The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-06
CONGRESS GETS
1915 DRAFT BILL
Continued from First Page.

Continued from First Page.
1s18-1s1s and calling for the draft Of
the proposed bill lowering the draft age
to 10 and raising 1t to 40, transmit
herewith estimates Of the electives OBJ
tainable by the enlargement Of the draft
ages in the shape Of three studies COW
ering age groups 32-l0 combined with
1890, 82-45 combined with 1920 and
32-45 combined with 1920 and showing
the estimated electives for each COM
blnation.
20. These figures were made by a
careful calculation in this once check
ing the calculations at various points
with experience In the several items rep
resented; the basic figures. viz, the
total males Of the respective age groups
liable insurance actuarial figures with
census tables projected to date.
Totals Lower Than Expected.
This explanation 10 made because
the totals shown are considerably below
what might have beeen supposed to be
the ample size Of the reservoir in the
higher ages. The combined ages 1910
and 1920 tsee study No. - designated
In your memorandum revealed only 4
little over 100000 men Cor half q
million less than the total amount called
for by tine programme. for the nine
months October. 1s1S-June, 1879
by including age Is at the top Of
the second combination (see study No.
~ would yield only l.75o.000 electives.
BY taking the extreme step and adding
age IS at the bottom and including age
IS at the top (see study No. - some
thing over 2.2b0.000 electives would be
obtained.
"3. This yeems to indicate that the
bill as drafted should at least provide
authority to call into service the ex-
treme age Of As at the top and IS at the
bottom; and II 10 accordingly recon-
mended that the draft Of the bill be
prepared With these ages as the limit.
-. Furthermore. the authority to call
upon this new reservoir must be obtained
Immediately. The estimated number Of
Glass men under the present ages land
including the class OF 1918 age Fl that
has been registered under the Presidents
proclamation) will be only about 1907
900 men (and may fall below that ng-
ure) on September /. 1913. after filling
the calls indicated for July and August
and making deductions for the unex-
pected heavy losses due to rush in
June and July to the navy. Marine
Corps and Emergency Fleet Corporation.
Urges Weekly Resistration.
go. September .Call-The first ques-
ton which presents itself is the very ur-
gent one how to meet the September call
for 100000 men with considerably less
than that number in Glass l to be drawn
upon. There IL only one way I can see
for accomplishing this and that is to
provide for weekly registration Of men
becoming 81 since last registration day,
June s. 1918.
I'VE couidDhold such registration az
ter proper proclamation by the Presi-
dent and upon O bulletin order to the
boards designating Monday Of each week
as registration day and requiring the
Necessary personnel to assemble at the
headquarters Of local boards on that day
TO effect the registration. The first reg
istration day would be a heavy one, re-
curing perhaps special personnel. but
the subsequent weekly registration days
should be handled with greater ease
"In this way We could hope to get I'M
der a rush procedure approximately s0.-
600 men available for the September
call. which added to those remaining in
Class I would give n total barely suffi-
cient to All the September call.
IS. We must exclude OF course from
consideration In filling the September
quota registrants who become liable to
our draft under the British and Cana
dian treaties. as It is not practicable to
have a registration OF these men until
August 20. thirty days after the ratifica-
ton Of the treaty--and II IL not until
thirty days thereafter that their right to
elect to service with the British and
Canadian contingents ceases.
Treaty VIII Give. Only 10000.
II. Subsequent calls: The second and
more difiicult question is--how can we
supply on time the $50, 900 men required
for each OF the succeeding months OF
October. November and December The
British Canadian treaty would help out
to the extent, It Is estimated, OF about
$4,000 men. which Is not even the con-
ventional drop In the bucket
THE House reconvenes on August 10
and the Senate on August 26 How
long period will be consumed In the
discussion an enactment OF legislation
authorizing the extension OF the draft
ages and In what form such legislation
will be enacted It Is dificult TO antici-
pate. And yet we must anticipate II we
under II which will produce on time the
quotas for tho. months above stated. II
we could assume that the law would be
enacted In the remaining days OF August
we would have a basis of calculating the
results to be obtained under It.
'As ! stated to the Senate Military
Committee at its last hearing mini
mum period OF ninety days Ia necessary
to enroll and classify all the men regis
tered in the additional ella sses suggested.
We cannot, therefore, wait for the COM
pletion of Glass l. but must take men
irrespective OF their order numbers as
fast as they ind their way into Glass
IS. suggest for discussion with the
military committees OF the two houses
the tentative form OF the bill hereto at.
tached TO the end that we may obtain
assurances that the bill will pass in such
form as will permit me to proceed with
the printing of the large number of
forms. including the questionable, nee
essary In connection with the additional
registration.
THE printing Office concentrates n
period OF thirty days for the printing of
the forms so II is necessary to move with
great promptness, OF course. the distri-
button OF the forms can go on during
the period OF the printing with the as
surance that they will not be invali-
dated by changes on the legislation.
September Repatriation Day.
Perhaps also we could receive as.
surances that the Legislation could be
enacted by the House In the period tol
lowing its recovering 40 that II could
be taken up promptly by the Senate on
August rs and passed there.