Evening star., 1945-01-31
Munpower
Continued From First Paee)

the bill today, and modified or elm
mated later in the week.
The last two days of general de-
bate indicate that party lines may
disappear, as members seek to make
up their minds whether to heed the
appeals of organized labor against
compulsory work assignments, or to
listen to the plea of military leaders,
who say the bill is necessary to give
men on the fighting fronts the
supplies they need.
For example, three of the most
influential men on the Republican
side have taken the lead in urging
passage of the bill-Representatives
Andrews Of New York, Dirksen of
Illinois and Wadsworth. At the
same time, the labor opposition is
likely to cause some Democrats to
go along with another group of
Republicans who contend the bill
will lessen instead of increasing pro-
duction.
Outlook Brighter.
Despite these cross currents of
conflicting opinion, the outlook for
passage Of the bill appeared brighter
today than when the debate started.
Mr.. Dirksen asked his fellow men,
bers what answer they could give to
the fathers Of boys overseas II these
parents say, Gen. Marshall asked
for this and you wouldn't give it
to him"
The Illinois member said he had
just been told by former Representa-
tive Maury Maverick, on the latter's
retarn from the fighting front, that
some Of the soldiers have been in
the line for 100 days. Mr.. Maverick
is head Of the Smaller War Plants
Corp.
There was growing feeling that
the House membership will en-
deavor to pass the bill in some form
in the hope of perfecting 1t in con-
feernce with the Senate.
Mr.. Wadsworth held the atten-
ton OF both sides of the political
aisle as he confidently predicted
that once Congress has declared by
law that all men will be treated
alike on the home front, "the Amer
ican people will say all right, where
do you want me to so-we will
work"
Deploring the absence of any law
during the last three years for the
systematic distribution of man.
power, Mr. Wadsworth said the vol
untary system breaks down because
each worker in a nonessential in
dustry wants to know II his neigh
bors also are going to be asked to
change to q war job.
The sum total of their observa-
tions Is. Treat us all alike and we're
perfectly willing to co." Mr.. Wads-
worth declared.
A substitute will be offered by
Representative voorhis, Democrat, of
California. which merely gives legis-
lative sanction to the job referral
system already being operated by
the War Manpower Commission
Supporters Of the bill believe they
will be able to beat the substitute.
AS against the appeals of Mr..
Wadsworth and Mr.. Dirksen for the
bill, Representatives Halleck of Indi-
ana, Hoffman Of Michigan, Fenton
Of Pennsylvania and other Repubh-
cans questioned the need for the
measure.
Points TO Last Years Steps.
Mr.. Halleck pictured the admins
tration as having rushed through
postwar reconversion legislation and
taken other steps last year which
created the impression among work.
ers the war was almost over.
THE impression created In the
campaign did much to win the elec-
tion," said Mr.. Halleck. II don't
know what it did to win the war"
He said that, while 500 900 work
ers left war plants last year, they
have. been returning in large num-
bers since December. when they