Evening star., 1941-12-19
CongressSends
TO
White House
Vote Comes Quickly
As Conferees Agree
Upon Age Limits
By J. A. O'LEARY,

A compromise agreement max
ing all men from 20 to A, in
subject to active military
duty won swift approval in both
the House and Senate this after
noon.
This sends to the White House
for signature the new selective
service plan, under which every
man from 18 through "a will be
required to register, to give the
Government a complete inven-
tory of the Nations man power.
Meanwhile, Senator Walsh, Demo-
crat, of Massachusetts, introduced in
the Senate legislation to increase
the authorized strength of the Navy
from 10000 to 100000 men and to
raise the Marine Corps strength
from 10000 to 104 900 men.
Enlistments Contemplated.
Attaches of the Senate Naval Al
fairs Committee said it was contem-
plated that the enlarged strength
of both services would be obtained
by enlistments, without resorting to
the Navy's newly acquired authority
to draw up $4,000 draftees to man
the feet.
The only dispute in Congress was
over the minimum age for induc-
ton into the Army The House ad-
vocated retaining the present min
imum of 81, while the Senate sup
ported the plea of President Roose-
velt and the War Department TO
start the draft for military duty
at 10.
Within two hours after the con-
ferees had agreed to meet half way,
on the age of 20, Representative May
of Kentucky and Senator Reynolds
of North Carolina. chairman of the
Military Affairs Committees, had
submitted the report to their re-
spective houses. Each branch ac-
cepted it without debate or q record
vote.
Action Follows Disagreement.
The joint Senate House Confer
ence Committee agreed on the age
limits after a morning session had
broken up in disagreement, with
Senate members at that time insist
ing that the age for induction be
lowered to 19 and House members
holding out for 81.
Chairman May of the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee said the
confereeS also had agreed to accept
other minor Senate amendments to
the bill, including a provision for
the payment Of $1,000 to qualified
survivors OF all men who have died
while on active duty with the mill
tary forces since last october 8.
The House two days ago insisted
on an age range of 81 to A inclu-
Sive for military service. although
approving the general registration
of all men between l8 and "a, inclu-
sive
The Senate, however, followed the
plea of President Roosevelt and
Gen. George C. Marshall. Army
Chief of Staff. for the 19-to-44 range
as being essential to Americas war
effort.
Brig Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, Sc
lective service director, has said that
final passage would be the signal
for prompt enrolment of men in
the under-21 bracket and those from
35 through A.
In a memorandum read to the
Senate, Gen. Hershey said his Of
flee already was making prepara-
ton to classify such selectees and
add them to the lists from which
men will be selected for active serv-
ice with the Army, Navy and
Marines.
Enlistments to Be Halted.
Secretary of War StimSon told his
press conference yesterday the Army
soon would depend entirely on Sc
lective service to expand its forces
to the greatest strength needed.
voluntary enlistments will be halted
as soon as the present rush sub
Sides" he said.
The Senate approved the l9-to-44
yesterday after six hours
of debate, with only Senators Dow
ney, Democrat, of California and
johnson, Republican. of California
it on the final roll call.
Senator Downey led fight to
send the bill back to the Military
Affairs Committee for a thorough
revision of its provisions, but with
drew his motion to permit action on
an amendment by Senator Danaher,
Republican, of Connecticut to fix
the minimum service age at 81.
This was beaten, 40 to 80, and
Senator Connally, Democrat, OF
Texas then proposed that men Of 10
and 20 be registered but their service
deferred until all eligible men were
taken from older age brackets. De-
feating this, AZ to 38, the chamber
then went on to turn down, AZ to
"a, a proposal by Senator Danaher
to make the minimum age 20.
Joining Senators Danaher and
Downey in the fight on the lower
age limits, Senators Taft, Republi-
can, of Ohio; La Toilette, Progress
sive, of Wisconsin and Norris, Inde-
pendent, of Nebraska said there
was no necessity for calling men so
young They contended that enough
soldiers could be obtained from
higher age classifications.
But Chairman Reynolds of the
Military Affairs Committee and
Senators Hill. Democrat, of Alabama
and Chandler, Democrat, Of Ken
lucky said the Army wanted young
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