultimate
". he says, % per cent. or $500 police
men will be called unless the law Ii
changed.
Mayor Hylan calls attention to the
great necessity of having adequate po-
lice protection for the city on account
of its strategic position and especial
" because of the presence of $4,000
enemy aliens in and adjacent to the
city In the event of disorder break
ing out, or attempts to injure the en-
envy alien jewellers, Mayor Hylar
points out. the results would be yer,
serious The letter adds;
'It is unthinkable that the polic'
force Of this city should be otherwise
than up to the highest standard II
these momentous times, when UMPIRE
cedented emergencies are bound to oc
cur
Senator Calder intends to confer
With Senator Chamberlain. of the mill
tary affairs committee, to see IL SOM
amendment covering the points mad'
by Mayor Hylan can be worked out
Limited Aerial Activities.
London, Aug 2l.--Aerial activities
were limited yesterday. The British