The Washington herald., 1918-08-22
MAN POWER
BILL UP NOW
FOR ACTION
Four Million Measure May
Pass Both Houses
This Week.


consideration today of the man-power
bill which is to add approximately
4,OOo, 600 men to the American fighting
force in France. 1t is believed the
bill will be passed by the House be-
fore the days session ends. while
passage in the Senate by Saturday is
confidently looked for.
The bill was reported to the House
yesterday by Chairman Dent OF the
Military Affairs committee. Three
committee amendments were made
and on these the fight will hinge in
the House rather than on the essential
terms of the bill itself.
The first amendment Is that offered
by Representative Mckenzie OF Hi
nois, directly that the men between
IS and 10 and those between 10 and ~
should be placed IN classes by them
selves and be last called into service
The second amendment was offered by
Mr.. Dent and provides that commits
sions shall not be denied to men un-
der q years of age The other amend
ment, offered by Representative Lunn
of New York. provides that the Sec
retary of War may assign such of the
drafted men as he may deem proper
to technical and scientific training.
Mckenzie Amendment.
The principal contest over the pro-
Visions of the bill will center around
the Mckenzie amendment, which
aims to place the younger regis
trants beyond the possibility of being
sent out of the country for service.
Mr.. McKenzie's idea Is that the boys
of the younger ages should not be
drafted except for the purpose o.
making up the reserve million
which is to be kept in America.
while the other eighty divisions are
sent abroad.
The high officials of the War De-
partment are opposed to the amend
ment because it seeks to tie the
hands OF the President in selecting
the men for service. Representative
Kahn, of California. will support the
War Departments view in fighting
the amendment on the floor of the
House
Mr.. Mckenzie will have assistance
in his fight to save the boys of Is
and 10 till the last. He had the votes
of eight other members of the COM
mittee on the adoption Of the amend
ment. Thousands of kilograms have
been received by members from all
sections of the country urging them
to support the Mckenzie amendment.
Mr.. Kahn Is confident that the
amendment will be defeated.
1t is probable an effort will be made
in the House to have an anti-strike
amendment similar to that adopted
by the Senate committee written into
the bill. In view of the stand pre-
VII 81. N~Nr
matters of legislation affecting labor.
however 1t Is not believed there will
be much chance OF success for this
amendment.
Senator Calder. of New York, made
public yesterday a letter received by
him a few days ago from Mayor
Hylan. of New York. urging the
adoption OF an amendment 10 exempt
members OF the police and fire de-
rartments from the draft. Mayol
Hylan writes that the city has al.
ready lost 700 policemen through the
draft, and that by the end of the year
at least 1000 will have been taken;
ultimately. he says. 2s per cent, or
$500 policemen. will be called unles.
the law is changed We
Urges Necessity Of Police.
Mayor Hylan calls attention to thu
great necessity of having adequate
police protection for the city on &C.
count of its strategic position, and
especially because of the presence OF
5000 enemy aliens In and adjacent
to the city. In the event Of disorder
breaking out, or attempts to injure
tho enemy alien dwellers, Mayor
Hylan points out. the results would
be very serious.
Senator Calder intends to confer
with Senator Chamberlain, Of the Nil
itary Affairs Committee. to see Il
some amendment covering the points
made by Mayor Hylan can be worked
out.