Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-22
Speedy Action Asked
On Measure ALLOWING
Wartime Labor Draft
War Service Act Droft
Is Made Public by
Presidential Adviser
BY Jesse O. IRWIN.

By JESSE o. IRWIN.
Congressional and labor leaders
and Manpower chairman Paul v.
McNutt today were informed by
Grenville Clark, in presenting
them with copies of a proposed
National War Service Act, that
compulsory labor legislation
should be enacted without fur
ther delay and without further
trifing with indirect coercions
and palliatives that already have
proved their 1nadequacy."
Mr.. Clark, a New York attorney
and personal friend Of President
Roosevelt, is regarded in Admin
istration circles as an authority on
this type of legislation. He is the
author of the first draft of what is
now the Selective Service Act. His
new proposal, congressional sources
believe, will revive the fight for uni
versal service which ended abruptly
early this month when Mr.. Roose-
welt gave Mr. McNutt sweeping
powers to continue with his volun-
tary program of mobilizing the Ma
tons manpower for war.
Before bestowing these powers on
Mr.. McNutt, the President approved
sending Mr.. Clark to England to
study the national service systems
Of Great Britain, New Zealand and
Australia.
Draft Third Since May.
Mr. yClark's new draft, his third
since last May, is said to have been
eagerly awaited by congressional,
labor and manpower officials. His
first and second drafts, which were
reported to have met with Mr..
Roosevelt's favor, caused furry of
compulsory labor bills to be intro
duced in the Seventy Con-
gress.
These drafts were forwarded by
the President to Mr.. McNutt and
were subjected to lengthy study by
the commission. Mr.. McNutt has
declared legislation was "impera-
tive" and has stated he has bill
ready awaiting the Presidents call.
The. proposed new bill calls for
Capitalization of manpower mobili-
cation under a director of national
service at salary of $4,000 a year.
1t contains declaration of policy
which states that an obligation ret
upon every person to render
such personal service in aid of the
war effort as he or she may be
deemed best fitted to perform"
Liability for national service I'M
der the proposal is applied to all men
between the ages of 10 and IS and all
women between the ages of ID
and so.
President May Assign Labor.
The President is empowered under
the proposal, directly or through the
director of national service, to pre-
scribe necessary regulations for car
rying out the provisions of the act in
an impartial manner. The Presi-
dent may, in accordance with these
regulations, assign persons liable
to service under this act dncluding
men registered under the Selective
Service Act, but who are not in mill
tary service) to such non military
service in aid of the war effort as he
may deem necessary to the success
full prosecution of the war, includ-
ing the production of war materials
of every sort, transportation and ag-
riculture, and training for the per-
Torrance Of all such work"
The proposal calls for a congress
sional declaration that there is. no
intention by this act to affect exist
ing laws and procedures relating to
mediation, arbitration, maximum
hours, minimum wages. collective
bargaining or other procedures for
the settlement of any labor con-
troversies or questions
Mr.. Clark said this safeguard for
labor was included in order Ito an
ticipate any doubt or claim that
the act might operate to reduce
wages or impair labor unions"
Safeguards Draft System.
While comforting broad authority
on the national service director, the
bill Mr.. Clark explained, safeguards
the Selective Service Sy tenn and
provides affirmatively for the use
Of the system in the registration,
classification and selection, if neces-
sary, of those liable for service
He said this provision lis intended
to take advantage of the public con-
f1dence which the system has
earned, but without imposing unduly
large new burdens upon that sys-
tenn"
The proposed bill provides that
every person volunteering for or
assigned to service under the act
shall receive the compensation and
work the hours applicable to the
kind of work which he or she shall
perform in the plant or place of
employment" and mo such person
shall be obliged to join any union or
organization of employees as condi-
ton of employment under this act,
but without prejudice to his or her
privilege to do so if he or she so
desires"
Commenting on this provision,
Mr.. Clark said "it cannot be too