Evening star., 1942-11-12
by GOULD LINCOLN,

The manpower problem in this
country today confronts both the
President and the Congress. The
President has 1T work his Man
power Commission, headed by
Paul v. McNutt. Congress has
been looking into the question Of
manpower through several COM
mittees, including the Tolan
Committee in the House and the
Senate Malitary Affairs Commit
tee. The Truman Committee of
the Senate also has taken Z shot
at the problem, and is reporting
on the subject today.
There are as many opinions as
to what should be done regarding
the distribution of manpower as
there are angles to the problem
itself. The only point on which
many seem to agree is that some
thing should be done-and there
are some who do not agree even
to that.
With men needed in the armed
forces, on the farms and in the
factories, mines and mills, some
thing must be done to see that
there is q distribution Of workers
both men and women-which
will be best calculated to aid the
war effort. How that some thing
Is to De done, what method is to
be followed, is the question.
There seems to be 4 dis
inclination to force the issue
into legislation during the re-
mainder Of the present Congress.
Undoubtedly the congressional
committees will continue to work
at the problem, seeking to obtain
all the facts so as to write a bill.
But unless the President de-
mands action without further
delay, the chances are that the
new Congress will have to write
whatever law there is to be.
Pro and Anti-Draft.
A first line Of division comes
between those who believe that
there should be compulsion-a
labor draft act-and those who
favor voluntary system. Those
who believe in the draft say that
the voluntary system has already
broken down, that shortages OF
labor for essential work produc-
ton and on the farms already
has developed to an alarming
extent.
Once a system has been set up,
whether designated as "volun-
tary" or compulsory, it will carry
with it certain amount of COM
pulsion. That is bound to hap
pen. 1t becomes a. question,
therefore, as to just how far COM
pulsion is to run. It becomes a
question whether the system is to
be administered by bureaucrats
In Washington-with their lesser
bureaucrats out in the States, or
by, for example, local and State
boards. as is the military draft.
Among the bills already intro
duced dealing with the manpower
problem is one by Senator Austin
Of Vermont, assistant Republican
leader Of the Upper House. I'M
like bills offered by some Of the
other members Of Congress, Sen
ator Austin's measure does not
set up new manpower agency.
It leaves the matter to the pres
ent Selective Service System and
to its present draft boards.
All men deferred under the
military draft and all men from
IS to IS shall be liable for serv-
ice" as production workers. They
will be selected by the draft
boards, and assigned to such work
as the President from time to
time shall declare to be necessary
for the war effort.
Taft's Bill Voluntary.
Senator Taft, Republican, Of
Ohio has a bill setting up 4
National Manpower Agency" It
is a permissive or voluntary
measure, when it comes to regis
tration and such questions as
moving the workers from one To-
cality to another.
Representative Tolan. Demo-
crat, Of California, who has been
working on this and other prob
lens relating to the war as head
Of the so-called Tolan committee,
has a most comprehensive bill,