Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-15
Another Bill Proposes Fur
loughs, for Drafted Men
to Harvest Crops.
CROWDER PROPOSED
NEW REGISTRATION
Estimated that About 7oo,.
600 Men will be Added to
Available Draft Yearly

Washington, Jan. 15.-At the re-
quest of the war department today
Chairman Chamberlain of the senate
military committee introduced q bill
for the registration for military duty
of all men who have become FL years
old since June S, 1917 when the draft
law went into effect.
Another bill which Senator Cham
berlain introduced at the request of
the administration would provide for
furloughing national army men for
harvesting crops and other agricul-
I 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 registra-
tiOn of men who have become 21 since
the draft law was enacted, the war
department has rejected any plan to
raise the age limits of the draft to
take in men more than 81.
WILL ADD 100000
MEN EACH YEAR.
Registration Of men who have be-
come of age since the draft law was
enacted. was referred to in the recent
report of Provost Marshal General
Crowder, as one of the means by
which supply OF men for the ma
tional army might be assured without
taking those who might have others
dependent upon them. 1t could be
done, also. the provost marshal gen.
eral pointed out. by extending the
age limits above the present line of
81. The war department has adopt
ed the first suggestion. 1t is esu-
mated that it, will add about 700, 200
men To the draft available each year.
Congressmen have been advised
<t~h $1,Av u 1{o1o ba -.
essary to perfect and carry on the
draft and the passage Of Senator
Chamberlain's bin 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. -
MORE EQUITABLE
SYSTEM PLANNED. "..
The bill changing the basis Of state
quota is believed to provide more
equitable: system as it will exclude en-.
tirely enemy aliens from the basis
Enemy aliens were included in the
basis for the first draft and there was
much complaint. Heavy enemy alier
tricts forced Americans to army duty
regardless of exemption claims tt
make up district quotas.
The bill to permit troops to go tt
agricultural work merely would au
thoriZe the secretary Of war to fur
Tough men for civilian duty. 1t il
known, however, that the war depart
ment intends to use the .authorit!
principally to provide men for harves
time and other agricultural work vita
to the food supply.
To facilitate collection of private in
surance policies held by troops, anoth
er bill would require private insurance
companies to accept the official arm.
record as proof OF death of mel
signed to meet the cases of men re
ported missing to which there is NJ
actual proof Of death. In case of pay
ment by insurance, companies upol
policies held by men reported missing
and who later should appear. the bill
provides for reimbursement to the In
surance companies by the govern
ment.
exemption Of the government from
payment Of the new war tax on auto
mobiles is the purpose of another bill
introduced by Senator Chamberlain t
deal principally with the large gov
ernment purchase Of motor trucks.
Arrangements have been made b.
the war department to fill from tn
second draft some time this spring tn
extensive, vacancies in the coast artil
lery caused by the organization
provisional regiments Of mobile heav
artillery for service in France. A linn
tied number OF men who have particu
lar aptitude for the special work o
the corps were obtained from tn
first draft, but there is still def1ci
ency of several thousand. Unles
some unforeseen emergency develops
organization Of the regiments for tor
eign service in the corps will not b
carried any further than to complet
the units now in progress Of develop