Evening star., 1940-07-24
Plan 10 Save
Draftees' Jobs
Given Hearing
Army Proposes to
Call 1,400, 900 Men
Within Year
BY ]. A. OLEARY.

BY J. A. OLEARY.
An amendment to the pending
compulsory military training bill
designed to encourage employers
to take back men called to Sc
lective service duty was outlined
to the House Military Affairs Com
mittee today by Representative
Wadsworth of New York, co-author
of the measure.
After Representative Clason, Re-
publican, of Massachusetts, had sug-
gested it would be merely "a sop"
because it expresses only the desire
of Congress to see the men re-
employed, Mr.. Wadsworth pre-
dicted it would be observed by the
great majority of employers.
Representative Kilday, Democrat,
of Texas joined the discussion to
point out Congress could set the
example to private industry by writ
ing into the bill the assurance that
Government employees called out for
military training would be given
civil service preference for re-em-
ployment.
Draft Plans Mapped.
Earlier Brig. Gen. William E,
Shedd told the committee the War
Department plans to call out !, 400 900
men for military training within
the year starting October If Con-
gresS passes the Burke e-Wadsworth
bill.
AS he testified it became known
from other official sources that the
department has set September / as
the tentative date for the first reg
istration, which probably would re-
quire enrolment of the group be-
tween 81 and 81.
Meanwhile the Senate Military
Affairs Committee continued in
executive session today. working out
details of the bill, which it approved
yesterday in principle.
Gen. Shedd told the House group
the program calls for enlistment Of
100000 men October /, another AGO.
900 next April and 100000 in Oc-
tober. 1941.
Thomson Approves Principle.
Representative Thomason, Demo-
crat, OF Texas, while approving the
principle Of selective service, said he
wanted to be sure existing condi-
tions justify calling that many men
out Of other walks of life at this time.
After Gen. Shedd had given the
number to be sent to camp this fall,
Mr.. Thomason expressed fear you
are going to disarrange a lot Of in
dustry" II 100000 are induced into
service in October after calling out
the National Guard.
Gen Shedd pointed out that If
Congress adheres to the one-year
training period, the first 400 900 men
called out this fall would return to
private life when the third group
Of 100000 is called in October. l94l.
Meanwhile, Senator Wheeler,
Democrat. of Montana joined the
ranks of opposition to the bill.
i am IN favor of obtaining the
men needed by voluntary enlist
ment,' the Senator said. II am
opposed to compulsory training In
time Of peace. That is the method
that was used by Mr.. Hitler, by Mr..
Mussolini and the other totalitarian
governments"
Defending the proposed declara-
ton OF the intent of Congress on
unemployment, Mr.. Wadsworth said
1t was his understanding that, un-
der the Constitution, Congress can
not 60 as far as to compel an en-
ployer to re-employ a particular in
dividual.
Favorable Sentiment Seen.
But I think it Is far more than
sop,' the New Yorker declared.
II think it will have the effect of
building up a sentiment throughout
the country that the overwhelming
majority of employers will support. -
Mr.. Wadsworth revealed that the
unemployment amendment already
has been included in a tentative
redraft of the bill, reading as fol-
lows:
Every man who satisfactorily full
fills his duties of training and serv-
Ice under this act, in the judgment
OF those in authority over him, shall
be entitled to a certificate to that
effect on the completion of his
period of training and service cit is
declared as the purpose and intent
of the Congress that every man who
is called from job when inducted
for training and service and who
receives such certificate and is in
sound physical and mental condi-
tion ought to be re-employed In such
job or an equally good one without
loss OF seniority unless the employ
er's circumstances have so changed
as to make it impossible or unrea-
sonable to afford such re-employ-
ment; and in order to aid in the
replacement of such men in their
former jobs, or If such replacement
Is impracticable, in other jobs the
director of selective service, herein
provided for shall, if directed by the
President, establish personnel divi-
sion with adequate facilities to the
end in view)."
When Mr.. Kilday suggested q