Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-10-21


squadron over the target
I'VE dropped to 1,045 feet before
present a draft bill on this subject
to the President
The flow OF manpower into the
armed forces through voluntary en-
listment prevents advance planning
for replacement of men and defeats
any plan for rationing skilled men
between the armed forces and civil
ian employment" he said, adding:
THE gap could be closed by chan
neling all inductions through the
Selective Service System"
Fundamental to the solution of
the agricultural manpower problem
he said. is the establishment by
fair rates of pay for farm workers
The wide differential between earn
ings on farms and earnings in al
tentative occupations is one of the
movement of workers out of agricul-
ture into industry, he added.
Senators Austin. Republican, of
Vermont, and Hill, Democrat, OF
Alabama, who have two bills to that
effect before the committee, de-
clared compulsory manpower mo-
bilization offered the only solu-
ton.
A different view was taken by Sen
ator DoWney, Democrat, of Califor-
mia, who told reporters that labor
draft would mot do the job"
West Coast Needs Labor.
west Coast farmers face disas-
ter unless we can find means of i'm
porting 10000 Mexican laborers to
help with the harvests,' Senator
Downey declared. adding:
Il doubt if compulsory regimenta-
ton of groups to work on farms at
low pay will prove satisfactory
How are you going to make them
work? How can you deny them
work in war plants or industry
without a closer equalization of
wages?"
Senator Austin's bill would put
the whole problem up to the selec-
tive service system, to which the
Manpower Commission and other
agencies would refer their require
ments, just as the Army now Goes
That would be equality for all
under the law" he said Soldiers
are not asked whether they want to
risk their lives when they are in
ducted.'
Senator Hill proposed the appoint
ment of a 'manpower czar" acting
under the President to handle not
only the distribution of labor. but
having authority to compel factories
to train workers for more skilled
jobs Of usefulness in the war effort
Hill Sees Need for Law.
Senator Hill said at the conclu-
sion OF Mr.. McNutt's prepared state
ment that he was more convinced
that there was need for such legis-
lation. He requested the Manpower
Commission to work with the COM
mittee in drafting a bill.
Mr., McNutt said it was only fair
to tell the Senators that the com
missions Misrepresentation Policy
Committee was not in agreement
with the bill drafted by the commits
sion. The committee maintains at
this time" he explained, there is
no need for manpower control until
all indirect sanctions have been
utilized"
Senator Austin asked a number
OF questions of Mr.. McNutt as to
the qualifications of Fowler v.
Harper, deputy manpower chair
man, and Bernard Gavit, the COM
missions general counsel, to work
on such legislation. Mr.. Gavit is
dean of law and Mr. Harper is pro-
lessor of law at the University of
Indiana.
Mr.. McNutt said they were men OF
great ability and outstanding in
labor relations
The Vermont Senator then i'm
piled that the Manpower Commits
sion was building up a big staff al
heavy Government expense wher
the selective service system was car.
rylng on its operations in the fielc
by voluntary method He asserted
that local draft boards were. capable
OF carrying on the selection of men
inducing into the Army those with
no essential skill, without interior.
ence from the Manpoyer Commits.
sion.
Ever Changing Picture.
Asked by Senator Austin if HI
had any basic plan, Mr.. McNutt re-
piled that no plan will ever b,
drafted because of the ever-changin.
labor and production picture"
Mr.. McNutt said much of thu
trouble concerning occupational de-
ferment was due to the policy O
selective service system of get tn,
man for the armed forces"
This is total war" he added
and we must have men to |produc,
as well as fight"
After questioning Mr.. McNutt TO
21a hours. the committee ordered
recess until 10 am Friday. The com
mittee requested Brig. Gen. Frank j
McSherry, chief Of operations of tn
Manpower Committee, to appear a
that time and give complete pic
ture Of the commission organiza
ton. s,-
Meanwhile, the District of Colum
bia and IS other areas were reported
to the War Production Board a