Evening star., 1945-02-04
Army Sabotages
|Manpower Bill,
Senator Charges
Johnson of Colorado
Soys OfficioI and
Privute Views Differ
NAM SAYS SURVEY shows COM
pulsory work law is not needed.
Page AS.
Ry I. A. 0'LEARY.

A fiat charge that the War
Department has sabotaged" the
compulsory work bill for men 18
to IS. by taking one stand Off
Icially and another privately on
details of the measure, was made
last night by Senator Johnson,
Democrat. of Colorado as the
Senate Military Affairs Commit
tee postponed action on the
measure until tomorrow.
Senator johnson called the sit
uation "a good example of the >dou-
ble-crossing that goes on in the ex-
ecutive departments"
After all signs had pointed to
swift Senate action, the bill ap-
peared last night in danger of bog
ging down in controversy over who
should administer it.
The House placed the compulsory
work features under local draft
boards. But the Senate committee
approved amendments Friday vest
ing broad discretion in War Mobili-
zation Director Byrnes to say which
Government agency should handle
job placement of men classified by
draft boards as available for es-
sential work on the home front.
Issues Statement.
Returning to his Office after
two-hour executive session of; the
committee had failed to bring a de-
cision, Senator JohnSon wrote out
the following statement to theSpress:
"The War Department has sabo-
tagged the work or Jail bill OFF,
cially and on the recordf they ad-
vocate that the powers under this
bill be delegated toj Mr., Justice
Byrnes. In private fcontacts with
Senator's on the Military Commit
tee, they urge that these powers
be placed under selective service.
| las result. the Military Com
/ mittee, which voted 7 to to report
out the bill favorably, backed up
today and goodness knows when, if
ever, the bill will now be reported
out Of committee. This is good
example of the dirty double-cross-
ing that goes on in the executive
departments of this administra-
ton"
On the heels of the Johnson
charge came an expression from
Senator OMahoney, Democrat, of
Wyoming, also member of the
committee. questioning the need for
"conscription of labor" Earlier in
the day, Senator O'Mahoney re-
vealed to reporters that he had OBJ
| jected to the etXent of the power to
be delegated to the war mobiliza-
ton director by the amendments
approved Friday He said he viewed
these as concentrating too much
control in Washington over work.
ers throughout the country.
Confusion Seen.
Amplifying his position, Senator
O'Mahoney said:
My personal view is that man.
agement and labor have demon
strated they can carry on effective
cooperation for production of all
materials needed for war. I see no
reason to believe, on any evidence
that has yet been presented, that
conscription of labor would accom-
plish any result except to promote
confusion
This bill was on the verge of be-
ing reported Friday. although it
contained obvious defects even from
the point of view of those who sup
port the legislation. Some of these
defects nave been corrected. but I
seriously doubt whether the bill can
be SO improved as to make it an
effective instrument for war pro-
duction"
Despite yesterdays set backs,
there is still good chance the Sen
/ ate Committee will bring out a bill