The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-08-08
PROPOSED DRAFT
BILL Will PASS
NEARLY 14O0O,0O MEN WILL BE
AFFECTED BY NEW
LEGISLATION.
AGE WILL BE is TO As
WAR DEPARTMENT URGES
SPEEDY ACTION TO BUILD
UP FIGHTING FORCE.

Thursday, Aug. Z. - The admins
tration manpower bill making men be-
tween the ages of Is and as (including
up until the forty-sixth birthday SUBJ
ject to the draft was introduced late
yesterday in both houses of congress
and Immediately was referred to the
senate and house military affairs COM
mittees.
The bill was accompanied by a let
ter from Provost Marshal Enoch
Crowder showing an additional 1885,
845 fighting men would be obtained by
the extended draft ages, raising the
strength of the American army above
6,OO0,OOO.
General Crowder's letter contained
an urgent plea for all possible speed
by congress in enacting the law. 1t
showed class l, of the draft is so near
exhaustion that weekly registration of
young men as rapidly as they reach
the age of 81 would be necessary to
fill the September quota. The letter
was singing Indictment of the de.
lays which have occurred in enlargirg
the draft age limits.
1t revealed an embarrassing situa-
tiontion with regard to recruiting
caused by Secretary N. D. Bakers re-
quest to congress early in June to
postpone action on the. proposed
change of the draft age and by the
subsequent action of the democratic
leaders of congress in binding both
houses to an agreement to transact
no business until late in August.
Upon the receipt of General Crow
der's letter the senate acted promptly
to prevent suspension of recruiting
The military affairs committee will
lake up the bill today, and if it be-
comes apparent that it can make its
report within a few days, notice will
be sent out to all senator's to be ready
for the transaction of business next
week.
When Senator G. E. Chamberlain in
troduced the bill Senator Charles Cur
tbs of Kansas, the Republican whip,
asked how long it would be before
the committee could report.
II ask this question with view of
making suggestion that if the bill
is to be reported within week sena-
tors may be called back and that we
may get quorum to act upon it as
soon as possible explained Senator
Curtis.
eff the senator will notify me when
the bill is ready to be reported I will
gladly notify the senator's on this side
and urge them to return that a
quorum may be had"
81 will state that entertain exactly
the same view and if we get the bill
reported out in few days we should
get a quorum together under the
unanimous consent agreement with
which the recess was had, and / shall
suggest the calling back of the senate
for its consideration" replied Senator
Chamberlain.
Representative S. A. Dent of Ala
bama, chairman Of the house military
affairs committee, did not share the
senate's views as to imperative neces-
sity for speedy action.
IT hardly think there can be meet
ing of the house military affairs COM
mittee until the house reconvenes on
Aug. 49," said Mr.. Dent. 1The bill
can be disposed of in committee in a
short time. The only possible objec-
ton will be against the new age
limits"
Mr.. Dent has always been opposed
to reducing the minimum draft age
limit. He has consistently hampered
all the draft legislation presented by
the administration. His statement
today indicated it probably would be
necessary for the republican members
of the committee, led by Representa-
tive julius Kahn Of California, to take
charge Of the bill, as they have been
compelled to do with practically all
draft legislation since the United
States entered the war.
The bill has the complete approval
of the universal service and big army
advocates. It is unlikely any substan-
tial amendments will be offered from
this quarter.
One of the bills provisions requires
the continued registration of young
men as rapidly as they reach the age
of 18. Members fayoring universal
service believe it will be easy to keep
this provision on the statute books
permanently.
In connection with General Crowd
er's letter, Senator chamberlain sub
mitted data prepared by the provost
marshal general, showing in detail the