Evening star., 1948-05-27
Draft Debate Plans
Unchanged by Threat
OF Civil Rights Fight
By Robert K. Welsh

Senate and House leaders held
to a plan today to start floor de-
bate on draft bills, possibly
opening in the Senate tomorrow,
despite House Rules Committee
delay and a civil rights issue
raised by Senator LANCER, Re-
publican OF North Dakota. =,
Chairman Gurney Of the Senate
Armed Services Committee told Sen
ator LANCER, as well as Southern
Senators who might filibuster
against antisegregation proposals,
that "the national defense measure
is no place to fight out civil rights
question"
Senator LANCER announced yester-
day he would try to amend the draft
bill by adding practically all rec
concentrations made seven months
ago by the Presidents Commission
on Civil Rights. His principal
amendment, he said, would ban
racial segregation and discrimina-
ton in the armed forces.
Wherry Fears Filibuster.
Introduction of such a rider"
would almost inevitably cause a
filibuster by Southern members,
Senator Wherry, Republican, of Ne
braska. acting majority leader said.
Several Southern Senators declared
they would stage an all-out effort
to prevent adoption Of the amend
ments for which Senator LANCER
said he would fight vigorously and
demand roll call votes
Senator Gurney said he was
"much concerned" by Senator Lang
er's statement but would try to per-
suade him not to "complicate the
issue" by pressing for the civil rights
program in connection with draft
legislation. He said he did not
know whether Senator LANCER faV-
ors or opposes the draft bill.
1T is my firm conviction that this
manpower bill Is so necessary to the
well-being of the United States that
both sides on the civil rights ques-
ton should withhold any amend
ments that would tend to delay
quick passage" Senator Gurney
commented.
When he had about given up hope
of getting Senate floor consideration
of the draft bill this week, Senator
Gurney late yesterday was notified
by the majority leadership that the
supposition is we'll start on the bill
Friday" This schedule may be up
set if the Senate does not finish
debate on other major legislation
today he said.
Chances of House action on a
draft bill also frightened today as
Speaker Martin announced that de-
bate is still scheduled to begin some
time next week.
The House Armed Services Com
mittee bill has been in the Rules
Committee three weeks. The rules
group has held hearings almost
daily since May 18 and plans to
hear about 10 additional opposition
witnesses this week, Chairman AL
len said.
Because of long discussion of an
Interior Department measure yes
terday afternoon, the committee did
not get around to the draft bill
but was to resume consideration
this afternoon.
The bill will comes.s-uut of the
Rules Committee all right" >" Speak
er Martin told reporters. IT still
think we can get it sometime next
week."
Stalling Charged. %
Some advocates of the bill have
been complaining privately that the
Rules Committee was trying to stall
the draft bill by delaying House
clearance until the Senate acted
on its version. Others have asserted
that the Rules Committee was pro-
longing the hearings in the expecta-
ton that "the heat would be off"
the bill as congressional adjourn
ment neared.
Mr.. Allen has denied the COM
mittee is using delaying tactics or
that 1t intends to block eventual
House consideration. He has cited
increasing opposition" to the
measure and declared that the COM
mittee wants to hear from some
of the so or more House members
who have asked to testify against it.
House and Senate draft bills, after
much revision by Armed Services
Committees, are similar In most
respects. Both would provide for
induction of men 10 through Is
for two years service. The registra-
ton age bracket in the Senate bill
would be Is through rs, but the
House measure would require
registration Of men IS through 80.
Wornoe