Evening star., 1940-10-02
I Groups Excluded
From Benefits Under
Draftee Debt Law
Sponsors Of Revision
Cite Inequities Facing
Thousands in Service
By HAROLD B. ROGERS.

Dy uhnoAO ID INooAANS'
Unless the debt moratorium bills
now pending in the House are enact
ed into law, thousands of new volun-
teers and Regulars" in the military
establishments will be denied sub
stant;al benefits to be extended to
copScriptS,
Two versions of the legislation, IN
similar form, are before the House.
On the calendar is the revised bill
reported out by the House Military
Affairs Committee, whose report
came to light late yesterday. Also
in the House is the Senate bill which
passed the Senate on Monday with
some revisions from the floor.
1t was made clear in both cham
bers that the intent of both is to
extend the benefits of debt mora
torium to all men in all branches
Of the armed services, instead OF
conining such benefits to a re-
stricted group.
In emphasizing that volunteers
will get no protection In the absence
of new legislation, the House report
points out also the prohibitions that
will operate against other classes
unless the law is changed. All per-
sons in the military service, mclud-
ing those under the National Guard
Act and the Selective Service Act,
are denied benefits relative to public
lands, local property tax relief and
the guarantee of life insurance pre-
miums, which were included in the
Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act
of 1918; nor is any relief open to
Guardsmen and selectees for obh-
cations in the nature of mortgages
incurred subsequent to August q,
1910. and September is. 1910, the
dates of approval of the National
Guard and Conscription Acts.
Would Curb Harassment.
Az the House Committee explains
the measure, the purpose OF the leg
islation is to free persons in the
military service of the United States
from haraSsment and injury in con-
nection with their civil affairs dur
ing their terms of service and thus
enable them the more successfully
to devote their entire energies to
the military needs of tn Nation"
The method consists mainly in
euspending proceedings and trans
actions during the soldiers or SAIL
or's absence so that he might have
an opportunity when he returns to
be heard and to take measures to
protect his interests"
Necessity of the new legislation
vas explained to the Senate by
Senator Gurney. Republican, of
South Dakota. He pointed out that
under present law, which partially
re-enacts the old World War Law,
the only groups given any protection
are persons inducted or called into
active Federal service under the
National Guard resolution and
Selective Service Act
These include:
|. Officers, warrant officers and
enlisted men Of the National Guard.
2. Ofiicers. warrant officers and
enlisted men Of the Organized Re-
serves.
3. Retired officers, warrant officers
and enlisted men Of the Regular
Army.
4. Persons inducted into the land
or naval forces under the Selective
Service Act.
Seven Groups Excluded.
There are seven groups of men
excluded under present law from
benefits who would be covered by
the pending legislation. They in
clude
|. All persons who may volunteer
for the Army, Navy or Marine Corps,
Coast Guard, Navy and Naval Re-
serve, Marine Corps and Marine
Corps Reserve, officers of the Public
Health Service detailed for duty
with the armed forces, enlisted men
OF the Regular Army and officers
and warrant officers on the active
list of the Regular Army.
Examples of how men in the reg
ular services might suffer, with
out protection, and how there may
be discrimination among the va
r1ous armed services unless new
legislation is enacted were given
by Senator Gurney.
Taking, for example, enlisted
men of the Regular Army, the
Senator said:
AT first glance, there would ap-
pear to be no necessity for includ-
ing them =. They have man
aged to get along without such new
legislation ever since 1919, so why
Include them now?
Emergency Creates Problem.
During peace time, many enlisted
men, particularly those in the non
commissioned grades, marry. Their
ability to maintain families despite