Evening star., 1942-10-22
VINO May Ask
Defernlent Of
; Farm Groups
Act to Meet Lack
Of Dairy, Poultry
Livestock Workers
BY JESSE o. IRWIN.

rective to local draft boards call
ing for deferment from military
duty of several thousand workers
on dairy, poultry and livestock
farms in order to check a critical
labor shortage in these branches
of agriculture.
Meanwhile Secretary Stimson dis
closed that the War Department
is studying plans to resurvey men
in the Army with view to re-
leasing some who are physically
unequal to wars demands to in
dustry and agriculture.
Mr.. Stimson told his press con-
ference the projected resurvey
would consider the factors of
physical condition and the technical
qualifications of the men now in
service.
May Release Some Over 40.
If it is determined that some
over 40, because of these two con-
siderations are more valuable to
industry and agriculture, these may
be released, as replacements be-
come available from younger men, "
he said, adding that it was not
definite that the age 40 would be
the minimum considered
The Manpower Commissions re-
ported action on the directive came
as the chairman. Paul v. McNutt.
sought a conference with President
Roosevelt on the request of the
Senate Military Affairs Committee
for him to submit for the commit
tees examination a draft of the ad-
ministration's proposed manpoWer
control bill.
Expects to Be Rejected.
Observers believe the request
would be rejected. The administra-
ton is said to be questioning the
jurisdiction of the Military Affairs
Committee in holding hearings on
this type of legislation. Chairman
Pepper of Senate Labor and Edu-
cation Subcommittee has taken a
position that any manpower legisla-
ton outside the field of military
falls properly within the jurisdiction
OF the Labor and Education Com
mittee.
Senator Peppers subcommittee
has been holding executive hearings
on the manpower situation for the
last fortnight and was reported to-
day to be drafting a report on its
findings.
When Senator Hill, Democrat, of
Alabama, member of the Mill
tary Affairs Committee, requested
Mr.. McNutt to submit a draft of
his bill, the manpower chairman
insisted that was "a matter in the
hands of the Commander in Chief"
and IF I have his permission, or
at his direction, I would be glad
to come back before this commit
tee" Mr.. McNutt had previously
informed the committee that the
administrations bill could be ready
for submission to Congress within
two weeks.
Calls Bills Inadequate.
Mr.. McNutt said he was opposed
to the four bills now before the COM
mittee, branding them as made
quate." He requested, in effect, that
Congress wait until President Roose-
velt asked for the passage of the
forthcoming administration bill.
Majority and minority leaders in
the House have served notice that at
least that half of Congress will be
lacking both quorum and any in
tent to enact major legislation from
now until after the November 3
elections.
Effective Immediately.
The commission was reported to
have taken action on the farm
labor directive following lengthy
session late yesterday. The direc-
tive was to become effective i'm
mediately, informed sources say, but
before 1t is sent to the Selective
Service Administration, it will have
to be announced by the commits
sion's Management-Lab Policy
Committee which meets tomorrow
This is said to be in line with the
commissions policy of submitting all
matters to this group for approval
The directive, it was reported,
would be limited to trained workers
on dairy and livestock farms hav-
ing IL cows or more, but would al
low reasonable time for farms hay
ing eight COWS to bring their herds
up to the minimum requirement
of u.
An essential" poultry farm, the
commission is reported to have
ruled, would be one which is rails
ing a certain number of chickens
the minimum to be calculated by
the Department of Agriculture on
the basis of what would be equiva-
lent to the work OF keeping IL cows
Crop Farming Decision Delayed.
1t was reported that the commits
sion has decided to delay action on
classifying crop farming as an es-
sential industry. The decision is
reported to have been reached after
Mr.. McNutt informed Congress that
"our reserves of labor available tt
agriculture are not being fully anc
effective utilized"
The dairy, poultry and livestock
directive calls for occupation defer.
ments to workers only as long al
they remain employed on such
farms, it was reported. Migration
to war production or less essentia
farming would automatically enc
the deferment.
However, any dairy, poultry ane
livestock worker desiring to move
(See MANPOWER, Page AID
King Christian Worse
LONDON, Oct. % R-A Copen.