Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-08-21
YOUTHS UNDER 20 ID BE PLACED IN DEFERRED CLASS House Committee Restricts Call Under New Draft
 Measure. BILL IS SURE TO
 PASS THIS WEEK Sharp Debate Expected in the Senate on the "Work. Clause Roth Houses to Race
 on Bill.

and house will begin consideration of the manpower bill extending the army draft age limits to IS and 45 years, Thursday, in a race to complete the legislation as soon as possible. With the bill ready for senate de- bate Thursday, the house committee late today closed it's hearing and vir- tually completed the measure. The bill, according to the committees plans, will be reported ao the house tomorrow-with an amendment adopt ed late today by vote of nine to seven to defer service of youth IS to 19 years of age. until all others are called-and brought before the house Thursday.
 An agreement with Speaker Clark and with Representative Simms of Tennessee, in charge of the pending water power bill to give the manpow- CT measure right of way Thursday, was made today by Chairman Dent who believes the draft bill can be pass ed in single day.
 To Be Passed This Week. Passage of the bill by the house Thursday and by the senate by Satur- day is planned by leaders. Vigorous contests however, are expected, in both branches.
 In the senate sharp debate is ex- pected, on the "work or fight" amend ment, while in the house a controver- sy is brewing over the committees amendment to defer callink boys of IS and 19 years, a mandatory provision which Secretary Baker, General Mo ol, oc o%of o,,l ck Marshal General Crowder have vigor- ously opposed.
 With both senate and house com- mittees pledged to lowering the mini mum age to IS years it appeared the age limits will be fixed as recommend ed by the war department. Sentiment in congress against call ing youths found expression today in the house committees amendment. Call 18-Year-Old Last. After stormy executive session in which Representative Kahn of Cali fornia led fight which he promised to renew on the house floor to retain the administration measure provision giving the president discretion to fix the order of calls for all men within the new draft limits, the committee voted nine ito seven to write in an amendment offered by Representative Mckenzie of Illinois, Republican, pro- viding that all men 20 years and above shall be called before those of 19 and IS, with the IS year old youths to be called last.
 The amendment makes mandatory what Secretary Baker has indicated will be the policy of the war depart ment.
 It reads:
 Crowded, however, that the regis trants of the age of 19 years and not over 20, shall be designated as "class nineteen and shall be drafted sub sequently to registrants of the age of 20 and not over 20 years: and regis trants of the age of IS years and pot over 19 years shall be designated at class eighteen and shall be called for service last; those registrants above the age of 20 shall be called prior to those in the classes hereby created ' l Map Be Reieced.
 1 Representative Kahn and those join ing with him in support of the admin istration provision vesting authority i III the preSlQcHC CC eSldDIiSH Luc OIoci of call reserve the right to oppose the
 Mckenzie amendment on the floor o1 the house and expressed the belief that the amendment would be reject ed.
 Chairman Dent and others of the
 committee, who expressed themselves
 as dissatisfied with Secretary Bakers
 promise to make regulations for 2
 separate class for IS year old boys however, were confident tonight that the house would retain the amend ment. If adopted by the house sharI controversy in conference is expected
 as the senate bill retains the admins ; tration provision for executive discre tion in establishing calls. ;. Work or fight" legislation, Chair man Dent said tonight, is not con ttemplated by the house committee. ! The committee was said to tak' Ithe position that the legislation il
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