Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-23
CONGRESS. TO RUSH
MAN POWER BILL
House Expected to Pass Measure
To-Day, and Senate
Tomorrow.
NEED ALL AVAILABLE MEN
Representative Kahn Declares
Those of Eighteen to Forty
Five Are Necessary.
IBy Associated Press. ]

WASHINGTON August 22.-Taking
up the man-power bill. changing the
army draft age limits to eighteen and
forty-flve, both branches OF Congress
to-day debated the measure. With the
leaders planning it's passage by the
House tomorrow and By the Senate
Saturday.
Spirited speeches urging that the
needed man power for the army. count
ed upon to crush the enemy next year
were made with crowded galleries
Discussion in both Senate and House
eentered upon opposition from some
to the colors. % The biii ~a Was 81 piloied in
the Senate and the House by chair
men of the respective military commit
tees. Senator Chamberlain. Of Oregon
and Representative Dent, of Alabama.
The former declared traditional the
policy Of subjecting boys as young as
eighteen TO military service and also
championed the work or fight" amend
Gcnt Of his committee.
Representative Dent, frankly admit
ting opposition to compulsory service
as policy defended the House COM
nittee'S amendment to defer until last
calls of boys Of eighteen and nineteeni
while Representative Kahn, of Cali
fcrnia ranking Republican member of
the committee. urged adoption of the
bill as originally presented without ty-
ing the hands OF the War Department.
He said all men between the proposed
ages would be needed.
An amendment proposing to make
the minimum draft age twenty instead
Kirby, of Arkansas. Senator Wads-
worth. of New York, offered an amcnn-
ment extending the draft 10 the navy,
while Senator CumminS, OF Iowa. Of
fered provisions TO postpone calling
youths and older men and also to mod
ify the work or fight plan. senator
France. of Maryland. sponsored an
n a. N Al mil "a
vice abroad for youths under twenty
one, but providing foi their draft for
military or other training.
ASKS FOR 100000 ARMY
IN RUSSIA AT ONCE
A vigorous speech in behalf of the
bill was made by Senator Reed of Mis-
souri,. who urged an army of 100000
Americans in Russia at once, and pre-
furnish 100000 or 100000 and under
go severe hardships of long war.
General debate closed on the bill in
conclude tomorrow in the Senate. Ac-
ton on amendments begins tomorrow
In the House.
During the debate senator smoot. of
Utah, declared he did not believe the
necessity exists warranting the taxi
ing OF q man forty-four years Of age
sons already In the army. That situa-
tion will exist in many Western States.
he said.
~ nao my MY Ny wouiu make tne
jected Senator Wadsworth. OF New
| York. The time will come when we
Will need every man we can Eet.'
Representative Olney, of Massachu-
setts, told the House that Provost Mar
shal-General Crowdcr advised him to-
| day the draft would produce only 1885,
600 in the qualified for military service
| class between the ages of thirty and
| forty-fivc. Representative Anthony, of
Kansas suggested that all controversy
! ever specifying classes to be called in
| order is useless, the War Depart
ment. if il chose. could call out one
Class after another few minutes
apart Q
| Arguments against calling boys of
| eighteen and nineteen were made by
| Representatives Fields. Kentucky:
Meeker Missouri. aud others. Repre-
| sentative Madden. of Illinois, suggested
! that il was more important to win the
irar than to quibble over who should
| go first.