Evening star., 1942-03-25
Hearings Slated on Bill
To Pay Dependents
Of Service Men
Plan Involves Federal
Sum in Addition to
Compulsory Allotment

The House Military Affairs Com
mittee will start hearings within the
next 10 days or two weeks on pro-
posed legislation requiring enlisted
men In the armed forces to allot SIS
of their monthly pay to dependent
wives and children with the Govern
ment matching or bettering that
sum for an additional allowance to
families, it was learned today.
The committee has been waiting
for several months for reports on
the legislation to come from the
War and Navy Departments.
The War Department, 1t was
understood, made its report some
time ago and sent it on to the
Budget Bureau. At the committee
meeting yesterday it was decided
that If the Navy Department. which
has promised its report soon, does
not have 1t within a reasonable
length of time, hearings will be
started with Army officials first to
testify.
Support Claimed.
Interested legislators have claimed
War and Navy Department support
In principle for the compulsory
allotment plan and veterans or
ganizations are also said to be sup
porting it.
Representative Edmiston, Demo-
crat. of West Virginia, who intro
duced bill providing for a liberali-
zation of the allotment plan fol-
lowed in the last war, said he was
anxious for the legislation to go
through because thousands of men
now in the service have dependents
who should be taken care of.
Brig. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, di-
rector of selective service, also has
given informal approval Of this type
of legislation
Mr.. Edmiston pointed out today
that number OF men deferred
because of dependents would be re-
leased to the armed forces il pro-
vision was made for their depend
entS.
Hopes to Explore Views Soon.
Selective service officials. it was
understood. expected the War De-
partment to send to Congress a bill
of this kind when the 'Selective
Service Act was amended in De-
cember. The War Department. it
was said, had a proposal in mind
but has not presented 1t.
Mr. Edmiston said he wanted to
get the hearings started, that diff
ferences of opinion concerning the
amount of allowances could be
ironed out then.
The Edmiston bill provides for
compulsory pay allotments Of SIS
a month for enlisted men in the
Army, Navy and Coast Guard where
1t is proved they have a dependent
wife or child or an unmarried
divorced wife to whom alimony has
been decreed.
Would Embrace Others.
Allotments to others, such as a
parent. brother, sister or grandpar-
ent would be voluntary. Where
these were made, the Government
also would provide an allowance"
but in smaller amounts than under
the compulsory plan.
The bill would increase the 1917
laws allowance for a wife and one
child from S25 to $50 and for a
wife and two children from $32 so
to $40 The pay allotment from
the enlisted man remains at SIS as
it did in 1917. Also similar is the
SIS Federal allowance for a de-
pendent wife and its limit Of $50
a month for an allowance to any
one family.
Mr.. Edmiston indicated that legis-
lation to boost service mems pay
would 60 hand in hand with the
compulsory allotment plan since SIS
Is a large portion to take from a
S21-a-month enlisted man.