Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-30
Shake-ups Predicted
In Selective Service
fIckes Gets Control
Opposition to Military
Nature Of Setup Is Cited !;
McNutt Dubious of Shift
By JESSE O. IRWIN

McNutf Dubious OF Shift
BY JESSE o. IRWIN.
While members of Congress were
predicting that President Roosevelt
may ind large part OF his cabinet
subjected to some lively criticism i,
ne goes through with a plan for q
three-way shift in order to place
secretary Of Interior Ickes in control
OF manpower, considerable specula-
ton was going on in administration
circles today as to whether Mr.. Ickes
would make administrative changes
IN the Selective Service System.
Informed sources said Mr.. Roose.
selt's plans include the shifting OF
seiective Service to the Labor De-
partment along with Mr.. Ickes and
making War Manpower Commission
Chairman Paul v. McNutt Secretary
of Interior.
Mr.. McNut', at a press conferences
today, however, said all he knew
about the plan was what he had
READ IN newspapers. He indicated
ne had not taken much stock in the
report he would be offered the In
terror post and that Secretary Of
LABOR Perkins would succeed him a.
FEDERAL security administrator.
McNutt- Hershey Rivalry.
since the creation of the War
Manpower Commission there ha,
neen rivalry between Chairman Nc.
Mutt and Maj. Gen. Lewis B. Her
shey, Selective Service director, in
handling manpower problems. The
selective Service System is a part
OF the commission but Gen. Hershey
Is known to have differed with Mr.
McNutt on policy matters.
Conflicting statements from Sc
iectlve Service on the possibility
that certain eligibles would be in
nucted and Selective Service pre-
election in August that the armed
forces would number 10000 900 men
are said to have been responsible
for much of the public's confusion
over the manpower situation.
Congress also has shown some
displeasure over the transformation
OF the Selective Service System from
q civilian to a military operated
organization, and over Gen. Her
sheys statement that his agency
was only "A filling station for the
Army" When the agency was Gre
ated in 1910, the President indi-
Gated that it would be a civilian
organization and he named Clar-
ence A. Dykstra, president OF the
University of Wisconsin, director.
Key Officials.
On the retirement of Mr.. Dokstra
control went to Gen. Hershey and
now about 100 of the key officials in
national headquarters are from the
Army, Navy and Marine Corps.
When Gen, Hershey appeared re-
Gently before the Senate Military
Affairs Committee, he was ques-
toned about the military control
and the presence of 10 military men
at his side while he presented his
testimony.
Asked at his press conference to-
day If he favored return OF Selective
Service administration to civilian
control, Mr.. McNutt said, Yes, most
emphatically yes"
The Selective Service director was
rebuked by the House Defense
Migration Committee because of his
statement that 80 per cent of the
directives sent from Washington to
the local boards found their way into
a wastebasket.
Mr.. 1ckes is reported to have taken
a considerable interest in the OPERA
tlon of the Selective Service system
and informed sources predict that
the organization is in for con-
siderable shaking up in the vent it
is placed under his supervision.
Mr.. 1ckes, it is said, has already
heen offered the post of Secretary
OF Labor and if he accepts. the Presi
dent would be expected to seek
Senate confirmation for his and the
other two nominations.
Opportunity for Congress.
Republicans, and some Democrats
already are anticipating this pro-
spective opportunity for discussing
the part the Roosevelt cabinet has
played in the war.
1t was pointed out that Mr.. Ickes
master at rough-and-tumble re-
partee. has left plenty of political
scars In his exchanges with leading
Republicans during his nine wears in
the cabinet.
himself a former Republican. Mr..
ickes has not been so much in the
public eye since the war began, how
ever. and his administration of the
interior Department has not par
tlcularly affected congressional blood
pressure.
On the other hand, Mr.. McNutt
mas been under fire for his handling
OF manpower problems and Secre-
tary Perkins often has been criti-
clzed IN Congress for not taking
forceful measures to end strikes and
other industrial disturbances. Sena-
TOR Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia has
declared several times in the Senate
mat little could be accomplished on
the labor front unless Miss Perkins
was replaced by man.
There were indications that the
Republicans might discuss the work
OF other cabinet members as well.
There has been a great deal of pri-
vate criticism among Republicans
OF Secretary of the Navy Knox. also
a Republican. for example.
Confirmation Seen.
At the same time there was little
doubt that the Senate would con-
hrm any changes the President
chooses to make in his official fam
lily.
Chairman of five congressional
committees yesterday reiterated
their approval of the proposal to
merge all manpower agencies and
operations within the Labor Depart
ment. These committees, headed
by Senators Kilgore of West Viz
glnia. Truman of Missouri, Murray
OF Montana and Pepper of Florida.
ana Representative Tolan of Cali
fornla, have been investigating va
rious phases of the Nations defense
effort.