The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-21
DRAFT MAY PASS
HOUSE TOMORROW
March's Words Dissipate All
Opposition to 18-45 Man
Power Bill.
OLDER ONES TO GO FIRST
Classification Of Married Men
ScOred-Lab0r Protests
Anti-Strike Clause.
OLDER ONES TO GO FIRST
A., Special Despdtch to TIE Sun.

wAsHINaToH, Aug. 2O.-The House
Military Committee will report the Ad-
ministra alton man power bill, tomorrow.
and unless present plans miscarry the
measure will be taken UP Thursday In
the House and passed that day. Chair
man Dent is authority for the state
ment that despite delays which have
been charged to the House in it's treat
ment OF tho bill to extend the draft
ages to 1s-45 years. It now appears
probable the House will pass the bill
before the Senate. The Senate begins
consideration OF TIE bill Thursday.
Rumors that anembers Of lie House
COMMITTEES who are regarded as pacis-
lists and anti-conscriptionists, such as
Representative Gordon tOhio), would
make night against the measure were
dissipated to-day. The testimony OF
Gen. March yesterday convinced the en-
tire committee OF the absolute need Of
the additional man power II the war Is
to be won quickly. The "anti-strike"
amendment to the bill adopted by the
Senate Military Committee was not dis
,cussed by the House Committee and will
not be.
The House Committee agreed on one
important and other minor amendments
to-day. This amendment provides that
all of the men In class above the age
Of II shall be called to the coiors before
those below FL years old shall be drawn
upon. The men between is and 81 years
old would be divided into yearly classes
and the youngest will be called last II
the amendment is not taken out by the
House. 80. -...
Mckenzie in Opposition.
Representative Mckenzie (nL). Re-
publican. opposed the amendment, which
was adopted by q vote OF 9 to 7. Chair
man Dent. although In favor OF the
amendment, did not vote because he
sawcit was Unnecessary.
| - A hot fight 10 strike this amendment
out of tina bIlt h certain to occur when
the bill gets into the House. The amend
mont is exactly opposite to the wishes
| Of the War Department and the Admin
istration and will accomplish little. &C
| cording to Gen. March. but cause a great
| deal of extra work in classifying men
by ages and calling them in that order.
| The Secretary OF War said yesterday
| that the Provost Marshal General Is at
work on a plan whereby the men in the
! higher ages would be called firA end
the youngsters last.
| The statement that all of the men in
Glass ] under the lower age registra-
ton would be called ''in the spring
anyhow" and the additional statement
that all of the Glass ] men would be In
camp from four to six months prior Ia
June 80 OF next year is taken by the
majority of the members OF the House
as adequate evidence that classification
by ages would mean only very short
respite for the younger men.
Another Amendment.
! Representative Mckenzie has another
amendment which the Military Com
mittee will vote on tomorrow before
reporting the bill. " will not have the
support of the chairman, and is another
thing to which the Secretary of War
and Gen. March yesterday voiced their
emphatic objections This amendmen,
would provide for Incorporation in the
law OF the present regulations in regard
to the classification OF married men
| This Is opposed by the War Department
on the ground that II would make the
law too rigid and that regulations cover
the ground a great deal more satisfac'
torily.
Chairman Dent will support an amend
ment TO make boys below 81 years ole
eligible for commission.
Frank Morrison, vice-president OF tn
American Federation OF Labor, wa!
heard by the committee in opposition Il
the anti-striBe amendment, but his argu
ments were rather beside the point a.
the committee had already decided to d.
nothing. about the propose. with which
the Senate will have to deal Mr.. Morri
son declared organized labor would bit
terly resent enactment of the anti-strik
amendment aimed Mt forcing striker
back to work or into the army. He sal,
it was an attack on the loyalty of Amer
loan workingmen and will make tn
world believe American workers ar
tslackers. Mr.. Morrison saw so.ns sin