Evening star., 1942-07-30
Bill 10 Mobilize j. :,
Manpower Now Being
Drawn for President
Final Provisions of
War Measure Not Yet
Determined, EorIy Says

Iete'H'"eos curry ooyS
A bill setting up a system for
mobilizing all the Nations man.
power for essential war service is
being drafted for President
Roosevelt's consideration, the
White House disclosed today.
Stephen T. Early, White House
secretary, told reporters that a
study of man and woman power
mobilization, directed by the Presi-
cent months ago, was now nearing
the hnal stages, but that reports
about what might be proposed were
extremely premature, preliminary
and not at all conclusive"
McNutt Directs Study.
Paul V. McNutt. chairman of the
war Manpower Commission, is d.
recting the study and drafting of
the proposed legislation Mr. Early
said.
He added that the question of
what legislation might be needed
70 assure maximum mobilization of
the Nations energies for the war
enort had been under study for
about six months, and now has been
rather thoroughly explored, al
though no decisions have been
reached on any particular points.
On several occasions during recent
months. Mr.. Roosevelt has told press
conferences that such things as the
possibility OF registration of women
Tor possible war work and regula-
ton Of employment generally were
under study.
Mr.. Early said one draft OF
proposed bill was in the making
and was just now reaching the final
stage, but that no provision has
been finally approved or will be
until those working on the problem
confer with the President about 1t.
Registration Of Women.
In general the main provisions pro-
posed to implement the total man
power mobilization, it was under
stood, provide for the following:
!. Registration OF all women be-
tween the ages OF 18 and 65, which
would add approximately a, 2,o00, 900
names to the manpower list. It has
been estimated that about half
these women would be available for
service.
2. Subsidization for training for
college students in scientific and al
lied pursuits essential to the war
program and for others who could
be trained for essential work.
3, The power to move men and
women from one industry to another
or to freeze" them on their present
Jobs, with provision for wage safe
guards.
4. The power to order youths under
military age, who would also register.
to take training or go into industries
TO which they are assigned.
At one time q manpoWer bill un-
der consideration would have tied
the whole system around the selec-
tive service machinery, but It has
been generally agreed now that ad-
ministration would be by the Man.
power Commission.
Administration sources said 1t was
inevitable that the bill would be
taken to Congress. This might be in |
q short form merely giving the Presi-
dent the power to requisition per-
sons for war work or in a longer
form blocking out the regulations in
detail as was done with the Selective
Service Act.
Mandatory Power Sought.
1t was explained that the bill
would not only speed up the flow OF
workers into war industries, but
would also insure a more intelligent
basis Of selection. At present, it was
said, a technician in a civilian in
dustry would have to go looking for
q job in war industry and might
or might not land where he was
most useful.
While the bill would make service
compulsory, it was pointed out, Eng
lish experience has shown that COM
pulsion has rarely been necessary
once the power to compel was there.
Manpower Chairman McNutt has
said on several occasions that more
power would make his job easier.
Administration circles now feel, 1t
was said, that If the need for an
orderly mobilization has not yet be-
come critical, 1t will be critical in
the not distant future as the de-
mands Of both the armed forces and
war industries increase.
1t was pointed out that II the Sc
lective service act had gone to the
Hill when war was declared instead
OF more than a year before, 1t would
have taken weeks for Congress to
act and months for administrative
machinery to have been set up. This
was an indication that the admins
tration considers 1t necessary to
have the mobilization measure
ready. whether or not 1t is immedi-
Ately put into effect.
Rites Planned Tomorrow