The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-14

ment or business and II he fails so
TO do, shall again become subject to
the draft, The president shall make
regulations for enforcing this provi-
sion
Fight Is Expected.
There may be sharp discussion
and possibly a spirited fight on this
amendment to the bill on the ground
that the war department asked for no
such legislation. The fact. however,
that the war department has virtually
the power thus granted undtr the pres
ent draft law ana regulations, and the
Reed amendment simply puts it
clearly within the law or will be urged
in favor of its adoption as q. necessary
safeguard. and members of the mill
tary affairs committee believe it will
be adopted as drawn along with the
rest of the bill, both the war depart
ment text and the committee amend
ments. The other amendments are
as follows:
/. The wife of a soldier or a sailor
serving in the present war shall not
be disqualified for any position under
the government because she is a mar
ried women.
2. Soldiers and sailors. regardless
of age, shall, when they are accepted
as volunteers or when they shall have
been drafted, be eligible to receive
commissions in either the army or
the navy. They shall likewise 90
eligible for admission to officers
schools, under such rules and regula-
tons as may be adopted for entrance
to such schools, and shall not be
barred from or disseminated against
on account of age.
Gets Free Education.
3. Any person under the age of
twenty -one who shall have been &C
cepted as a volunteer or who shall
/ have betn drafted and served in the
army or navy, shall be entitled at
the conclusion of the present war, to
receive an education at the expense of
the United States government at ap-
| proved educational institutions, and
the period of education shall be
| equivalent in point of time to the
period by him served in the army or
navy, but shall not exceed two years
Application for such educational
privilege shall be made within SIX
months, after discharge and the ap.
plicant shall begin his studies prom pit
ly after his application shall have
been approved.
Rules and regulations for carrying
out this provision shall be promuasat-
ed by the president. All Of the amend
fnents were proposed by Senator
Reed, with giving every soldier and
sailor, no matter what their age, a
fair deal, and also to give the wives
of soldiers and sailors an opportunity
to do work for the government, while
their husbands are in the service. Ger
tain positions in the government ser
vice are now barred to married wo-
men.
The effect of the amendment will be
to open the door to wives of men in
! military and naval service.
Under existing law, no man under
! twenty-one years old is eligible for a
| commission in the army, navy or
marine corps, Many young men be-
tween eighteen and twenty who
are now in the service are not eligible
/ for commissions or officers training
camps. The second amendment will
make them eligible for commissions
or training. TO be officers the sames as
older men. and will holdout bright
/ prospects to the young men in the
service and those who will enter the
service under the new law.
J The third amendment will provide
the educational advantages, that may
! be forfeited by reason of entering the
! service before attaining majority.
| Receives Favorable Report.
| Senator Cham berlain, chairman of
the military affairs committee, in an
nouncing that the bill had been COM
pleted, and a favorable report had
been voted, said
The secretary of war, the chief of
staff and General Crowder have ap-
peared before the committee on this
bill. They have shown to the COM
! mittees satisfaction that it's enact =
ment is absolutely essential to the
maintenance of an adequate army in
France.