The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-06
CONGRESS- GETS
BILL TODRAFT
MEN 18 TC45
Crowder Urges Haste and
Suggests Weekly Regis
tratiOnS of Men 21.
WILL AFFECT 1O,O28,975
But Exemptions Will Leave
Only 2.398.845-House
Likely to Fight.
Special Despotoh 10 The SuS.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.-The Admins
rations man power bill amending the
sslective draft law of May IS. 1917. was
srtroduced simultaneously in both houses
pf Congress to-day. 1t provided for the
ronscrpton, under terms exactly SINH
"a to those of the enactment which it is
9med 10 amend. of men between the
s.es OF is and As inclusive, instead Of
between 81 and 80 inclusive. as does the
sesent law.
Documents accompanying the bill upon
- introduction in the Senate included
letter from Provost Marshal General
Irowder which wis almost bitter in its
reflections upon the delays induced by
Secretary OF War Baker. In 1t Vas an
argument favoring the speediest action
sn the proposed law as necessary. man-
udtory and imperative, and directing the
attention of the Chief Of Staff to the
situation which the delays occasoned by
the Interference OF the Administration
with the movement In Congress to amend
the selective draft law through an en-
ectment embodied in the army appro-
priation bill last June have caused.
WsrniRg by CPOwdsr.
The Provost Marshal General made It
exceedingly clear that the maintenance
of a full reservoir OF man power for the
continuous supply of the army here and
abroad was seriously threatened now
through the enforced inactivity OF the
draft boards
The inference was very clearly con-
seyed that had the amendment to
the army appropriation bill intro
duced by Senator Albert B. Fall
New Mexico) been permitted to pursue
its course through Congress the threat
e1ed halt In the procession Of citisens
into the military forces Of the United
states would have been avoided.
The Fall amendment proposed to do
exactly what the newly presented meas
ure proposes to do. Differing only
ghtly in phraseology. 1t differed not
o. all from the proposed measure In its
effect, but at the time it was under
discussion all the power Of the Admins
fraton in the Senate was brought to
lear to defeat its purpose and eimini-
aate it from the bill
The Administration leaders were told
inat the Fall amendment was to be laid
aside because the Administration had a
man power plan all its own almost ready
~ be presented. Great was the surprise
in Senatorial circles when the similarity
Of the two measures was disclosed
Tsbulsted situation.
According 20 the figures which the
Provost Marshal General presented with
lls letter to the Chief Of Staff and upon
which the man power bill was intro
Cuced. the following Is the tabulated
situation with regard to the fighting
force which could be conscripted under
tne new age limits:
Total number OF male: in the United
States between the ages Of 80 and 45
ataIs inclusive l0,02S,975.
Total number OF married men between
eho'e specified ages: 7,734.4S2.
Deferred for industry inclusive OF
hericulture: 4Ol.15s.
Deferred for other reasons: 0l.44S
Gross remainder Of men between the
tses OF 80 and As, available for Glass
l,3slsS4
After deduction for aliens. enlist
Hents IN the army. navy and Marine
corps and listing by the United States
shipp'ns Boards Emergency Fleet Cor
poration and physical rejects: 601.236.
In other words, out of the 10,O28,s73
male citizens OF the United States be-
tween the ages OF 32 and As the incre-
ment to the fighting units of the army
VIII be scant 6 per cent. II was
quite different with the males between
IN" ages Of IS and 81. These figures
showed:
Total nuber OF males in the United
states between the ages OF IS and 20,
Inclusive. 3.l7l,67l,
Married and all other deferments,
272,S51.
Two Groups Give 2.38s,s4S. r
Gross remainder OF men between the
hses of IS and 30 inclusive available
for Glass / 2.sS9,317.
After deduction for aliens, enlist
inents In the army. navy and Marine
corps listing by the United States
shipping Boards Emergency Fleet Cor
poratIon and physical rejects; 1897, ,6O9.
The two groups OF new avallables
under the terms OF the proposed bill
viii therefore be 2,39S,S45.
Gen, Crowdef's letter explaining the
purposes Of the proposed amendment to
the selective draft law with a view 10
securing the necessary reserve force of
available fighting men was as follows:
-, ~ "July 81. 1913.
Il. Pursuant TO your memorandum of
July "a transmitting a copy (secret)
81 the approved military programme for