Evening star., 1945-04-01
Byrnes' Report Kills
kanpower Measure,
Johnson Asserts
Author Of Compromise
Denies Bill Wos Meant
For Postwar Application
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

Inc compromise manpOWer
bill was described as dead" last
night by its author. Senator
Johnson. Democrat. of Colorado,
who blamed War Mobilization
Director Byrnes for killing any
remaining hope for the measure.
Senator Johnson's statement con-
ceding defeat was prompted by the
second report of Mr.. Byrnes as Wal
Mobilization Director, which con.
tanned suggestion that manpowel
legislation would be needed to facil.
itate reconversion as well as for wal
production.
Justice Byrnes has effectively de.
stroyed all chances for Senate adop-
ton of the manpower conference
report by his grotesque statement
that the need for manpower legisla
ton continues =" not only for wal
production but also for the produc-
ton of essential civilian goods: ano
later to facilitate reconversion, ;
Senator Johnson said.
Only War Legislation.
TT has been understood all along
that this was very definitely wal
legislation and not, as its opponents
contended, for the permanent reg
imentation of American man
power, the Coloradoan continued
The conference report is dead"
Even before these developments
last night, unofficial polls indicated
the administration was four or five
votes shy of a majority. with the
vote likely to be taken by Wednes-
day.
The power to freeze" workers
and other main features of the
compromise bill. would expire with
the termination of hostilities, as
declared by the President or Con-
gress, or on June 30, 1916, which
ever occurs earlier Thus, the con-
trols could not extend into the
postwar period, except by further
action of Congress.
Johnson Blasts Last Hope.
The johnson statement, however
appeared to have blasted hope of
a last-minute switch in the bills
favor. 1t was only a week ago
that House and Senate conferees
settled their manpower differences
by accepting the johnson compro-
mise, which eliminated the House
labor draft for men l8 to As, but
conferred on Mr.. Byrnes' office
broad power to freeze" workers in
essential jobs, regardless of age or
sex, and to apply penalties to en-
ployeS and employers alike for vio-
lation of job-control regulations.
The House accepted the COM
promise by the close margin of 167
to 100. IT the Senate turns it down
Senator O'Mahoney, Democrat, of
Wyoming will move Immediately to
reopen negotiations with the House
in the hope of reviving the milder
bill the Senate passed.
Some Senators predicted last
night, however, that if the johnson
compromise is beaten there may not
be any legislation passed.
SEXES on Byrnes Report.
Senator OMahoney was quick to
label the ByrneS' report as IAN ex-
cellent argument for the Senate
manpower bill and a conclusive
argument against" the compromise
The only note of optimism in the
Senate manpower situation came
from Senator Thomas, Democrat,
of Utah, in charge of the compromise
as chairman of the Military Affairs
Committee, who told reporters:
Mr.. Byrnes' statement ought to
help in bringing about support for
the conference report. Who is better
qualified TO know than Mr.. Byrnes?'
Senator Thomas warned that all
(See MANPOWER- Page A-I41