Evening star., 1944-03-24
President Plans
Statement Soon
On nManpower
Army Navy Agree to
Let More Industries
Keep Men Under 26

President ROOSEVELT today
promised a statement on the
manpoWer situation in the next
two or three days, while WPB
Chairman Donald M. Nelson told
The Star that the Army and
Navy are agreeable to the in
clusion of such important war
supporting industries as trans
portation, mining and logging on
the small list of activities in
which a few key men under 26
would be extended draft defer
ment.
Mr.. Nelson, meanwhile, expressed
favor for a limited" national serv-
ice law. He told the Costello Sub
committee of the House Military
Affairs Committee that he indorsed
in principle limited form of ma
| t1onal service to persuade as many
as million AIS and men over draft
age to take jobs on the farms and in
the factories. Representative Luce,
troduced a bill to force such men
into the war program.
Illness Delays Statement.
The Presidents manpower state
ment, considered necessary to clear
up. once and for all, the contro-
versial industrial deferment prob
lem, had been expected early in the
week. He told his news conference
today that the cold which had con-
fined him for several days has de-
layed him.
In his discussion of the situation
with The Star, Mr.. Nelson said he
looked for an early final settlement
of deferment issues. He said the
armed services had agreed that some
young men must be retained in war
supporting activities as well as in
the must" war production pro-
grams
| He indicated a dispute over the
method of carrying out the defer
ment plan now is delaying final
action. He pointed out WPB could
handle the situation so far as direct
production activities are concerned,
but the War Manpower Commission
would have to administer it for the
supporting industries outside WPB
jurisdiction. He pointed out VINO
and not WPB has the executive
authority to administer the overall
manpower program.
Explains National Service Views.
Mr.. Nelson toldvthe Costello cons
mlttee that while earlier 'in the
game" he favored a broad act, he
new felt. the time has passed" for
general national service. After
nearing a description of the Luce
bill, which would create a corps OF
perhaps 100000 4-Fs, men dis
Icharged from the armed forces and
overage men, Mr.. Nelson said he
thought the mere fact of setting up
such a corps would have the in
direct effect of sending a million
men into essential work,
Selective Service Director Lewis
B. Hershey, it was learned earlier.
requested that notification of some
$4,000 war plants of the tough"
| W. IL IOr de-
1erment OF key young men in eight
must" production programs be
held up when he was tol ths
"supercritical" list might be broad
ened to include such industries al
mining and transportation. Gen.
Hershey, it was said, wanted the
whole plan in one package" so he
could issue final instructions to
draft boards.
Cure for Turnover Seen.
Referring to the Luce bill. Mr..
Nelson told the committee, IF we
go into this narrower field Qinited
national service) it should 60 a long
way toward stopping turnover, and
II IT doesn't We can raise the age
limit Ito over 45)."
use OF AIS in agriculture also
was discussed, with several mem
oers OF the committee complainins
that AIS wouldn't stay in agricul-
lure and Representative Arends
|