The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-08-22
AT WORK on MAN-POWER BILL.
Both Houes Hope to Pass the Meas
ure this Week.


ure this Week.
Washington, Aug. 20.-Both SEN
ate and house will begin considera-
ton of the man-power bill, extend
ing the army draft age limits to 1S
and As years, next Thursday under
plans completed late today, in a race
to complete the ilegislation as soon
as possible.
With the bill ready for senate de-
bate Thursday, the house committee
late today closed its hearings and
virtually completed the measure.
The bill, according to the COM
mittee's plans, will be reported to the
house tomorrow-with an amend
ment to defer service of youths 18
and 19 ye" of age until all others
are called-and discussed in the
house Thursday. An agreement with
Speaker Clark and Representative
Sims, Of Tennessee, in charge of the
pending man-power bill, to give the
man-power measure right of way
Thursday, was secured today by
Chairman Dent, who believes the
draft bill can be passed in a single
day.
Passage this Week.
Passage of the bill in the house
Thursday and in the senate by Sat-
urday is planned by leaders.
Vigorous contests, however, are
expected in both branches. In the
senate sharp debate is expected on
the work or fight amendment,
while in the house contest is brew
ing over the committees amendment
to defer calling boys of IS and 10
years, mandatory provision which
Secretary Baker, Gen. March, chief
of staff, and Provost Marshall Cen
eral Crowder have vigorously oppos-
ed. With both senate and house
committees pledged to lowering the
age minimum to 18 years, it ap-
pears the age limits will be fixed
as recommended by the war depart
ment.
Sentiment in Congress.
Sentiment in congress against call
ing youths found expression today
in the house committees amend
ments. After a stormy session, in
which Representative Kahn, of CAL
ifornia, led the fight, which he prom.
ised to renew on the house floor, to
retain the administration measure
provision giving the president dis
cretion to fix the order of calls for
all men within the new draft limits,
the committee voted to Z, to write
in an amendment offered by Repre-
sentative Mckenzie, of Illinois, Re-
publican, providing that all men 20
years and above shall be called be-
fore those Of 10 and 1S years, with
the 1S-year-old youths to be called
last. The last amendment makes
mandatory what Secretary Baker has
indicated will be the policy of the
war department.
The Mckenzie Amendment.
The Mckenzie amendment reads:
provided, however, that regis
trants of the age of 19 years and not
over 20 shall be designated as class
49, and shall be drafted subsequent
to registrants of the age of 20 and
over 20 years; and registrants of the
age of 1S years and not over 19
years shall be designated as class
49, and shall be called for service
last; those registrants above the age
of 20 shall be called prior to those
in the classes hereby created"
Representative Kahn and those
Joining with him in support of the
administration provisions vesting
authority in the president to estab-,
lish the order Of calls reserved the
right to oppose the Mckenzie amend
ment ON the floor of the house and
expressed belief that the amendment
would be rejected. Chairman Dent
and others of the committee, who ex-
pressed themselves as dissatisfied
with Secretary Bakers promise to
make regulations for separate class
for 18-year-old boys and defer their
call as long as possible, however, are
confident the house will retain the
amendment.