Evening star., 1940-07-28

begin Wednesday. although there
may be an opposition move to post
pone debate until Monday, August
S. Chairman Sheppard said the
Senate Military Committee would
vote formally on its completed bill
Tuesday forenoon and predicted few,
If any. opposing votes.
Senator Taft indicated he would
work with Senators Vandenberg,
Republican, of Michigan; Wheeler,
Democrat, of Montana; Norris, In
dependent, of Nebraska, and numer-
Gus other Senators who have pub
licly criticized the committee
drafted measure.
Some Senators suggested that a
voluntary training program with
one-year enliStments instead of the
present three-year term for the
Army and National Guard, might
be offered as a substitute.
Senator Vandenberg predicted
that under such a system, 100000
American youths would volunteer
within three months, and great
l50-year-old tradition intimately re-
lated TO individual liberties would
be maintained.
When the American people are
put on conscript basis, what is left
to separate us from a complete
totalitarian war-basis?" he asked.
Registration From 18 to ga.
The bill, revised by the Senate
Military Committee, calls for regis
tration of all men between 10 and
"a. divided into these two classes:
Those between 81 and 45, to be
liable for active military training
for one year.
Those between Is and 81. and As
and "a. to be liable for training in
or near their communities IN 5Ach
home defense units as are now, or
may hereafter be, established.
Senator Minton of Indiana, DEM
ocratic whip, joined Senator Shep-
pard in expressing confidence Yes
terday the measure will pass, but
conceded controbersial debate viii
precede action.
Senator johnson, Democrat, of
Colorado, an opponent of the bill
in committee, admitted it would win
approval Tuesday. There are l8
men on the committee, and in some
quarters 1t was estimated not more
than three or four probably would
vote against reporting it,
Will Seek Public Hearing.
The House Military Committee
will strive to complete public hear
ings Tuesday and Wednesday,.
Chairman May plans to have Secre-
tary of War Stimson close the
hearings with general explanation
OF the need for selective training.
Although the Senate bill brings
all men between 2l and As within
the available class for Army or
Navy training. the intent of the
measure is that most of the trainees
be drawn from the younger end of
that range. 1t sets forth that the
ultimate objective shall be to draw
not less than 76 nor more than 81
per cent Of the trainees from the
age group q to 81: not less than
10 nor more than Is per cent from
the 81 to 38 group, and not less
than 3 nor more than per cent
from the age group 36 to As. War
Department spokesmen have indi-
Gated the initial registration would
be confined to men 81 to 80 if the
bill passes.
The argument Of those who are
considering amendments to confine
the training to younger age group
contend it would bring less disrup-
ton to men established in walks
Of life, and would prove beneficial
to those who have finished school
but are not yet permanently placed
in private occupations
Conflict in Contentious.
In conflict with this contention
Is the testimony presented by Owen
D. Young for the American Youth
Commission Of the American Coun-
Gil on Education. This commission
Endorsed compulsory military train
ing as vital to national defense at
this TIME, but took the position
that one of the reasons for a selec-
tive service plan is to avoid con-
centrating military service among
the unemployed boys who are most
willing to volunteer.
Accordingly that agency advised
against taking men below 81 for
full-tlmc training and recommend
81 i,, -,
ing them equally available should
be chosen by lot and called from a
wide range Of ages.
Supporters of the bill in its pres
ent form, with the wide range Of
age limits, also will point out as
the dnhate ,nrnnrnccec that tho 10