Evening star., 1943-09-14
Senate Committee
To Seek Army View
On Draft Of Fathers
Continued From First Page J

this time and upsettnig further oul
own civilian economy, what WI
ought to do is use lot of our owr
men in this country in civilian pur.
suits, where there is tremendous
shortage of manpower."
Canadian Action Cited.
cat Ottawa last night Defense
Minister J. L. Ralston an
nounced that the Dominion
planned to reduce home defense
operational military forces by
approximately 10000 men
through disbandment of the 7th
and 9th Divisions and partial
disbandment of the 9Th Divi-
sion.)
Chairman May of the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee termed the
Canadian action IAN irrefutable ar
gument against the drafting OF
fathers In the United States.
IF there is no need for these
trained men on fighting fronts of
the United Nations" Mr.. May told
reporters, then it is difficult to
understand why there is a need to
induct fathers in this country"
Mr.. May said he believed the
Dominion's action would assure en-
actment of legislation to prohibit the
induction of fathers until Congress
makes manpower survey
May Introduces Bill.
Mr.. May introduced as soon as the
House met bill to postpone the
scheduled father-draft indefinitely,
or until Congress orders otherwise.
and to effect the discharge of fathers
already in the armed forces
Senator Wheeler's announcement
this morning just before the gavels
fell to open the session brought fire
works sooner than had been ex-
pected. Earlier indications were the
Senator would not raise the draft
issue until tomorrow.
Commenting on the suggestion of
Barkley and many other returning
legislators that Gen. Marshall and
Admiral King be called in for advice
before any action is taken, Senator
Wheeler said:
This bill was before the Commit
tee (Senate Military Affairs for
months, and they never asked to be
heard, so far as I know. I went be-
fore the committee, and selective
service officials we're heard. Moth
ing was done and I went before the
committee second time. 1 am en-
titled to a vote, in view of the fact
that neither Gen. Marshall nor Ad-
miral King asked for a hearing"
Pointing out that another bill al
ready is pending. Senator Barkley
after comforting with the Montanan,
indicated that the delay was agree
able to him.
Cites Draft Chart.
Senator Wheeler said that before
the recess the Senate had a chart
showing that not more than 2,700,-
900 troops could be equipped and
transported overseas this year, and
100000 next year, which would
leave 100000 in this country if Sc
lective Service never called another
man into service.
Furthermore, we were told that
100000 youths reach 18 each month,
and that 10000 of that number
would be found physically fit for
service" he continued.
That would make $4,000 men
available in year, or 100000 in
ID months. There are thousands of
single men in the United States who
haven't been inducted, and married
men who are not fathers.
THE Army itself has been the
greatest waster of manpower in the
country. The transportation system
is clogged because Of unnecessary
troop movements We have the col
leges filled with boys in the Army
who are not being used. We have
camps all over the country filled
with men who are lying idle, who
want to go to the front. We have
the Army letting out men 38, who,
while not fit for combat duty, could
he doing ground work. Instead.
they are hiring civilians for ground
work.
More Wasted Than Manpower.
The waste in the Army is not
only in manpower. but you've got an
unconscionable waste and ineffi-
cheney in the Government contracts
that have been let, and waste of
in the number of officers
supposedly checking on the con-
tracts The waste of manpower in
cost-plus contracts is notorious and
talked of all over the West.
Workers who have been on some
Of those projects have told me of
waste of steel and lumber and man.
power in shipyards. The more the
contractor wasted, the more men he
the more overtime he
paid, the more he made on the con-
tracts.
I'm the face of all this inefficiency
In the Army, they want to break up
the American home, put the children
in institutions, destroy the little
businessman, which they are rapidly
doing, and SovietiZe the United
States.
Wants Indefinite Deferment.
Senator Wheeler announced he
will offer an amendment to his bill
to make indefinite the deferment of
fathers AS reported from commit
tee. it merely postponed their call
until January.
The War Manpower Commission
has set october / for the start of in
Quoting pre-Pearl Harbor fathers.
Representative Wadsworth, Re-
publican, of New York predicted,
meanwhile, that the White House
soon may take definite stand on
compulsory work legislation.
Senator Austin, Republican, of
Vermont, co-author of the national
service bill, said he would urge re-
sumption of hearings tomorrow on
that measure, but saw no need for
postponing debate on the Wheeler
bill.
On another ajor subject-taxes-
Chairman George of the Senate FL
nance Committee returned with the