Office to cease when vacated. third, nineteen hundred and sixteen, or while in the service of the United States; but when such person shall become thereafter separated from the Officers' Reserve Corps for any reason, the vacancy so caused shall not be filled and such office shall cease and determine: Acceptance of lower Provided further, That any officer of the Officers' Reserve Corps called for service with his consent in a lower grade than that held by him in said Reserve Corps shall, subject to such physical examination as may be prescribed, be considered eligible for recommission in such lower grade. grade. Ordnance Department. Provided further, That the following provision contained in the Act of approved April twenty-third, nineteen hundred and four, "Hereafter all employees of the Ordnance Department whose compensation is annual shall be paid monthly," is hereby repealed. Monthly payment employees, repealed. pealed. Reenlistments. Restoration of enlist under call of 1916. Provided further, That the enlisted men who were discharged from ed men discharged to the Army to accept a commission in the National Guard, or in any accept commissions volunteer force that may be authorized in the future, at the call of the President, June eighteenth, nineteen hundred and sixteen, be restored to their original status upon reenlisting in the Regular Army: Provided, That they reenlist within three months from date of muster out of the United States Service, and that in computing service for retirement and continuous service pay, service as an officer in the National Guard, or in any volunteer force that may be authorized in the future, while in the service of the United States, be counted. Time limit. Service credit. Service credit .lowed hereafter. al Expenditures for buildings, etc., restricted. Civilian employees. Increased compensa ing not more than $1,800 a year. Provided further, That hereafter any enlisted man of the Army who shall be discharged to enable him to accept a commission in the Officers' Reserve Corps, or in any National Guard or militia organization, or in any volunteer force that may be authorized in the future, and who shall enlist in the Army within three months after the termination of his connection as an officer with that corps, or with any organization of the National Guard or militia, or a volunteer force, or during the continuation of his connection therewith, as an officer, shall, in computing continuous service pay now authorized by law, be entitled to credit for the period of time actually served by him prior to said discharge, and in computing service for retirement and continuous service pay, service as an officer of the National Guard, while in the service of the United States, service in any volunteer force, and service in the Officers' Reserve Corps in active service shall be counted. Provided further, That hereafter no expenditure exceeding $5,000 shall be made upon any building or military post or grounds about the same without the approval of the Secretary of War, upon detailed estimates submitted to him. Provided further, That, during the fiscal year nineteen hundred and tion allowed to, receiv- eighteen, all civilian employees in the Military Establishment, including on the lump-sum rolls only those persons who are carried thereon at the close of the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, shall receive increased compensation at the rate of ten per centum per annum to such employees who receive salaries or wages in such establishment at a rate per annum of less than $1,200, and increased compensation at a rate of five per centum per annum to such employees who receive salaries or wages in such establishment at a rate of not more than $1,800 per annum and not less than $1,200 per annum: And provided further, That so much as may be necessary for this purpose is hereby appropriated out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Proviso. Appropriation for. Public printing and binding. Vol. 28, p. 622, amended. Provided further, That section eighty-seven of the printing and binding Act, approved January twelfth, eighteen hundred and ninety-five Vol. 34, p. 762, (volume twenty-eight, Revised Statutes, page six hundred and twenty-two), and section two of the act approved June thirtieth, amended. nineteen hundred and six (volume thirty-four, Revised Statutes, page seven hundred and sixty-two), are hereby amended as follows: per "That in time of actual hostilities the Secretary of War may pro- establishments Work by private cure from commercial or other printing establishments, by contract mitted in time of war. or open market purchase, such printing and binding as may be required for the use of the Army and also for the National Guard of the several States and Territories and of the District of Columbia or other military forces while in the military service of the United States or about to be called into said service, payment for such printing and binding to be made from available appropriations." Navasota Transfer tracts for hay, etc. Provided further, That the Navasota Transfer Company, a copart- company. nership composed of J. T. Evans and A. J. Riesto, be, and is hereby, Relieved from conrelieved from further performance of its several contracts with the Government for the supply of hay and bedding at various posts and places in the Southern Department during the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, in view of the changed conditions resulting from the call into the Federal service of the Organized Militia and the National Guard of the several States, such conditions having resulted in greatly enhancing the price of the supplies and in making the performance of the contract inequitable and a matter of exceptional hardship on the contractor; and said contracts shall be regarded as closed, final settlement being made with the contractor at the contract price for the supplies already delivered under the same. Approved, May 12, 1917. CHAP. 13.