Evening star., 1918-08-06
NEW DRAFT BILL
UP IN COMMITTEE
Senators Consider Broader
Provisions Relating to Pro-
lection of Industries.
GEN. CROWDER EXPLAINS

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Consideration of the administration
man-power bill extending the draft
ages SO as to include the men of the
country from eighteen to forty-five
years of age. inclusive, was begun by
the Senate military affairs committee
today. Provost Marshal GenerakCrow-
der was before the committee and
was closely questioned as to the need
of extending the draft ages at this
time. Following the meeting 1t was
explained that questions of policy
would have to be answered by Sec
retary Baker Of the War Department
and the chief of staff. Gen. March.
Both the Secretary and the chief of
stan have been requested to appear
is expected that the chief of staff
will be the witness tomorrow. Sec
retary Baker is out of the city, but as
soon as he returns he will be invited
to appear before the committee.
Statement by Mr.. Chamberlain.
Senator Chamberlain. chairman of
the committee. said today that 1t was
his purpose to expedite consideration
Of the bill. He said, however, some
members of the committee had a de-
sire to examine closely into the rea-
sons for the extension of the draft at
are 100000 men in the army can
tonments in this country now. II
they are sent across the ocean at the
rate of 100000 month. 1t would
take six months or more to get them
over. Members of the. committee
essary to cali further men into sery-
ice at this time.
Senator Chamberlain said he hoped to
be able to report the bill to the Senate
by Monday. but that he Is not sure how
long the committee would need to dis
cuss it. There was still talk today
around the Capitol of bringing Congress
back to resume its regular session at an
early date to consider the man-power
bill.
Provisions for Exemptions.
Broader provisions for exemptions
have been written into the new bill,
SO that the nations war industrial
fabric may not be upset by unduly
large Withdrawals of men over thirty
two years of age for military service.
Provost Marshal General Crowder
exlained today that he had deemed it
advisable to substitute the words
occupations and employments" for
the word Industries" used in the
existing law in the section affecting
Industrial exemptions. This, he said.
would make possible q more literal
Interpretation OF the law and prevent
the induction into the Army OF many
men performing essential work at
home. and yet not actually in indus
trial occupations. .7.s
Those to Be Subject to Draft.
If the bill is enacted into law as in
troduced- all males in the United
States between the ages of eighteen
and forty-ffve, inclusive, will be COM
PEELED to register. and all male citi-
zens and male persons in the United
States. not alien enemies. who have
declared their intention of becoming
American citizens, will be subject to
the draft.
This means that all male persons in
the United States. on the date as
signed for registration by the Presi-
dent. who become eighteen years old
and who have not yet become forty
six years old must be registered. 1t
has been suggested by Provost Mar
shall General Crowder that the regis
tration day should be September for
all those between the ages of eighteen
and twenty inclusive and thirty-two
and forty-five inclusive, the proposed
extensions in the draft ages.
As to Becoming Forty-Six.
Should September be set as the
that day has become eighteen years old
must register. Any male who on that
day has not become forty-six must reg
lister also. II he becomes forty-six years
old September S. 1918. he would not be
compelled to register, but II he does not
become forty-six until September s.
1913, he will be compelled to register.
Gen. Crowder in a letter to the chief
of staff. which was presented to the
Senate by Senator Chamberlain when
he introduced the bill yesterday.
urges the necessity for speeding up
the passage Of tie man power bill.
It may be that Congress, or the Sen
ate alone, will resume its regular
sessions before tt,s dates set for the
close Of the midsummer holiday by
pedite this legislation. Gen. Crowder
said in his letter:
Text Of Crowder's Letter.
THE first question which presents
itself is the very urgent one. How to
meet the September call for 100000
men with considerably less than that
NUMBER IN Class 10 De drawn upon
There is only one way I can see for
accomplishing this. and that is to
provide for weekly registration OF
men becoming twenty-one since last
registration day. June 5. 1918. We
could hold such registration. after
proper proclamation by the President
and upon a bulletin order to boards.
designating Monday of each week as
registration day. and requiring the
necessary personnel to assemble at
the headquarters of local boards on
that day to effect the registration.
The first registration day would be a
heavy one. requiring. perhaps. special
personnel, but the subsequent weekly
registration days should be handled
with greater ease. In this way we
could hope to get, under q rush pro-
cedure, approximately $4,000 men
available for the September call,
which. added to those remaining in
class I. would give a total barely sur
ficient to fill the September call.
I'VE must exclude, of course. from
consideration in filing the September
quota, registrants who become liable
70 our draft under the British and
Canadian treaty, as 1t is not prac-
ticable to have a registration Of these
men until August 20, thirty days aft
er the ratification of the treaty, and
it is not until thirty days thereafter
that their right to elect to service
with the British and Canadian con-
tingent ceases.
Subsequent calls: The second and
more difficult question is: How can
We supply, ION time, the 10000 men