The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07

Senators and even 8 lot of con- gressmen are boiling mad over the way the Army has said now we-Want-it, now we -don't-want- 1t, regarding vital amendments to the Work-or- fight bill.
 The climax came in a closed door session of the Senate MiIi- tary Affairs Committee last Sat urday, which featured the stormiest debate seen In any cOmmitte for years.
 On the day previous, the com mittee had adopted an amend ment which the Army favored Cor at least so it said in formal letter. which would put the ad- minlstration of the work-or flight bill under War Mobilizer Byrnes. This meant that Byrnes would delegate the administration to Paul McNutt's War ManpoWer Commission, since Byrnes favors the WING. The original bill, as passed by the House, placed work or-fight administration in the hands of General Lewis Hershcy'S Selective Service.
 Because of the small number of senators present at Fridays com mittee meeting when the Byrnes amendment was adopted. a sec ond meeting was held on Satur- day. with full quorum present. Fortnight Sen. Joe O'Mahoney of Wyoming opened the secret session by delivering q sarcas- tic attack on the Army. He pointed to ali the tragic mistakes of the War Department, and their repeated demands for cen- tralizatlon of authority. Time after time the Army has de- manded this or demanded that, O,Mahoney charged, only to change it's mind and find 1t was wrong. Now. he concluded. how can we tell whether they are not equally wrong in demanding this bill?
 Following this, Senator Chan Gurney, South Dakota Republi- can, announced: 'I have had communication from the War Department, which desires 2 further amendment to the bill." The War Department, he went on to say was opposed to the Byrnes amendment adopted the preceding day Uhough it had gone on record as faVoring it..
 At this point, Chairman Thomas of Utah rose halfway out of his chair. Senator Thomas is mild man. He was formerly a Norman missionary. but when he becomes indignant his voice be- comes as vibrant as the bass notes of an organ.
 "DO you mean to tell me-" bOOned the Utah senator, "that at this late date the War De- pertinent, having already agreed to thsi bill, now Is demanding another anlendment?"
 "Yes," meekIy replied the gem tleman from South Dakota.
 "T demand to know who in the War Department wants this 8mGUUHhCuG1 UUUMsCW VWe Thomas again.
 "The War Department" evad. ed Senator Gurney,
 II demand Co know who jn the War Department wants this amendment" repeated Senator Thomas.
 "Well," hesitated Senator Gurney, 1t came from General Persons office
 General Wilton B. Persons k head of the Army's lobbying agency on Capitol HILL
 At this. Senator Thomas nearly hit the ceiling
 "The Lord knows that I'm out of harmony with this bilI." he ytOrmed. But I've gone along with ti, regardless. However, I'm not gong to be ShOrt-cir- culted. ThIs committee has al- ready adopted one amendment which 1t thought was approved by the War Department. If the War Department new wants GO take back its amendment 1t can come Co the chairman of this committee"
 Rejection of the amendment would have put the work-or- fight bill under the draft boards instead of the War Manpower commission.
 This touched of another dia-