Evening star., 1948-05-19
House Draft Bill Moves
Slowly Toward Floor;
Senators DeadIocked
By Robert K. Welsh

Draft bills In Congress were
still far from settled today. The
House Rules Committee, ques-
tioning the need or urgency of
selective service, continued pub
lie hearings that may run into
next week. Senate supporters Of
a draft-universal military train
ing measure tried in vain to find
a compromise with Southern
members on the racial segrega-
ton issue.
Chairman Allen Of the Rules
Committee indicated the draft bill
reported out by the Armed Services
Committee void be celared event.
ually for floor debate. But he said
several witnesses will be heard and
commented that Il don't believe it
will make any difference whether
this bill is finished this week or
next"
Hearings which began yesterday
morning were to be resumed this
afternoon. Rules Committee men,
bers said they had further questions
to ask of Chairman Andrews OF the
Armed Services Committee Sew
eral other members OF the Armed
Services Committee are expected
to testify.
Senators in Controversy.
Mr.. Andrews sponsored the bill
fixing armed forces manpoWer CELL
ings at approximately 100000 and
providing for registration of men
18 through 80, with possible in
duction of those 10 through rs for
two years service.
The sometimes bitter exchanges
that marked yesterdays Rules Com
mittee hearing were matched by a
less open, but more explosive con-
troversy among Senators attempt
ing to arrange for Senate debate on
q draft-UMT bill next week.
Senator Russell, Democrat, CT
Georgia told reporters he would not
agree to a proposed compromise
whereby Secretaries Of the Army,
Navy and Air Force would decide
the racial status of units in which
draftees and trainees would serve.
Men Could Choose Units.
The Georgia Senator has intro
duced an amendment whereby a
man, drafted or enlisted under the
bill, would serve in a unit of his
own race" If he so requested
The bill. approved by the Senate
Armed Services Committee. now
states that there shall be no dis
elimination against any person on
account Of race or color" in the en-
forcement Of the proposed law.
The measure would require regis
tration of men 10 through 80, with
those 10 through 25 subject to in
duction for two years service. About
$1,000 of the 18-year-old group
would be called for one year train
ing and they could volunteer for
that period,
It was learned that Senator Lodge,
Republican, Of Massachusetts, plans
to introduce the substitute amend
ment giving the Army. Navy and
Air Force secretaries authority to-
decide racial status of units.
|' Unacceptable to Southerners.
This Is unacceptable to the South
ern group, Senator Russell SAID, be-
cause it does not give freedom OF
choice" to the individual. Moreover.
he said, President Truman has ad-
vocated elimination Of aggregation
In the armed forces.
Other defense legislation develop
ments yesterday included House
Armed Services Committee approval
of a bill allowing the Navy to stop
work on 13 unfinished warships and
to start building a 65,000-ton air.
craft carrier that would be the
worlds largest naval vessel.
The committee also approved a
bill. similar to one expected to re-
ceive favorable action by the Senate
Armed Services Committee, per-
mitting the Defense Department to
retain 200 surplus World War II
plants as a reserve. Most Of those
plants we're scheduled for disposal
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