The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-06
House Receive. Bill CoolIy.

The reception OF the man power bill
at the Capitol was quite different in
the two houses. The Senate was cor
dial. the House numb
Quick action by the Senate was prom
| ised by leaders of both parties i'm
mediately the bill made It's appearance
In the House the reception was hardly
SO cordial and Chairman Dent Gala. &.
of the House Military Committee ex-
pressed serious doubt as to his ability
to get his committee men in line for
early action. Mr.. Dent thought II
would be impossible to obtain action
by the House Military Committee be-
fore the scheduled reconvening Of the
House. Aug. Is.
The willingness OF the Senate to get
down to business on the measure was
evidenced by the celebrity with which
the Chairman OF the Military Commit
tee acted. He called a meeting OF the
Committee on Military Affairs for to-
morrow morning and at the end of the
day was able to say that quorum
would surely be In attendance.
That the Republicans were ready to
bring the current recess OF Congress to
an end in view OF the necessity for
| rapid action now that Secretary Of War
Baker has finally permitted the plan
which Gen. Crowder drafted months
ago to see the light, was disclosed to
the Senate by the Republican whip.
Senator Curtis (Kan). Senator Curtis
| responded promptly to the call for action
which the presentation Of the measure
demanded. He said:
Il ask this question with a view to
making a suggestion that If the bill is to
| be reported within a week Senators may
be called back that We may get a
quorum and act on 1t as soon as posi- BILE
II the Senator will tell me when the bill
can be reported I will gladly notify the
Republican Senators and urge them to
| return that quorum may be had"
Senator Chamberlain--"I will state to
| the Senator from Kansas that I enter
| tain exactly the same views and II we
| can get the bill reported out In a few
days we should get a quorum together
under the unanimous consent agreement
| under which the recess was had, and !
should suggest the calling back OF the
! Senate for its consideration"
But Senators Chamberlain and Curtis
| ad met the original selective draft law
with the cordial spirit OF the Administra-
| tons demand In the House the bitter
| struggle had ragged and It was only with
the aid OF veritable phalanx OF Repub-
leans coming to the assistance Of the
Administration Democrats last May that
the bill had been TANNED through. At
that time the opposition to the selective
draft law rad been led by Chairman
Dent of the Committee on Military Al
fairs and the Administrations eight was
conducted by Representative Kahn. A
California Republican. Representative
Dent said to-day
Il hardly think there can be a meet
ing OF the House Military Committee UNI
cit the House reconvenes August 10,
There are only two or three members OF
the committee In Washington, the rest
are scattered all over the country and
hard to get back here. Tho bill can be
disposed OF In a stort time.
THE only possible objection would be
against Its new age limits"
AS the only mandatory portions OF the
proposed change In the existing statute
deal with the age limits exclusively, Il Ia
assumed In Capitol circles that the align
ment of 1917 will be reproduced In the
forthcoming Legislative battle. It is be-
lieved that only by the most strenuous
EFFORTS can the House be made to accent
the inclusion OF classes of draftess who
have not attained their legal majority,
1t is even predicted that amendments
to the proposed law will prevail which,
will ohligate the Government not to use
the junior element of the drafted army
for foreign service. and It may be possi.
BILE for the opponents OF the change TO
force n radical change in the bill while
II is before the House