Arizona republican., 1918-08-10
NEW REGULATIONS REGARDING DRAFT
 BEING CONSIDERED
Republican A. P. Leased WireJ

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-New draft regulations under which the govern ment would do the selecting rather than leaving it to the registrant, are under consideration by the war depart ment This was disclosed today by Secretary Baker after he had appeared before the senate military committee 10 urge prompt enactment of the new selective service act extending the age limits to include all men between the ages of IS and 45.
 The war secretary made it plain that he is not satisfied with the present system under which the registrant must claim deferred classification as many men with dependents hesitate for patriotic reasons to make such claim. In this connection MT. Baker said he was inclined to the opinion that the marriage relation will in itself constitute deferred classification.
 Secretary Bakers Idea
 What MT. Baker has in mind is to lay down a set of questions which the regisirant would answer and then have rules which would take care of the classification. He is understood to re- gard this as the fair and equitable system.
 The discussion on the draft ages be- fore the senate committee, MT Baker said. followed much the lines taken by General March, chief of staff, and Pro- Nost Marshal General Crowder. The committee, he added, did not indicate any disposition to question the neces- sity for the change.
 Work or Fight Order
 There was some discussion" MT. Baker said, as to whether it was the intention of the department to extend the work or fight order to include classes of persons in various profess sional occupations. l told them there was no present change of the work or fight order in contemplation. I said that when l decided the baseball case I thought perhaps other forms of amusement and entertainment might require an extension of the order to be on a parity with the baseball situation, but that was not in their mind.
 They had heard from outside sources that the department was con- sidering bringing professional classes, like lawyers. newspaper men and per sons who were not actually engaged in producing war supplies under the or der"
 Effect on Colleges
 The committee, MT Baker continued was especially interested in the effect Of the extension of the draft ages or colleges and also in the question as tC whether young men from IS up would be drawn indiscriminately in class one or placed in a deferred class by age and drawn later.
 T told the committee" said the wal secretary. that no fixed policy had been determined upon by the depart ment but that the purpose was to al low the president to defer in class one the call of the youngest men. 1 have always considered that 19 was the probable minimum and I have come tC the IS minimum only because it seem. necessary to get the men.
 Eighteen Seems Tender Age
 Not that 1 think men of IS are nee essarily too young. I think that his tory shows that boys from IS to 19 ar, immensely valuable, but 1 think there is a sentiment in the country whcf will look with very much more anxious regard on the boys from IS to 19 thar the boys from 19 to 20. Eighteen year: seems to many people more tender age than 19 and it is for that reason that we arc thinking of making thi: preferential defcrment of men from Il to 19."
 Senators said that in urging speedy enactment Of the new man power leg islation, Mir Baker had left to thu judgment of congressional leaders thu question of recalling the senate in ses sion before the expiration of the receS! program August 26.
 To ResuppIy Class One
 Mir. Baker told the committee, sen ators said- that the department wanted to carry cut the plan of registering tn men September fifth so that class on, could bc re-supplied. The present res ervoir soon will be exhausted.
 Secretary Baker was the last of tn, army and navy officials to be called before the committee begins consider alton of the new bill. No meeting vii hc held tomorrow. but the committe, will assemble Monday when an effor will be made to reach a favorable re port on tho measure