Evening star., 1942-03-23
McKe||ar Exempts
Defense Training in
Bill Ending n. Y. A.
Would Shift Activity
To Education Office,
Cut Fund to Is Million
BY J. A. OLEARY.


Senator McKellar, Democrat, Of
Tennessee, today modified his bill
for complete abolition of functions
of the National Youth Administra-
tion so that vocational defense train
ing might be continued. The ap-
preparation for this training. how
ever, would be limited to $25, 900 900,
whereas the current N. Y. A. appro-
priation is $151 ,767 900.
The amendment. offered as the
Senate Education Committee began
hearings on the future both of N Y.
A. and the Civilian Conservation
Corps, further provide that the N.
Y. A. vocational training would be
transferred to the Office of Edu-
cation.
Before submitting the amend
ment, Senator McKellar charged
that N Y. AS publicity Office had
been very active" in attempting to
keep youth rolls at the present level.
Senator McKellar said the en-
trance of this country into the war
since he drafted the bill has led
him to conclude the defense voca-
tional training work should con-
tinue. He provided, however, that
it be limited to defense schools in
operation on December /, 1941.
Senator Taft, Republican. of Ohio
suggested a further amendment to
require the Office of Education to
do the training through State and
county vocational schools, as that
office now operate.
He told the committee that the
N. Y. A. was undertaking to ad-
vertise and work in every way in the
world to keep its appropriations at
the highest point possible"
Senator McKellar said that while
N. Y. A. and C. c. C. had been
perfectly proper" governmental
activities during depression years,
that time no longer exists" and to
maintain them when jobs were
plentiful and men needed in the
armed forces is "indefensible
The Senator read a letter from
Aubrey Williams, NJ Y. A. admin
1strator, to the New Jersey State
administrator, written prior to the
United States entry into the war,
which urged that vacancies left by
N. Y. A. workers who obtained jobs
in private industry be Immediately
filled.
The letter asked consideration of
IAN intensive drive to speed up the
process of registration.
Il don't believe" Senator Nickel
lar observed, that any Government
Official who is dealing with giving
out Government benefits ought to
advertise in any way to get people
to accept those benefits"
Senator McKellar said the Gov
ernment needed all the money it
could raise to carry on the war
against the Axis.
IF we are defeated by those ma
tions," he said, what good will bene-
fits of this kind going to the youth
of our country do them?"
Senator McKellar also asserted
that N. Y. A. was keeping many
boys out of the Army"
A committee of N. Y A. students
recently called on him. he said. and
asked him not to press the pending
legislation. One of them, he added,
told him he did not want N. Y. A.
discontinued because he wanted to
keep out of the Army"
Senator McKellar's revision of his
own bill would require that all tools
and machinery now in N. Y. A.
training shops be transferred to the
Office of Education not later than
July l for the curtailed defense
training classes. There was no dis
cussion today of the question of
whether these tools could be used
more effectively in plants actually
manufacturing implements of war
Senator Taft said his chief OBJ
lection to N. Y. A. has been its oper-
alton as Federal agency. It's pur-
pose. he said, is good. but should
be carried on by the States. Pub
lie education, he said is function
the States have handled well
If the N. Y. A. gave the State of
Ohio S5,OOO,OOO out of total ap-
preparation of s1OO,OOOOOO I believe
the State would provide education
for twice as many young persons
as the N Y A. would directly" Sen
ator Taft asserted.
In mentioning $lOO,0OOOOO as the
total appropriation, he apparently
had reference to the fact that Presi-
dent Roosevelt in his January budget
message set that sum-as the prob
able limit on aid to youth programs
for the new fiscal year.