Evening star., 1944-08-18
Year Of Federal
duty for Youths
Being Studied
President Suggests
Plan for Postwar Use
Of Troinine Camps
BY ]. A. FOX.

President Roosevelt told his
news conference today that
study is being given to a plan
under which the youth of the
country would give what he
characterized simply as a year
OF service to their Government.
The proposal probably would take
IN youths somewhere within the
l7-21 age bracket, the President
said, and he emphasized the fact
tnat the program could not be de-
scribed as compulsory military serv-
ice, for all the training would not
be military.
He conceded, however, that there
would be some military training.
Today's press conference was the
flrst the President has held here
since July II, when he announced
MS Willingness to accept a fourth
term nomination. 1t came "a hours
after his return from a 5-week tour
Of the Pacific.
Reminded Of Report.
The Presidents discussion was
prompted by a newsman's reminder
that some question had been raised
ABOUT the possibility of Congress
considering a plan for universal
training after the war and asking if
there was anything the President
might say. GA recent published re-
port said the President would pro-
pose such a planD
The President responded that there
was not great deal to say on that
at present but that he wished that
the people would study it.
He pointed out that this Govern
men now has a great many training
campS-enough to accommodate
about 100000 men-and this hous-
ing and equipment are figured to
nave life OF about Is years.
He said that poses the problem of
what is to be done with it. Contin-
ulng, he said that there were two
or three different things that pre-
sented themselves-thats some of it
might be used for housing of vet
Grams who were ill and needed care
and then he added there were prob
lens that will come up in connec-
ton with the vocational training
Of veterans.
The President said that at the end
OF the war he would rather not 20
to the expense of erecting new build
lngs wherever present structures
might be employed for Government
needs. - ..---.'- - -"
Says Plan Is Worth Study.
lie dlgressed in discussing this
housing angle to recall that most of
the World War camp sites were
scrapped at the end of the war, but
that the building this time has been
OF far more substantial construc-
ton.
Then the President said the third
alternative for using the buildings
would be for this training plan, and
ne added that a proposal under
which the young men would give a
year out OF their life to serve their
Government is worth studying.
The President discussed the bene-
hts Of this training in these general
terms.
Lots of us, he said, never have
learned how to KEEP clean while
living with large number of people
Then, he continued, there is the
question of discipline-that this
training would make for respect for
law. We are not very law-abiding
people, the President interjected
Then the President said the training
would make for order, although he
amplifled that we are not so bad
there.
Mr.. Roosevelt recalled the OPERA
tions of the Civilian Conservation
Corps camps in which he said a
greater number of boys were i'm
proved than he had had any idea
would be the case. This improve
ment was both physical and mental.
the President continued, and lots of
1t was being worked without the
beneflciaries realizing it.
Along with this year in which the
men would get some military train
ing, the President said, they might
get vocational training. This might
include stenography or it might be
something to equip the trainees for
Government work-making it easier
to pass civil service examinations.