Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-29
Monpower Control
To Be Civil Function
Writer ExpIoins Program
For Labor Assignments
On Production Front
BIZ Bertrdm Benedict.

By Bertram Benedict.
The third draft of a proposed ma
tional war service act has been sub
mitted to the War Manpower Commits
sion by Grenville Clark, New York
lawyer who drafted the Selective Service
and Training Act Of 1910.
At various times during the last ses-
sion of Congress, the administration
appeared to be on the point OF propos-
ing adoption of national war service
act" which would authorize q draft of
labor for war work and would freeze
dustries. Manpower Commissioner Nc
Mutt had repeatedly said such legisla-
ton was imperative" and Secretary of
Agriculture Wickard had expressed his
belief that no other adequate solution
OF the farm labor problem could be
found.
An executive order issued by the Presi-
dent on December S transferred control
of the Selective Service System to the
War Manpower Commission, ordered a
termination Of volunteering for the
armed forces and conferred new powers
upon the commission to regulate the use
of manpower in essential industries The
order was described as authorizing "a
further trial Of voluntary methods" in
the hope that compulsory measures
could be avoided.
The President explained the methods
of manpower control already in use in
a radio address Of October IL. ut may
be-" he admitted, that all of our volun-
teer efforts-however we'll intentioned
and well administered-will not suffice
to solve the problem. In that case, we
shall have to adopt new legislation. If
this is necessary, I do not believe the
American people will shrink from It,"
Bills to authorize draft Of manpower
had already been introduced in Con-
gress by Senators Austin, Republican.
Vermont; Quincy, Republican, South
Dakota, and Hill, Democrat, Alabama.
1t was conceded, however, that action
should be withheld until asked by the
administration. After conference at
the White House, October 20, 1t was an
nounced by President Green of the ALL
and President Murray of the CLIO that
national service legislation had been
shelved for the 1912 session.
The draft of new national service
bill, now under consideration at Wash
ington, appears to meet the demand in
kept in a civilian agency. AS long ago
as last August, the Tolan committee of
the House reported that q bill had been
drafted which would give authority to
the military to assign labor to factories,
farms and other essential war services
The committee opposed CONSUMPTION Of
workers until other methods had been
given a thorough trial. Compulsion,
whether applied by civilian or military
authorities, 1t said, was not q cure all
which would permit manpower to be
modified on the necessary scale. IF
the armed forces are forced to assume
responsibility for the added job of man
power mobilization. when the United
Nations are already confronted with a
bitter fight on far-fung battle fronts, it
may actually threaten the whole war
effort" The Presidents order retaining
control In the civilian War Manpower
Commission and transferring the Selec-
tive Service System to that agency was
in line with the committees recon-
mendations.
Whether the agency for mobilization
Of manpower would continue to be head
ed by Paul v. McNutt. If powers Of COM
pulsion were authorized by national
service legislation, is questionable. for
there is strong opposition to Mr.. McNutt
In Congress. The national service bill
now under consideration is said to provide
for appointment Of a director of national
service, with the War Manpower Com
mission retained as purely advisory
body" The director would receive a
salary of $4,000 a year, and his ap-
pointment would be subject to conflrma-
ton by the Senate. Grenville Clark
author Of the bill, said the director of
national service must command the
confidence Of the country: he must
have "a record Of demonstrated accom-
plishment and must be wholly disso-
ciated In the public mind from any po-
litical purpose or ambition"
a.