Memorandum to the Chief of Staff from Enoch Crowder - March 21, 1917

Transcript

War Department, Office of the Judge Advocate General Washington. Joint Resolution for Raising Force of 1,000,000 Men 6-010 March 21, 1917. Informal Memorandum for the Chief of Staff. In the event the Joint Resolution which I prepared for the Secretary of War last month, providing for raising a force of a million men, is to be submitted to Congress at the ensuing extra session, I suggest that the draft be revised after conference with the War College Division, as it may be there are a few omissions. During the past session there were transmitted to Congress many suggestions of new or amendatory legislation, a part of which were incorporated in the Army appropriation bill, which failed of passage. It occurs to me to suggest that so much legislation will be needed that it will be found difficult to pursue the policy then contemplated of relying upon riders to the Army appropriation bill. In all probability a separate bill will have to be drawn, which may later on be included as a rider, should Congress decide to adopt that course. It occurs to me to suggest further that if the work of preparing a separate bill should be entered upon at once, the time between now and the convening of Congress in special session --April 2 -- will be all too short for this office to do the part of the work usually devolved upon it in the most satisfactory form. [Signature illegible] Judge Advocate General. [Stamped] Office Chief of Staff Recd [March] 21 1917 To War College Division Rec