Evening star., 1946-06-25
House Accepts
.19-to-45Draft
Vote
Senate Action Near;
Army Plans No Calls
For Next 7 Months
By J. A. O'Leory

A nine-month extension of Sc
lective Service with the age
limits fixed at 10 to As cleared its
biggest hurdle today when the
House adopted the conference
report, 259 to 10.
The Senate may adopt the report
later today, sending the bill to the
White House.
Shortly before voting the House
learned from Secretary of War Pat
terson that the Army plans nc
draft calls for July and August.
Mr.. Patterson's decision was made
known in letter read to the House
by Representative Thomason, DEM
ocrat, of Texas during the debate.
The Secretary said he is hopeful
that with increases in pay the
armed forces would be. able to OBJ
tain enough men through volun-
tary enlistments to meet their needs
for the next few months.
Short Motion Defeated.
Both he and Gen. Eisenhower, the
chief of staff, prefer an all-Volun-
teer Army if one can be obtained
and do not desire to have single
man drafted if it can be avoided,
Mr.. Patterson wrote.
Representative Short, Republican
of Missouri, made a futile last
minute effort to defeat the COM
promise, which exempts 18-year-olds
His motion to recommit the bill to
the conferees with instructions to
exempt the 19-year-olds also was
rejected, 1872 to IA, on a standing
vote.
Not more than half of the, Re-
publicans stood up with Mr.. Short to
recommit.
Speaker Rayburn promptly called
the roll on adoption of the compro-
mise bill.
In his closing fight against the
bill, Mr.. Short charged that the
Army today is made up in part of
"rascals and riffraff who have re-
enlisted to rape, plunder and loot"
Critical of Occupation Army.
Mr.. Short said he was glad the
conferees eliminated 18-year-olds,
but insisted 19-year-old boys will
not make good policemen and are
not capable "of self-control under
the conditions they must cope with
in foreign countries. They are sus-
ceptible to every temptation in a
foreign land, when removed from
the influences of home, church and
seiYoa4. in their native land"
Referring to the Army of Occupa-
ton, especially in Europe, Mr.. Short
asserted:
1T is composed of three classes:
No. l, 18 and 19-year-old boys,
young, unframed, undisciplined and
inexperienced; No. 2, rascals and
riff raft who have re-enlisted to
rape, plunder and loot; No 3, brass
hats who want to retain their rank
and pay and who are living the life
of Riley on the misery of con-
ouered peoples. This is a rather
plain and unpleasant speech, but
it is too true. will qualify the state
ment by the fact that there are
some fine, clean, patriotic boys and
officers abroad-and it is through
them that I receive much of my in
formation"
Fathers to Be Released.
Mr. Thomason, reminded the
House that the pending bill will
bring home soon thousands of men
who have already done their part,
because it provides for the release
of all fathers on their request after
August l and every man with 18
months service after October /.
Before approving the compro-
mise, the House agreed to compro-
mise legislation increasing Army
Navy pay.
The pay raises range from maxi
mum of so per cent for buck pri-
Yates and apprentice seamen to 10
per cent for five-star generals and
admirals. A voice vote sent this bill
to the Senate.
Prompt Senate acceptance is ex-
pected, since that body already had
agreed to its general provisions.
The compromise on the draft calls
for extension until March 81. The
Senate had voted for May Is.
While the House bill had limited
the ages of draft liability to the 20
through % brackets and the Senate
to the 18 through Al group, the COM
promise fixes the ages of liability at