The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-06
Is Introduced in Both
Houses by Chairmen
of Committees.
AGES ARE Is TO As
President Will Be Au-
thorized to Call the
Men in Sequence
Of Years.

Washington, August 5.-The war de.
partfnenfs new maa-power bill. to call
into the military service of the nation
all men between the ages of eighteen
and forty-nye was introduced In both
hsusese of congress today. senator
Cham beriain and Representative Dent
respectively chairman of the senate
and house committees and military
affairs, presented the draft of the bill
as soon the houses were called 20
order and the bill went 10 the com.
mitsees of which they are ehairmen.
Early action on the bill In looked
for In each house.
senator Chamberia has called HIS
committee tomorrow morning TO give
the first hearing to the measure. 1t
is not believed the committee will take
much time to consider Ii.
In presenting the bill in the senate.
senator Chamberlain said that he
would not he unwilling TO have the
recess terminated this week SO that
the senate could be- called back earlier
than the date set for the resumption
of its regular sessions, The recess IL
due to end August 20. but the urgent
nature of the measure may induce the
leaders to decide TO have the regular
sessions resumed next week, so that
the bill may he put ON the way 10
prompt passage.
The situation in the house In not 80
favorable for early action on the bill.
an nsest of the members of the military
affairs committee are out of the city.
Chairman Dent said this afternoon he
did not believe Ii possible 10 obtain
a quorum of the committee before the
end of next week
Estimate. submitted to Senator
Chamberlain by Provost Marshal-Gen-
&TAt fTnySder IN hnr ha mi
her of aghting men, which will he
added to the American forces by the
new bill will be slightly less than g.
100000. This. with the more than b.
oo1.0o0 now In training under
arms would raise the maximum f1ght-
Ing strength of the United States
army to mere than s,o08,oo0 men.
General Crowder recently told the
military affairs committee that by the
first of this month the totaE number
of men In service under the present
law would he 3,otso.oD0 and that $4,000
would he added by the draft up 10
next January. This would make the
grand total of men under arms by
January 1, 6.263. s45 provided the new
bill ns written became law.
Important provisions i'm the bill
aside from increasing the draft ages.
are that the president will be authorix-
ed to call the men out In sequence of
age. That Ia to say that IL he desires,
ne may call out those between the ages
of thirty-two to forty or all those of
the age of twenty. before calling out
persons between eighteen and nine
teen or between the ages of forty and
tort,-uve. .ae system follows that
in effect in some of the European coun-
tries.
Another change in the law strikes
out the words "iu industries Including
agriculture" and substitutes the words
ain occupations or empioyments found
to he necessary TO the maintenance of
the military establishment" etc. This
amendment In made to the section OF
the act which provides for the deferred
classification or temporary discharge
of persons engaged In useful work.
An amendment of the present law
is also made. to permit the president TO