Evening star., 1948-04-04
Congress
Continued From First Page)

committee mebers favor the pro-
gram in principle.
Draft Machine Studied.
On the House side some consid-
Grafton is being given to setting
up the draft machinery and pro-
viding for registration, as an initial
step, while studying the problem
further. 1t Is understood there also
has been some discussion of setting
up the machinery and empowering
the President to decide when calls
should be issued. These suggestions
presumably rest on the theory that
existence of the draft machinery
would stimulate recruiting.
Most Of the testimony at the first
Senate hearing yesterday was in
opposition to UNIT 1t included:
l. A statement from Charles A.
Beard, historian, argued UNIT would
create "a monstrous military bu-
reaucracy."
2. Prof. Lloyd H. Reyerson, of the
University OF Minnesota, said UNIT
"betrays the fact that those in con-
troll have not yet grasped the sig
nificance of scientific warfare"
8. Col. Truman Smith, retired,
formerly of the Army's general
staff, Endorsed the proposed draft,
but contended that UNIT may
prove a most serious weakness in
that defense funds and energies will
be diverted to it from our first
line of defense forces"
4. Henry D. Smyth. atomic scien-
tist and author of the Army's re-
port on the atomic bomb, took nc
definite stand on UNIT or the draft
but said there is an extreme short
age" of young scientists. He urged
creation Of an auxiliary scientific
corps.
Army Policy Criticized.
Meanwhile, the Committee Against
Jimcrow in Military Service and
Training quoted Joe Louis, heavy
weight champion, criticizing the
Army's policy of race segregation
Mr.. Louis served in World War II
His statement, cabled from Lon
don, read:
1t is time that we veterans who
suffered while in uniform the hu-
Mutations of Jim Crow trains, Jim
Grow restaurants, Jim Crow rail-
road stations, Jim Grow Army bar
racks and even Jim Grow telephone
booths, should rise up in every cor
ner of the land and say, in one
massive voice, This shall not hap
pen to our younger brothers. This
is more than men with spines will
endure"
Speaker Martin told reporters
that on the House side there will
be conference of all Republicans
to consider overall policy on expan-
sion of national defense. He also
indicated this step would come soon
because the Appropriations Com
mittee may have the Army and Air
Force appropriation bill ready in
10 days.
Although 1t has been assumed
generally Congress would adjourn
this summer for the political cam
paign, Speaker Martin said that
If the administration considers the
situation is tense Congress would
not adjourn. He said short recesses
could be taken during the national
conventions in June and July, and
then a recess near election time in
the fall.
Bills Depend on Cost.
The Speaker said also that the
fate OF a number of bills involving
military expenditures may de-
pend on how much the leadership
finally decides to spend on an ex-
panded national defense.
The original national defense
budget in January called for $l1,-
000, ,000,0 900. The Administration last
week called for a supplemental de-
fense outlay of $4,000, 900 900. Men,
bers of Congress understand a sub
stantial part OF this latter figure
would be to bring the aviation arm
up to SIS air groups.
Discussing the size of the air force,
Mr.. Martin said he would feel a
whole lot more comfortable, and
we'd be in a much safer position,
with 10 (air groups)."
In his letter to Senator Gurney,
Mr.. Forrestal indicated that achiev-
ing what is called a ITO air group
program" would not be as simple as
adding is to the SIS regular Air
Force groups.
The Defense Secretary wrote that
THE terms 10 air group program
describes complete program calling
for 131 air groups Go regular Air
Force, ~ National Guard, and "a
Air Reserve) and % regular Air
Force squadrons; total of 20, ,59s