Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-04-04
McNutt May Relax
Drastic Policy on
Drafting Coal Miners

The Inter-Agency Industrial
Deferment Committee has de-
MED requests for draft defer
ment for all coal miners under
26 and a large part of workers
in the transportation industry,
including airline maintenance
men, but it was believed today
coal interests might yet obtain
a partial reversal of the drastic
decision.
Following the meeting yesterday
when the committee resumed its
work of pruning the list of industries
to be considered for special Selective
service treatment in the matter of
retention of ''irreplaceable" young
manpower, it was understood man
power officials might reopen the coal
mining issue.
Committee Chairman Paul " Nc
Mutt, is was believed, would use his
authority as chairman of the War
ManpoWer Commission to force de-
ferment recommendation for some
young miners
Adjourn Until Next Tuesday.
The committee largely has COM
pleted the activities to receive spe-
cial consideration. The group ad-
journed until next Tuesday, when
it will begin the naming of actual
plants to be recommended to selec-
tive service for deferment.
Spencer Love, director of WPB's
textile, clothing and leather bureau,
warned, meanwhile, that manpower
shortages in textile mills would re-
suit in a further cut in textile
production.
He said some experts believe pro-
duction for 1914 may fall as much
as 20 per cent short of last years
output
Major ODT Requests Refused.
Requests of the Office of Defense
Transportation for consideration of
"irreplaceables" in the vast trans
portation industry were largely de-
MED by the committee ODT was
allowed some $500 men in railroad
freight handling work, few in the
management end of trucking but
lost all appeals for deferments in
the maintenance end of transporta-
ton where manpower shortages are
most acute.
In the case of the airlines, only
a few men who actually fly thed
transports will be recommended for
deferment. ODT obtained a few
for workers in shipping
on the Great Lakes, where man.
power is badly needed.
The committee also refused to
reconsider requests for deferments
IN a number of industries previous
ly turned down, including food
communications and
logging.
Virtually all requests were ap-
proved for deferments in the must"
war manufacturing programs, rep
resented by the War Production
Boards Production Executive Com
mittee. The Office of Rubber Di-
rector and the Petroleum Admin
istration for War also will obtain
deferments of key men in the rub
Der and 100-octane gasoline indus
tries.
Fear Big Coal Deficit.
Sources within the Solid Fuels Adj
ministration, when informed of the
reported action on coal mining, said
approximately $4,000 men aged %
through rs are working in the coal
mines, each contributing 1900 tons
of coal annually to the Nations sup
ply
If 10000 were drafted, the expected
national coal deficit of 20,O000OO tons
in the new fuel year" would be in
creased to 100000 tons, the STA
officials said.
The agency already has written
off" an estimated $4,000 men now
working in the mines who are aged
18 through 81.
The VINO, meanwhile, opened q |
to recruit both men ano
women workers for the fishing in
dustry.
Mr.. McNutt said 100000, 900
pounds Of fish are needed this year
to supply the armed forces, lease
lend and civilian requirements. ToI
meet those demands, he added. some
$4,000 workers must be added to the
200 900 normally employed in the
fishing industry.