Evening star., 1946-04-12

ToHa|tTeen-Aqe
Draft StirsFight
Plans Amendment to
Prohibit Induction of
Any One Under 20
BY the Associated Press

Chairman May of the House
Affairs Committee
touched off a fight in the House
today over continuing inductions
of 18 and 10 year old youths.
Opening debate on a committee
recommendation for a nine-month
extension of the draft law Mr..
May said he would offer an amend
ment TO prohibit the induction of
any one under 20.
He said he would submit later
Army figures indicating there is no
need to keep on drafting teen
ayers and would cite testimony by
Gen. Eisenhower, Army Chief of
Stan, that youths under 20 are not
suitable" as occupation forces.
Ine Kentuckian argued that the
Army'S manpoWer requirements
could be met without drafting teen
ayers, asserting that during the
month of March there were $4,000
enlistmentS and as many
more are expected in April.
Committee opponents of Mr.. Mays
have contended that
since teen-agers were drafted for
war service, they should continue
to be inducted under an extension
of the draft. Otherwise, they have
argued, there may not be adequate
for men of long
service.
Hoffman Questions Propriety.
Some members, notably Repre-
Hoffman. Republican, of
questioned the propriety
Of bringing up the draft legislation
at all before the Easter recess start
ing late next week. House mem
bers, Mr.. Hoffman claimed, should
be given an opportunity to discuss
the subject with their constituents
during the recess.
Anticipating long and bitter de-
bate, Speaker Rayburn had called
the members to meet at 10 m, and
said he planned another breakfast
session" tomorrow in the hope of a
final vote by nightfall.
The starting point for what is
to be one of the merriest
congressional melees in years, the
bill as written by the Military Affairs
Committee after a long controversy
would:
l. Extend until next February IS
the wartime draft law, which will
expire on May Is unless Congress
revives it.
2. Limit to Is months the period
of training and service of any in
Quoted man, including those already
in uniform.
Would Prohibit Father Draft.
8. Prohibit the induction of faith
ers and give local draft boards final
say over which farm workers shall
be deferred.
4, Put these ceilings on the size
of the armed forces by July l, 1947:
Army, 100000; Navy, $4,000;
Marine Corps. 100000.
5. Ban the induction in any
month of more men than are neces-
sary to meet the July /, 1947 quotas,
which were fixed by the armed
forces themselves. In making calls
on selective service each month, the
services would be required to take
into account voluntary enlistments
during the preceding month.
6. Fix the draft ages at 18 to 90
inclusive, instead of the present 18
through A.
Among amendments waiting to be
offered when the bill reaches the
stage tomorrow are
these proposals:
An extension of the draft until
next February Is, but with ban
against actual inductions until that
date or until either September Is
or November Is of this year.
An upward revision of the serv-
ices pay scales as an incentive for
enlistments.
The biggest fight is expected over
several plans to extend the draft,
but to suspend inductions while a
renewed enlistment drive is put on.
Chairman May told reporters the
Military Committee approved such
a holiday" once, but reversed itself
because 1T looked like we were Just
trying to jump over the election
next November
There is strong support also for
pay raise amendments, although the
committee recommended that these
be kept out of the draft bill.
The Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee, in approving a one-year
draft extension yesterday with re-
strictions similar to those in the
House bill, tied to it's recommends
ton pay raises ranging from SIS a
month for privates to 81 a month
for master sergeants.
The same committee also ap-
proved separate bills calling for a
fiat 20 per cent raise for all service
personnel and $50 monthly bonus
for all men serving at sea or outside
United States