Evening star., 1941-08-02
Substantial Majority
Sought in Senate for
24-Year Draft Plan
Sponsors of Army Bill
Trying to Line Up More
Votes to Impress House
By the Associated Press.

Senators who advocate extending
the training period of soldiers work.
ed today to roll up an impressive
vote of approval in the Senate next
week on legislation making the
Arrny's rank and file liable for ID
months extra service when their
present active duty period expires.
Confident that the opposition
could muster no more than 80 of the
chambers 96 votes, sponsors strove
to whittle this still further. Several
said privately they wanted sub
stantial Senate majority for the ef-
feet it might have on the House.
While Senator Thomas, Democrat,
of Utah said concessions had been
made in the hope of winning over
some doubtful Senators, opponents
made it plain they were not satisfied
by an administration compromise
move.
Backed by a bipartisan majority
of the Military Affairs Committee,
leaders proposed yesterday an
amendment which would permit
selectees, National Guardsmen and
Reserves to be kept in uniform two
and one-half years, instead of the
present limit of one year. If Con.
gress, however, decides that the ma.
tional defense required longer serv.
ice, the PRESIDENT could extend ths
additional service indefinitely.
Men who enlisted for three years
could be retained for a total service
of Az years. AS previously drawn
the bill would have retained al
Army personnel in service indefi-
nitely or until Congress terminated
the act.
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
one of the leaders of the opposition
group, said the new proposal was
not acceptable to him. Supporting
this stand, Senators Wheeler, Demo
crat. of Montana, and Vandenberg
Republican, of Michigan, said they
were willing to vote for an addi-
tional six months service for Sc
lectees, but no more.
Senator Taft said he would seek
a vote Monday on his proposal tc
retain selectees six extra months
and Guardsmen and Reserves fol-
an additional year. He predicted il
would have wide support.
Under his plan, Senator Taft said
release of selectees would not begir
until next April, when approx
mately $4,000 would be sent home
to be replaced by others.
With debate limitation in effect
when the Senate resumes considera.
ton of the measure Monday, leaders
said they hoped to obtain a vote
that day. or Tuesday at the latest
Republican members of the Hous,
Military Affairs Committee issued {
minority report on the draft legisla
ton asserting that "the danger Il
Our safety or security is no create
now than 1t was when the Nationa
Guard and Selective Service Act
became law" The facts, the mi
nority group declared, do not war
rant a declaration of a nationa
emergency as suggested by Presiden
Roosevelt and Gen. George c
Marshall, Chief OF Staff.
Meanwhile joint Senate -Hous,
Conference Committee yesterda.
approved legislation permitting th'
release from the Army Of selectee.
who were % or older on July l anc
who desire to return to private life
The joint committee cut out of tn,
bill disputed section which woulc
have given the President the powel
to take over industrial plants wher,
defense production had been dis
rupted by work stoppages.