-Joint Resolution Authorizing the President to take over for the United States the possession and title of any vessel within its jurisdiction, which at the time of coming therein was owned in whole or in part by any corporation, citizen, or subject of any nation with which the United States may be at war, or was under register of any such nation, and for other purposes. May 12, 1917. [S. J. Res. 42.] [Pub. Res. No. 2.] mies. Vessels of alien eneImmediate possession United States jurisdic to be taken of, in Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to take over to the United States the immediate possession and title of any vessel within the jurisdiction thereof, including the Canal Zone and all territories and insular possessions tion. of the United States except the American Virgin Islands, which at Exception. the time of coming into such jurisdiction was owned in whole or in part by any corporation, citizen, or subject of any nation with which the United States may be at war when such vessel shall be taken, or was flying the flag of or was under register of any such nation or any political subdivision or municipality thereof; and, through the United Operation for GovStates Shipping Board, or any department or agency of the Government, to operate, lease, charter, and equip such vessel in any service of the United States, or in any commerce, foreign or coastwise. ernment service, etc. Determination of value. SEC. 2. That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to appoint, subject to the approval of the President, a board of survey, whose duty it shall be to ascertain the actual value of the vessel, its equipment, appurtenances, and all property contained therein, at the time of its taking, and to make a written report of their findings to the Secretary of the Navy, who shall preserve such report with the records of his department. These Compensation. findings shall be considered as competent evidence in all proceedings on any claim for compensation. Approved, May 12, 1917. May 18, 1917. [H. R. 3545.] [Public, No. 12.] Army emergency in crease. Maximum strength to be immediately raised, etc. Vol. 39, p. 182. Temporary appoint ments thereby. CHAP. 15.-An Act To authorize the President to increase temporarily the Military Establishment of the United States. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in view of the existing emergency, which demands the raising of troops in addition to those now available, the President be, and he is hereby, authorized— First. Immediately to raise, organize, officer, and equip all or such number of increments of the Regular Army provided by the national defense Act approved June third, nineteen hundred and sixteen, or such parts thereof as he may deem necessary; to raise all organizations of the Regular Army, including those added by such increments, to to fill Army the maximum enlisted strength authorized by law. Vacancies in the vacancies created Regular Army created or caused by the addition of increments as herein authorized which can not be filled by promotion may be filled by temporary appointment for the period of the emergency or until Provisional appoint replaced by permanent appointments or by provisional appointments made under the provisions of section twenty-three of the national defense Act, approved June third, nineteen hundred and sixteen, and hereafter provisional appointments under said section may be terminated whenever it is determined, in the manner prescribed by the President, that the officer has not the suitability and fitness requisite for permanent appointment. ments. Vol. 39, p. 181. Termination of. National Guard and Reserve, drafted into service. Vol. 39, p. 211. Term of service. Second. To draft into the military service of the United States, organize, and officer, in accordance with the provisions of section one hundred and eleven of said national defense Act, so far as the provisions of said section may be applicable and not inconsistent with the terms of this Act, any or all members of the National Guard and of the National Guard Reserves, and said members so drafted into the military service of the United States shall serve therein for State designations re- the period of the existing emergency unless sooner discharged: Provided, That when so drafted the organizations or units of the National Guard shall, so far as practicable, retain the State designations of their respective organizations. Proviso. tained. Additional 500,000 enlisted men to be raised by draft. Selection of officers. Vol. 39, p. 190. Third. To raise by draft as herein provided, organize and equip an additional force of five hundred thousand enlisted men, or such part or parts thereof as he