Evening star., 1942-12-04
Job Of MobiIizinq
Manpower Expected
To Go 10 Byrnes
New Labor Program
To Be Ready in Few
Days, President Reports
BY JESSE o. IRWIN.

Reports were circulated in
Congress today that President
Roosevelt might ask James F.
ByrneS, economic stabilization
director, to assume control over
the Nations mobilization of it's
labor force.
The President told his press con-
ference today that he expected to
have new manpower program to
announce soon. He would not
promise the exact time. but indi-
Gated it would come within a few
days He also said he would have
something soon on a food admins
traitor.
Mr.. Roosevelt. according to labor
sources, may confer With his AFL-
CIO Victory Committee early next
week on his reported plan to trans
fer the Selective Service System
to the War Manpower Commission
and to revise and strengthen Chair
man Paul v. McNutt's powers.
Labor sources are reported to have
been informed that Mr.. Roosevelt
plans to hold in abeyance his pro-
posal to concentrate all manpower
functions In the Labor Department
under Secretary of Interior Ickes.
Other authoritative sources have
substantiated this report.
McNutt 10 Retain Title.
Mr.. McNutt, who was slated for
the Interior portfolio, is to remain
manpoWer head, while the President
Is reported to be casting about for
an administrato tor to succeed Arthur
j. Altmeyer, the commissions re-
tiring executive director. The Presi-
dent is said by labor sources to be
desirous of obtaining a strong
man" for this position which would
be responsible for integrating selec-
tive service functions with other
WMP operations.
MIR. Altmeyer, an expert in en-
ployment fields, is preparing to de-
vote full time to his position as
Social Security Board chairman be-
cause the administration may seek
expansion and extension of insur-
ance coverage under the Social
Security Act. Mr.. Altmeyer is said
to be slated to guide the proposal
through legislative channels
1t is understood the President feels
the 1l-member commission is not
performing to the best of it's ability
and that Mr. McNutt's position
should be strengthened. Practically
each commission representative is
reported to be more concerned with
manpower problems within his own
jurisdiction than in working out a
policy of benefit to all.
Talks With Labor Leaders.
Meeting with labor leaders yester-
day, the President is reported to
have gone over several of the out
standing manpower problems and
Informed members he would request
them to return in three or four
days to look over his program on
paper. No action is indicated, it
was said, until his so-called labor
cabinet has had an opportunity to
@>'AS" eliC ACOl SdIllLd tlUIl UldU.
The chalrmen of five congressional
committees studying the manpower
situation hailed the report that Mr..
Roosevelt would transfer selectiye
service to VINO as a step in the
right direction The chairmen,
however, withheld comment of Mr..
Roosevelt's reported decision not to
place, at least for the time being, all
manpower operations in the Labor
Department.
Earlier in the week the committee
chairmen issued a joint statement
commencing the Presidents propo-
sal to restore in the Labor Depart
ment many Of its transplanted func-
tions.
The proposed transfer of selec-
(See MANPOWER. Page A-l81