Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-28
MAN-POWER BILL
PASSES SENATE:
UNANIMOUS VOTE
Work or Fight Amendment
For Registered Men Also
Is Adopted

Washington, Aug. 2S.-The Senate
late yesterday unanimously passed
the draft to include all men between
the ages of eighteen and forty-five
years. inclusive, and making IL pos
sible TO place an American army OF
nearly 100000 men In France before
July l. which General March. the
chief of stan, has declared can win
the war next year.
The new registrants will not be re-
quired to claim exemption because OF
dependency under the terms OF an
amendment. The Senate by a vote
of 80 to 90 also adopted the work-or-
light amendment.
Numerous efforts made oy oostruc-
tiouists to fix the low age limit or
nineteen. twenty or twenty-one years
were defeated by overwhelming ma
torities. and the bill was sent to con-
ference with no changes having been
rlade in the original measure as 1t
came from the War Department eX-
cept those sponsored by the Senate
Military Affairs Committee.
six Hours of Debate
The vote on the bill was taken after
six hours OF debate on succession or
amendments offered by the oostruc-
tionists and when II was finally re-
corded and Senator Salisbury presi-
dent pro tempore, announced the
measure had passed unanimously the
crowds in the galleries broke the
time honored rules of the Senate
chamber and cheered.
The bill may not be sent to Presi-
dent Wilson for his signature until
the end of the week as bitter fight
is expected TO develop in conference
over the work -or-fght amendment
The House voted the amendment
down. 9l to SO. and when the House
conferees are appointed to-day
they may be instructed TO refuse TO
agree to the amendment.
The bill as it was sent TO confer
ence fixes the draft age limits at
eighteen and forty-hve years and
gives President Wilson authority to
register and call the registrants ar-
cordins to classes that he may decide
upon.
The amendment requiring local
boards TO grant exemption to regis
trants because of dependency with
out having the registrants claim ex-
emption was introduced by Senator
Penrose. 1t was adopted without
rollcall and had the Endorsement Of
the Senate Military Committee.
It provides the local boards shall
determine in the first instance from
the answers in the questionaires of
each registrant whether or not any
person is entitled to deferment or eX-
emption without requiring registrants
to claim such deferred classification
or such exemption.
Boards to Settle Exemptions
II the amendment remains in the
bill as it is finally signed by the Pres
ident the local boards will go over the
Questionnairies of the new registrants
and decide whether exemption should
be allowed. Under the system en-
ployed in the twenty thirty
one draft the registrants themselves
were forced to put in their claim for
exemption in the auestionnaries.
Work or Fight Rule Adopted
The work or fight amendment, as
finally adopted. is a proviso to the
section OF the man-pOwer bill grant
ing exemption from military service
to men engaged in essential occupa-
tions or employment, including agri-
culture and follows:
This proviso shall not apply in the
case of a strike if the strikers have
submitted, or will at once submit. the
dispute TO the war labor board, agree
TO abide. and do abide, by its deci-
sion, and at once resume and con-
tinue work pending such decision.
The said board shall take up and de-
eide all such disputes as speedily as
practicable"