may at any time deem necessary, and to provide the necessary officers, line and staff, for said force and for organizations of the other forces hereby authorized, or by combining organizations of said other forces, by ordering members of the Officers' Reserve Corps to temporary duty in accordance with the provisions of section thirty-eight of the national defense Act approved June third, nineteen hundred and sixteen; by appointment from the Regular Army, the Officers' Reserve Corps, from those duly qualified and registered pursuant to section twenty-three of the Act of Congress approved January twenty-first, nineteen hundred and three (Thirty-second Statutes at Large, page seven hundred and seventy-five), from the members of the National Guard drafted into the service of the United States, from those who have been graduated from educational institutions at which military instruction is compulsory, or from those who have had honorable service in the Regular Army, the National Guard, or in the volunteer forces, or from the country at large; by assigning retired officers of the Regular Army to active duty with such force with their rank on the retired list and the full pay and allowances of their grade; or by the appointment of retired officers and enlisted men, active or retired, of the Regular To correspond with Army as commissioned officers in such forces: Provided, That the organization of said force shall be the same as that of the correorganizations author- sponding organizations of the Regular Army: Provided further, That the President is authorized to increase or decrease the number of organizations prescribed for the typical brigades, divisions, or army corps of the Regular Army, and to prescribe such new and different Provisos. Army. Changes of typical ized. organizations and personnel for army corps, divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions, squadrons, companies, troops, and batteries as the efficiency of the service may require: Provided further, That the Regimental, retained. number of organizations in a regiment shall not be increased nor Armored motor-car companies. Personnel. shall the number of regiments be decreased: Provided further, That Machine-gun comthe President in his discretion may organize, officer, and equip for panies. each Infantry and Cavalry brigade three machine-gun companies, and for each Infantry and Cavalry division four machine-gun companies, all in addition to the machine-gun companies comprised in organizations included in such brigades and divisions: Provided further, That the President in his discretion may organize for each division one armored motor-car machine-gun company. The machine-gun companies organized under this section shall consist of such commissioned and enlisted personnel and be equipped in such manner as the President may prescribe: And provided further, That cers. officers with rank not above that of colonel shall be appointed by the President alone, and officers above that grade by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate: Provided further, Coast Guard. That the President may in his discretion recommission in the Coast Guard persons who have heretofore held commissions in the Revenue- sioned. Cutter Service or the Coast Guard and have left the service honorably, after ascertaining that they are qualified for service physically, morally, and as to age and military fitness. Appointment of off. Former officers in, may be recommis Draft of additional Fourth. The President is further authorized, in his discretion and 500,000 men for trainat such time as he may determine, to raise and begin the training of ing. an additional force of five hundred thousand men organized, officered, and equipped, as provided for the force first mentioned in the preceding paragraph of this section. Recruit training Artillery organiza Fifth. To raise by draft, organize, equip, and officer, as provided units. in the third paragraph of this section, in addition to and for each of the above forces, such recruit training units as he may deem necessary for the maintenance of such forces at the maximum strength. Sixth. To raise, organize, officer, and maintain during the emer- tions to be raised. gency such number of ammunition batteries and battalions, depot batteries and battalions, and such artillery parks, with such numbers and grades of personnel as he may deem necessary. Such organizations shall be officered in the manner provided in the third paragraph of this section, and enlisted men may be assigned to said organizations from any of the forces herein provided for or raised by selective draft as by this Act provided. Personnel. Volunteer infantry divisions authorized. Provisos. Seventh. The President is further authorized to raise and maintain by voluntary enlistment, to organize, and equip, not to exceed four infantry divisions, the officers of which shall be selected in the manner provided by paragraph three of section one of this Act: Provided, Organization. That the organization of said force shall be the same as that of the corresponding organization of the Regular Army: And provided further, That there shall be no enlistments in said force of men under twenty-five years of age at time of enlisting: And provided further, That no such volunteer force shall be accepted in any unit smaller than a division. Enlistment