The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-07-09
SENATE VOTES
DOWN CHANGE
IN DRAFT AGES
Overwhelmingly Defeats Army Bill Amend
ments to Extend Conscripfon to Men
Below Fl and Above 81 Years.

ments to Extend C0nscripti0n to Mel
Below Il and Above 81 Years.
WASHINGTON.I Immediate extern
sion of the present army draft age
limits, twenty-one to thirty-one, was
overwhelmingly defeated Friday in
the senate. The amendment pro-
posed by Senator Fall of New Mexico
to the army appropriation bill, to
make the limits twenty to forty years
and all compromises suggested for
different minimums and maximums,
were voted down.
Settlement of this controversy,
which has held the senate's atten-
ton for several days, cleared the
way for passage of the $4,000, 00O,-
900 appropriation bill.
Provides Aircraft Corporation
Besides disposing of the draft age
question, the senate adopted several
amendments to the bill. One author
lied organization of the 100000
900 aircraft production corporation
proposed by the aircraft production
board as vehicle for co-ordinatipg
aircraft production as shipbuilding
is co-ordinated by the shipping
board thru the emergency feet cor
poration.
Others authorized the plan of bas-
ing draft quotas on the number of
men in class l instead of upon state
populations, and affecting rights of
neutrals under the draft law. The
senate previously had adopted the
draft quota legislation, but it has
been held up in the house.
No Citizenship If Exemption Claimed
The amendment affecting neutrals
provides citizens of neutral countries
now subject to draft, who have de-
clared their intention of becoming
American citizens, shall not be elig-
ible for citizenship if they claim eX-
emption from the draft. This pro-
vision, offered by Senator Hitchcock
of Nebraska was adopted as sub
stitute for an amendment approved
by the state department providing
for exemption from the draft of all
citizens of neutral countries.
The question of extending the
draft age limits occupied almost all
of the senate session. A proposal by
Senator Hardwick of Georgia, that
the present minimum age limit of
twenty-one years be substituted for
the twenty year minimum of the
Fall amendment, was rejected, forty
one to thirty-three, as was one by
10 be nf oh fc RI
make the maximum thirty-five years
instead Of forty. Proposals by
Senator Brandegee of Connecticut to
reduce the minimum age to eighteen
years was defeated, and by Senator
New of Indiana, to make military
training of youths between twenty
and twenty-one compulsory also were
defeated.
Speaking in support of the age ex-
tension amendment offered by Sem
ator Fall, Senator Cummins of Iowa
said it was unexplainable why war
officials should offer any
to the proposal. Delay,
he declared, means that men are be-
ing sent into the army who should
not go.
Demands Army of 100000
Senator McCumber of North Da-
kota advocated extending the draft
so as to include all men between
eighteen and forty-five years of age
and declared for an army of $780,
900 Immediately.
Chairman Chamberlain of the mill
tary committee said emphatically
that the latter proposal was i'm
practicable.
We're not able now to clothe,
arm, train and otherwise equip
5 100000 men," said Mr.. Chamber
lain. He explained that altho fav-
oring personally immediate extension
Of the draft ages, he was accepting
the statements of Secretary Baker
and General March, chief of staff,
that it was desirable to postpone leg
islature because of problems of hous-
Ing, training. arming, clothing and
Conspiracy Against Concrete Ships
Senator McCumber said concrete
ships would help solve the tonnage
problem, but that before great pro-
duction Of these ships can begin IAN
everlasting conspiracy against them"
must be overcome. The shipping
board, he said, will not take the re-
sponsibility of building concrete ves-
sells unless directed to do so by con-
gress and the house committee leaves
the matter to the boards discretion.
Allied losses in men exceed 200,-
900 a month, the number of Ameri-
can troops sent to France, Senator
declared.
Between March FL, the day the
German drive began against the
to June 81, the day when
the German drive against the French
and Italians ended, the allies lost
In prisoners alone 225,000 men," he
"All of these came from
The fighting units. Other losses of
our allies were about equal to those
Of the enemy. This is not surpris-
Ing because Of the enemy's superior
artillery, deadlier gases and over
numbers. Our failure to
do better will prolong the war and
Increase its horrors. We can do
more"
Senator McCumber took congress
TO task for 'tabdicating it's duties"
and leaving the executive depart
ments to direct everything. Con-
gress he said has not once asked it.