The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-01-17
REGISTRATION FOR YOUTH.
Young Men Will be Classified as They
Become Twenty-One.

VI hSOp1AS 211iOo SiAO AcAAo VI
the war army. 1t was decided
against raising the draft age limit
above 81 years.
An administration bill was intro
duced at the request of the war de-
partment by Chairpan Chamberlain
of the senate military committee to
register for draft all men who have
reached 81 since June 5, 1917, when
the draft law became effective. q
The administration support seems
to assure its prompt passage. The
bill agrees with the recent recon-
mendations of Provost Marshal Cen
eral Crowder.
Other administration bills intro
duced today by Chairman Chamber
lain at the request of the war depart
ment will supplement the draft law
to make it workable under conditions
that have developed One would per-
nit furloughing national army troops
for harvest work or other civilian
duty; another would eliminate enc
my alien population from basis of cal
culations for draft quotas by making
the basis for each State, the number
of men available in class 1.
Recommended by Crowder.
Registration of men who have be-
come of age since the draft law was
enacted, was the recommendation Of
Provost Marshal General CroWder as
one of the means by which a supply
of men for the national army could
be obtained without taking those who
have other dependents on them. It
could be done also, General Crowder
pointed out, by extending the age
limits above the present line of 81.
The war department has adopted the
first suggestion. 1t is estimated that
it will add about 100000 men to the
draft available each year.
Congressman have been advised
that further legislation would be nee
essary to perfect and carry on the
draft and the passage of Senator
Cham berlain's bill with administra-
ton support is expected promptly in
both houses.
Another bill introduced by Senator
Chamberlain would provide distinc-
tive badge or button for exempted
| men.
The bill changing the basis of State
quotas is believed to provide a more
equita BILE system, as it will exclude
entirely enemy aliens from the basis.
Enemy aliens were included in the
basis for the first draft and there was
much complaint. Heavy enemy alien
populations in some congested dis
tricts forced Americans to army duty
regardless of exemption claims to
make up district quotas.
For Agricultural Work.
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
! principally to provide men for harvest
| time and other agricultural work vi
tai to the food supply.
To facilitate collection of private
insurance policies held by troops, an
other bill would require private in
| surance companies to accept the OIL
cial army record as proof of death
| of men among the army insured. 1t
is designed to meet the cases Of men
reported missing to which there is
no actual proof of death. In case of
payment by insurance companies up
on policies held by men reported
| ullSSluS anu VIII ldICl ohooAo opPSNA
the bill provides for reimbursement
to the insurance companies by the
government.
Exemption of the government from
payment of the new war tax on au-
tomobiles is the purpose of another
bill introduced by Senatr Chamber
lain to deal principally with the
large government purchase of motor
| trucks.
Arrangements have been made by
the war department to fill from the
second draft sometime this spring
the extensive vacancies in the coast
artillery, caused by the organization
J 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 a de-
| fciency of several thousand. Unless
some unforeseen emergency devel-
| ops organization of regiments for for