age. Acceptance limited. Enlisted men. tary enlistment or SEC. 2. That the enlisted men required to raise and maintain the For Army and Naorganizations of the Regular Army and to complete and maintain tional Guard by volunthe organizations embodying the members of the National Guard draft. drafted into the service of the United States, at the maximum legal strength as by this Act provided, shall be raised by voluntary enlistment, or if and whenever the President decides that they can not effectually be so raised or maintained, then by selective draft; and all other forces hereby authorized, except as provided in the seventh paragraph of section one, shall be raised and maintained by selective draft exclusively; but this provision shall not prevent the transfer to any force of training cadres from other forces. Such draft as Other forces by draft. Basis of draft. Determination quotas. men in service. Army laws, etc. herein provided shall be based upon liability to military, service of all male citizens, or male persons not alien enemies who have declared their intention to become citizens, between the ages of twenty-one and thirty years, both inclusive, and shall take place and be maintained under such regulations as the President may prescribe not of inconsistent with the terms of this Act. Quotas for the several States, Territories, and the District of Columbia, or subdivisions thereof, shall be determined in proportion to the population thereof, Credits allowed for and credit shall be given to any State, Territory, District, or subdivision thereof, for the number of men who were in the military service of the United States as members of the National Guard on April first, nineteen hundred and seventeen, or who have since said date entered the military service of the United States from any such State, Territory, District, or subdivision, either as members of the Forces subject to Regular Army or the National Guard. All persons drafted into the service of the United States and all officers accepting commissions in the forces herein provided for shall, from the date of said draft or acceptance, be subject to the laws and regulations governing the ex- Regular Army, except as to promotions, so far as such laws and regulations are applicable to persons whose permanent retention in the military service on the active or retired list is not contemplated by existing law, and those drafted shall be required to serve for the Special and technical period of the existing emergency unless sooner discharged: Provided, That the President is authorized to raise and maintain by voluntary enlistment or draft, as herein provided, special and technical troops as he may deem necessary, and to embody them into organizations and to officer them as provided in the third paragraph of section one Local origin of forces and section nine of this Act. Organizations of the forces herein provided for, except the Regular Army and the divisions authorized in the seventh paragraph of section one, shall, as far as the interests of the service permit, be composed of men who come, and of officers who are appointed from, the same State or locality. Promotions cepted. Period of service. troops. to be considered. Bounty and substi tute prohibitions. Exemptions draft. Religious tions. from SEC. 3. No bounty shall be paid to induce any person to enlist in the military service of the United States; and no person liable to military service shall hereafter be permitted or allowed to furnish a substitute for such service; nor shall any substitute be received, enlisted, or enrolled in the military service of the United States; and no such person shall be permitted to escape such service or to be discharged therefrom prior to the expiration of his term of service by the payment of money or any other valuable thing whatsoever as consideration for his release from military service or liability thereto. SEC. 4. That the Vice President of the United States, the officers, Classes designated. legislative, executive, and judicial, of the United States and of the several States, Territories, and the District of Columbia, regular or duly ordained ministers of religion, students who at the time of the approval of this Act are preparing for the ministry in recognized theological or divinity schools, and all persons in the military and naval service of the United States shall be exempt from the selective exemp draft herein prescribed; and nothing in this Act contained shall be construed to require or compel any person to serve in any of the forces herein provided for who is found to be a member of any wellrecognized religious sect or organization at present organized and existing and whose existing creed or principles forbid its members to participate in war in any form and whose religious convictions are against war or participation therein in accordance with the creed or principles of said religious organizations, but no person so exempted shall be exempted from service in any capacity that the President shall declare to be noncombatant; and the President is hereby authorized to exclude or discharge from said selective draft and from the draft under the second paragraph of section one hereof, or to draft for partial military service only from those liable to draft as in this Noncombatant service not included. Other exclusions. |