Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-15
BILL PUT UP
WILL SUPPLY
100000 A YR.
Measure Introduced to
Place Youths in Draft as
They are Of Age.

washington, jan. lo.-AC the r0~
quest Of the war department today
Chairman Chamberlain of the senate
military committee introduced a bill
for the registration for military duty
Of all men who have become q years
old since June 5, 1917, when the draft
law went into effect.
Another bill which Senator Cham
berlain introduced at the request OF
the administration would provide for
furloughing national army men foy
harvesting crops and other agriculture
duty.
Another bill would put the quota Of
the states on the basis of available
men in the first class instead of on
population.
In determining upon the registration
OF men who have become 81 since the
draft law was. enacted the war depart
ment has rejected any plan to raise
the age limits of the draft to take in
men more than 81.
Will Supply 100000 Yearly.
Registration of men who have be-
come of age since the draft law was
enacted, was referred to in the recent
report Of Provost Marshal General
CrOwder as one of the means by which
supply of men for the national army
might be assured without taking those
who might have others dependent
upon them. 1t could be done also,
the provost marshal general pointed
out, by extending the age limits
above the present line of 81. The
war department has adopted the first
suggestion. 1t is estimated that it
will add about seven hundred thou
sand men to the draft availables each
year.
Es-- CQngressmep haze been advised
that further legislation would be neo-
essary to perfect and carry on the
draft and the passage of Senator
Chamberlain's bill with administra-
ton support is expected promptly in
/ both houses.
Button for Exempted Men.
Another bill introduced by Senator
Chamberlain would provide a dis
tinctive badge or button for exempted
men.
The bill changing the basis of state
quota is believed to provide a more
equitable system as it will exclude
entirely enemy aliens from the basis.
! Enemy aliens were included in the
basis for the first draft and there was
much complaint. Heavy enemy alien
populations in some congested dis
tricts forced Americans to army duty
regardless of exemption claims, To
make up district quotas.
The bill to permit troops to 60 to
agricultural work merely would au-
| thorize the secretary of war to fur
Tough men for civilian duty. It ID
known, however, that the war depart
ment intends to use the authority
principally to provide men for harvest
time and other agricultural work vital
to the food supply.
Death Fixed BY Government.
To facilitate collection of private in
surance policies held by troops
another bill would require private in
surance companies to accept the off,
cial army record as proof of death OF
| men among the army insured.
1t is designed to meet the cases Of
men reported missing to which there
is no actual proof of death. In case Of
| payment by insurance companies
upon policies held by men reported
missing and who later should appear
the bill provides for reimbursement
| to the insurance companies by the
! government.
! Exemption of the government from
| payment Of the new war tax on auto
mobiles is the purpose Of another bill
introduced by Senator Chamberlain to
deal principally with the large govern
ment purchase of motor trucks.
Second Draft in Spring.
Arrangements have been made by
the war department to fill from the
second draft some time this spring
the extensive vacancies in the coast
artillery caused by the organization
of provisional regiments of mobile
heavy artillery for service In France.
A limited number of men who have
particular aptitude for the special
work Of the corps were obtained from
the first draft. but there is still q
deficiency of several thousand. I'M
less some unforeseen emergency de-
velops. organization Of regiments for
foreign service in the corps will not
be carried any further than to COM