Evening star., 1946-04-16
Draft Bill Muneuvers
Laid to Election Fears
Final Law Will Differ From
House Bill, Writer Predicts
By David Laurence

House Bill, Writer Predicts
By David Laurence
Out Of the maneuvering of the politi-
cal folks on Capitol Hill may come a law
extending the selective service system,
but 1t will not resemble the one passed
by the House.
The members Of the House got them
selves recorded as in favor of the extern
| sion Of the draft, but they were voting
on bill that was already weakened BY
amendments and did not represent wha,
either the President or the War Depart
ment wanted in order to insure an ade.
| quate military force in the interim pc.
riod between the present and the hoped
for days of normalcy.
The Senate does not have all of its
members up for reelection this autumn
only one-third will face the voters
the polls-so there's a chance that the
upper house will endeavor to give tn,
War Department what it seeks.
The House not only eliminated the
drafting of boys between 18 and 20 but
held up all inductions until October IS.
Now the War Department is trying to
get its quota by means of the volunteer
system and does not object to the tying
OF the two things together-namely,
that the draft shall operate only when
volunteers do not come forth in an ade-
quate supply. But when the House
changes the draft ages so that all below
20 years of age are exempt, it introduces
difficult element into the situation for
the War Department. Presumably al.
the able bodied above 20 have already
been in service or have been deferred
because of physical defects. Only small
number of able-bodied young men o:
20 or more years Of age were deferred
for occupational reasons.
Inducement Taken Away.
So the House has taken away the most
important aid sought by the War De-
partment and by the Navy too, for that
matter. 1t Is that the inducement to
the ls-year-olds to volunteer shall nor
be removed. Many of these boys, feel
ing that they would sooner or later be
drafted anyway, have volunteered. BY
below 20, the military services lost their
leverage on this age group. Very few
OF 20 and above will be volunteering and
only those who have been In essential
jobs will be subject to the draft when
October IS comes If the volunteer sys-
TEN between now and autumn has
failed to provide the necessary quota.
Gen. Eisenhower, who has tried very
hard to persuade Congress to give him
a minimum number of soldiers to meet
the Army's goal of 100000 by July 1,
ls47, is popular on Capitol Hill and he
Is known to speak frankly about the
Army's needs. There is no padding In
his figures or estimates. But when elec-
ton stares members in the face, they
feel they cannot follow even Gen. Eisen-
hover.
Now this is not altogether what It
appears to be on the surface at all
a mere concession to political influences.
1t IS really fear that the mothers OF
the boys will not understand the draft
problem and will punish at the polls the
members who vote to induct the ls-year-
olds. This matter Of the teen-age bows
has been delicate point with Congress
ever since the draft act was passed.
Every test involving the 1s-year-olds
has been serious one for the members
Of Congress.
Something Lacking.
There Is something lacking In our
democratic system. 1t is that the needs
OF the Army and Navy for 18-year-olc
inductees has never been 50 compre-
hensively explained as to enable mem.
oer OF Congress to vote for such ster
without fear of losing support at home,
In order to keep the public from pun
ishing the members Of the House. e
device frequently used in legislation will
doubtless be brought forward. The Sem
ate Will pass bill that differs from the
House measure. The bill will then &c
to a conference committee of both
houses. There the legislation really viii,
oe written. Out OF this conference will
come q measure which probably will
compromise as between the ages Of ia
and 20 or else will include the ls to 20
year age group but at date beyond
October Is.
Anyway, when the measure becomes
law. it will have been voted on by voice
vote. Even If there is a record vote.
It will be difficult for members to vote
against conference report" for then
1t Is all or nothing. Either the bill Is
accepted as the con- erence committee
changed it, or there is no legislation.
The members could not afford to take
the responsibility Of voting so that
there would be no extension, because
the President could insist on holding
in service fathers and others with long
service. For one thing is clear-the
Army and Navy cannot be disbanded
even If there is a congressional elec.
ton this year. In the end bill that
satisfies the needs of the military sery.
ices must be passed.
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