The Washington times., 1918-08-25
MAN-POWER BILL
PASSED BY 1856 TO2
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eminent places.
But the view OF the majority OF the
House was that while there may be
some basis for allegations such as
made by Mr.. Madden, on the whole
the adoption of such an amendment
as he proposed would be extremely
hurtful to Government activities as IL
would deprive many departments Of
great numbers OF indispensable work
ers.
Amendments beaten.
Not only was the Madden amend
ment beaten. but for the most part
efforts to amend the bift in essential
particulars were defeated.
And the House members themselves
who Friday evening valiantly adopted
the Gregg amendment to make
Senators and Representatives liable
to the draft before fnal passage OF
the bill, faced about and executed q
strategic retirement. They struck
out the Gregg amendment and thus
in effect went on record as taking
the view that the business OF being a
member OF House or Senate Is an es-
sential industry.
The "work or fight" amendment
was beaten in the committee of the
whole by So to 91.
Chairman Dent. Of the House Mill
tary Committee moved to recommit
the bill and add the Mckenzie amend
ment when II passed from committee
of the whole to the House proper.
The motion was beaten on q roll call
1914 to 146. Then, on a roll call. the
House passed the bill by 336 to 2.
= onA GnFdnn nf
Ohio alone voted no.
The Senate did not attempt to dis
nose OF the bill last evening, but re-
cessed until Mondey, when the House
biz will be substituted for the Senate
bill and considered. It will pass
Monday or Tuesday. The food pro-
duction bill, including the Norris dry
amendment, will be temporarily laid
aside. but will not lose its privileged
position. An understanding to this
effect has been reached between dry
and wet leaders.
The discussion over the Madden
amendment to make Government
clerks and employees liable to the draft
by preventing them from having de-
ferred classification on account OF
Government employment, was an ami
mated one.
CONGRESSMAN Miller OF Minnesota
opposed the amendment. He said he
was willing to admit many employees
NJ the Government here In washing
ton were not indispensable. and some
Of the bureaus had a surfeit and sur
plus OF employees. He thought an
empIoye ought not be exempted un-
less indispensable in fact to the Gov
ernment. But he believed the Mad
den amendment went too far.
80 TIlfnANw
that for his part he would assume that
exemptions made by heads OF depart
ments and other officials were In good
faith.
RIdIeuIes Iden.
Congressman Cox Of Indiana vigor-
ousIy supported the Madden amend
ment. He ridiculed the idea that the
81 ,2UO or 81 800 clerk or stenographer was
indispensable.
There are more slackers in Wash
ington this very moment" said Mr.. Cox
amid applause. than there are in the
city Of New York. with eight times the
He charged that large numbers OF
men between twenty-one and thirty-one
were filling jobs as stenographers and
taking places that ought to be illed by
the wives Of soldiers who are fighting
for their country"
Congressman Reavis took up the /
efforts OF the allies to make gas
which would be as effective as mus |
tard gas. and like that gas, a by
product
I'VE have boys in the Bureau Of
Standards and in the Bureau OF |
Mines" he said. that are right on |
the verge of discovering a gas that
will be as effective as mustard gas
and can be made a by-product."
He feared the Madden amendment |
would deprive the Government OF
the services OF these chemists.