Evening star., 1948-05-03
House Committee Backs Draft,
28 to 5, After Hearing Forresto|;
Floor Action Likely Next Week
l8-to-30 Registration
l9-to-25 Induction
Ages Provided
By Robert X. Walsh

The House Armed Services
Committee today approved, %
to 5, a peacetime draft bill re-
quiring registration of men from
18 through 80, with possible in
duction of those l9 through 25.
The vote came in open session
after members tried unsucceSsfully
to have closed meeting or to delay
action until after the Senate Armed
Services Committee votes on a pro-
posed merger of the selective service
and universal military training.
The House measure, increasing
the manpower ceiling for the Armed
Forces from l,384,000 to 100000,
and permitting the Air Force to ex-
pand TO 10 groups, probably will be
debated in the House early next
week Committee Chairman Andrews
said.
Forrestal Urges Controls.
Before the committee voted. Sec
rotary of Defense rorrestal told the
members he considered the bill
excellent" He also urged Con-
gress to enact immediate emergency
authority for stockpiling scarce raw
materials and for applying prior
tiles to assure essential production of
military equipment.
Secretary ForresJal said the con-
trolls need not be invoked at once.
but that no time should he lost in
passing legislation authorizing such
moves when necessary.
When Representative VinSon,
Democrat, of Georgia, ranking
minority member. moved TO report
out the bill, Representative ClaSon,
Republican. of Massachusetts.
moved to go into executive session.
The voice vote blocked his mo-
ton, but Representative Van Zandt,
Republican. of Pennsylvania moved
to put off the vote until the Senate
committee acted on the proposed
compromise measure to consolidate
selective service and military train
ing by drafting of 161 900 l8-year-
olds for one year of training, and
10000 men between l9 through Is
for two years service.
Two Years Regular Service.
The bill approved by The House
committee today deals only with
selective service, and would draft for
two years service in the Regular
forces. Last July the House COM
mittee approved a UNIT bill. but the
House Rules Committee has never
cleared It,
The Van Zandt motion to delay
the vote on the House bill was de-
feated % TO ;. Besides Mr.. Van
zandt, those who voted for it, were
Representative Clason, Bishop.
Democrat. of Illinois; Thildin, Re-
publican, of Massachusetts. and
Havenner Republican, of California.
On the vote for reporting out the
bill, the five who voted against 1t
were Representatives Short, Repub-
liCan, of Missouri; Hebert, Demo-
crat. of Louisiana, and Bishop. Phil
bin and Havenner.
Much of Secretary .Forestal's re-
plies to committee questions dealt
with the possible effect of military
defense expenditures on the ma
tional economy. It was in this con-
neCtion that Mr.. ForreStal said: Il
believe it is absolutely necessary to
have emergency limited control au-
thoriZation now
No Figure on Total Cost.
When various members attempted
to pin him down on possible ad-
d,tional spending to put the pro-
posed draft into operation, equip
extra Army divisions and, at the
same time give military aid to
some European countries, Secretary
Forrestal said he knew of no specific
estimate for such foreign aid. He
estimated the draft system would
cost more than $4,000. 900 900 dur
ing the first year with perhaps an
equal amount later for necessary
equipment.
Secretary Forrestal began his
testimony by saying that the need
for Strengthening the national Sc
Curity is so immediate and impera-
tive that he will work for the best
legislation that seems to have a
practical opportunity of being en-
acted at this session.
The safety of the country re-
quireS that the draft be restored
At once to augment the armed
forces, he declared
Suggests Deferring Scientists.
The draft bill would be better.
he said if it authorized defer
ment Of persons in scientific and
technical study This was suggested
tSee DEFENSE, Page AS