The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-01-15
REJECT PLAN TO
RAISE DRAFT AGE
War Department, Requests Bill
for Registering Men Newly
Become Fl Years Old.

Washington, Jan. 15.--At the request
of the war department. today, Chair
man Chamberlain, Of the senate mill
tary committee, introduced a bill for
the registration for military duty of
all men who have become Fl years old
since June 5, 1917, when the draft law
went into effect. ~
mother bin which senator Cham
berlain introduced at the request or
the administration would provide for
furloughing national army men for
harvesting crops and other agrlcul
tural duty.
Another bill would put the quota of
the states on the basis of available
men in the first class instead of on
population.
In determining upon the registration
of men who have become Il since the
draft law was enacted, the war de-
partment has rejected any plan TO
raise the age limits Of the craft to take
in men more than 81.
Registration of men who have be-
come of age since the draft law was
enacted was recommended in the re-
cent report of Provost Marshal-Gen-
eral Crowder as one CT the means by
which a supply of men for the natlonal
army might be assured without taking
those who have others dependent up
100000 Each Year.
It could be done also, the provost
marshal general pointed out, by eX-
tending the age limits above the pres
.ent line of 81. The war department
had adopted the first suggestion. 1t Is
estimated that it will add about 70O,-
600 men to the draft availables each
year.. congressman have been advised
that further legislation would be neces-
sary to perfect and carry on the draft,
and the passage of Senator Chamber
lain's bill with administration sup
port, is expected promptly in both
houses.
Button For Exempted Men.
Another bill will be introduced by
Senator Chamberlain which will pro-
vide a distinctive badage or button for
exempted men. -
The bill changing the basis of state
quota is believed to provide more
equitable system, as it will exclude en-
srely enemy aliens from the basis.
Enemy aliens were included in the
basis for Il first draft and there
was much complaints Heavy enemy
alien populations irn some congested
districts forced Americans to army
duty regardless of exemption claims
to make up district quotas.
The bill to permit troops to go to
agricultural work merely would au-
thorize the secretary of war to fur
Tough men for civilian duty. 1t is
known, however, that the war depart
ment intends to use the authority prin-
cipally to provide men for harvest
time and other agricultural work vital
to the food supply.
Army Record as Proof of Death.
To facilitate collection of private in
surance policies held by troops, an
other bill would require private insur-
ance companies to accept the official
army record as proof of death of men
among the army insured. 1t is de-
signed to meet the cases of men re-
ported missing to which there is no
actual proof of death. In case. of pay
ment by insurance companies upon
policies held by men reported missing.
and who later should appear, the bill
provides for reimbursement to the in
surance companies by the government.
Exemption of the government from
payment of the new war tax on auto
mobiles is the purpose of another bill
introduced by Senator Chamberlain to
deal principally with the large govern
ment purchase of motor trucks.
To Fill Vacancies.
Arrangements have been made by
the war department to fill from the
second draft some time this spring the
extensive vacancies the coast ar
tillery caused by the organization OF
provisional regiments of mobile heavy
artillery for service in France A
limited number of men. who have
particular aptitude for the special
work of the corps. were obtained from
the first draft. but there is still de-
ficiency of several. thousand. I'm
less some unforeseen emergency de-
velops, organization of regiments for
foreign service in the corps will not be
carried any further than to complete
units now in progress of development.