Evening star., 1943-02-27
Wudsworth-Austin Bill

Wudsworth-Austin Bill
| Congressional brickbats, aimed at
Chairman McNutt of the War Man.
power Commission, the Selective
Service, the War Production Board
or almost any governmental head
available, fly through the air with the
greatest Of ease. The demands of
military service conflict with the
demands Of war production, and both
conflict with the demands of agricul-
ture, That the pinch is coming, and
coming fast, is plainly evident-with
food more and more stringently
rationed.
Bills have been introduced in Con-
gress to deal with this or that feature
Of the manpoWer problem, including
the distribution of workers to the
farms-or at least preventing the
further depletion Of farm labor. Still
others seek to defer men with chill
dren, or to prevent their draft into
military service.
One bill, however, deals effectively
with the whole problem-the Wads-
Worth-Austin bill, which would be
known as the National Service Act.
1t is not a complex measure and it
creates no new agencies of Govern
ment. 1t authorizes the President to
determine when any workers are
needed in war industry and in agri-
culture and to issue a proclamation
calling for volunteers, and if they are
not Forthcoming in sufficient num-
bers, to draft" workers through the
operation Of the Selective Service
Boards. Covered by the measure are
all men between the ages of 18 and
IS, and most women from 18 to so.
This measure was introduced early
In February 1t has reposed ever
since in the hands of the House and
Senate Military Affairs Committees.
And at last it is to have a day in
court. The Senate committee is to
begin hearings on the bill next Tues
day, with Representative Wadsworth
OF New York, co-author with Senator
Austin of Vermont, as the first wit
ness. The bill has the sympathetic
approval of many of the officials of
the Government-in the War and
Navy Departments and in the Man.
power Commission itself-but it has
not yet received the blessing of the
White House.
The country has never In it's history
experienced a draft of labor. But
neither has it ever been engaged in
a total war. in which every resource
Of the Nation must be used, and used
effectively. It's manpower becomes of
greatest importance-and it's proper
distribution a Vital need
The administration has sought to
better the situation by attacking the
manpower problem here and there,
and by voluntary agreements (backed
by the threat OF "sanctions") to get
men and women into necessary jobs,
and to keep them there. It is becom-
ing more and more evident, however,
that only through an act of Congress,
with teeth in it, Is a solution to be
found.
The very attacks which are made
today upon the failure to coordinate
properly the manpower resources of
the country are persuasive arguments
for passage of the bill This legisla-
ton comes to Congress with the
backing of citizens committee, COM
posed Of thoughtful people who have
given the subject much study. 1t has,
too, the support of the American
Legion.
The Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee is to be congratulated upon its
determination to give the measure
study. 1t required time to bring the
country and the Congress and the
President to support a military draft
in time Of peace. 1t may require
time to bring them to agreement
upon measure to draft essential
labor. 1t may be unpalatable. But
it also may be the only solution of the
manpower problem, which is pressing
more and more for action.