Evening star., 1925-09-21
DRAFT LAW
AGREEMENT SOON.
Army and Navy to Settle
Differences Through Joint
Service Board.

d
lective service law to round out the ma
tional defense act have been referred to
the joint board of the Army and Navy
Tor the purpose of reaching an agree
ment. There Is hope in both depart
ments that such law will be enacted
at the coming session of Congress, in
order that they may have definite
legal status for their man power mo-
bilization plans.
Members Of the Officers Reserve
Corps of the Army also are taking an
interest in this final step to complete
the military policy laid down in the
defense act. Brig. Gen. John Ross
Delaf1eld. Ordnance Reserve, and
president Of the Reserve Officers' AS
sociation, has communicated the text
of the Army proposals to the State
Department and the national council
membership Of the organization in
order to focus attention upon 1t.
Expect Bill Soon.
This bill undoubtedly will be intro.
duced during the next session of Con-
gress. Gen. Delafield's letter said. 1T
such a bill is passed it is very likely
that it will become operative under
the governors of the several States,
and be administered by civilians. This
method unquestionably. Is the proper
one. selective service concerns-pri-
marily-the civilian"
The original War Department dSa fl
bill was prepared because of the need
felt for such an act in working out
detailed mobilization plans for the
Army. The defense act supplies au-
thority for the peacetime framework
of the three-feld-army plan, which has
now been twice subjected to muster
tests. but is silent as to where the
man power to fill up the ranks would
come from in an actual war emer-
gency.
The first rush would come as volun-
teers, many thousands of them, but
in mapping out a schedule for progress
sive mobilization paralleling the in
dustrial mobilization, for which the
act also provided. Army experts found
II necessary to assume that a selec-
tive service act would be passed and
be relied upon in attaining full mill
tary strength. The proposals now
under consideration in the form of a
proposed bill are based on those
assumptions.
Wide ConscriptiOn Favored.
Congressional committees did some
work on the general project at the
last session, but gave their attention
chiefly to American Legion sugEes-
tions that a blanket universal con-
scription act. applying to all forms Of
labor and capital, be enacted. War
Department approval of the universal
conscription theory was voiced to the
that the Army and Navy were con-
cerned only with man power for mill.
tary purposes and did not fee lqualifled
to go beyond that in laying defense
plans. The Army's proposed selective
service bill. not at that time ready
for Introduction pending final touches
and agreements with the Navy, was
given to the committee for their in
formation.
The bill, now in virtually final shape
for Introduction at the request Of the
Congress had declared q national
emergency to exist the President
might proceed forthwith to draft for
military service all male persons be-
tween Is and 80 years Of age or such
other age limits as he might fix. with
out deferment on account Of industrial
or agricultural occupation"
All males between Is and 46 would
be subject to registration except a
narrowly limited group including ac
tive and Reserve Army and Navy
Service, Public Health Service, Coast
and Geodetic Survey, foreign diplo-
matte and consular attaches who are
not citizens. A special provision for
registration by mail also is included
and all registered persons would re-
main liable for draft until the emer-
gency had ended.
Aliens Liable.
All aliens not subjects of enemy
states and who had declared their
intention of becoming citizens would
be liable to draft. but could be re-
lieved of that liability by withdraw
ing their applications for citizenship.
In such cases. however. they would
be forever debarred from becoming
citizens.
The usual exemption from draft of
the Vice President, members of Con-
gress, legislative. judicial and execu-
tive officers, both Federal and State,
Is carried and with it a clause cover
ing exemption from actual combat
ant service Of those persons holding
conscientious scruples against partic-
ipation in war. 1t is further provid-
ed, however, that no such person
shall be relieved from service in such
capacity as the President may de-
clare to be nom -combatant."
Exclusion from the draft or defer
red status would be authorized for
State and municipal employees, arsenal
and navy yard workers, customs and
mail service employees, ministers Of
the gospel and persons deemed by the
President necessary to the operation
of sea service in traffic held to be es-
sential to the public interest, the
President to exercise wide discretional
npWar in al cIoh caaeQ
Provision also would be made for
quotas based on population to equalize
the draft burden on all States, but
with estimates of quotas to govern
first allotments In the interest OF
speed, to be corrected to actual figures
in subsequent calls.
Section s of the proposed act pro-
vides for industrial furloughs to men
essential to industry and agriculture,
Government services and not as an ex-
emption from service. During the
period OF release from active duty
under such furloughs, men in that
status would not enjoy any pay, allow
ances or benefits such as pension
rights incident to active service.
The exclusion and deferment pro-
visions cover cases of those with de-
pendents and those found physically,
IIleHtdliy VI IHol oHy ocHSicHt, dnu Iii
putting the law into effect the Presi-
dent would be authorized to create all
necessary agencies, formulate all
necessary rules and regulations and
to employ the services of all Federal,
State or Territorial officers in what
ever capacity he might elect in It's
execution. Specific authority to make
complete plans in this regard in peace
time Is included and full power to
delegate his power as might be neces-
sary is given the Chief Executive.
Differences between the Army and
Navy on the form of the act revolved
largely about the naval authorities