Evening star., 1948-04-09
Military Bills
To Get Priority,
6. 0. P. Decides
Senote to Take Up
Draft, UNIT, Air Force
Expansion Measures
By J. A. O'LeoY

nounced To-Day that legislation
to expand the Nations air power
and meet other new military
needs will have the right of way
on the floor as soon as the Armed
Services Committee reaches an
agreement.
Two COP meetings were held
today to examine the list of busi-
nesses remaining for this session.
First the Senate Republican Policy
Committee, headed by Senator Taft
Of Ohio, went over the immediate
schedule for the coming week.
Later a general Republican con-
ference was held under the chair
manship of Senator Milliken of
Colorado.
Senator Taft said the Senate will
begin consideration of a temporary
draft, a larger air force, universal
military training or any other de-
fense measure as soon as such Rgis-
lation reaches the floor.
Details Not Discussed.
The details of a new draft or
UNIT we're not discussed at today's
meetings-only the question of
order of priority for national de-
tense requirements.
Senator Millikin said, "The con-
sensus was that military legislation
should have the right of way as
soon as it comes from committee
Senator Taft made substantially
the same statement, but added his
own belief that legislation would
not be ready next week and possibly
not for two weeks.
Senator Taft, an outspoken foe
of UNIT. said he has not changed
his own view on that. AS to the
draft. he still hopes manpower
goals can be filled with volunteers,
but is willing to give the President
standby power to revive the draft
to make up any deficiency in vol
unteers.
House Gets New Draft Bill.
Meanwhile, House leaders worked
on a new draft bill that would limit
registration to the 18-through-3
age groups, but make only those
from 10 through Is liable for two
years of service.
Veterans with year or more of
service would have to register but
not serve. Those with more than
80 days but less than a year. of
service also would be exempt from
induction if they join reserve units
Of the Army, Navy or Air Forces.
Other developments today in
clude:
The Senate Armed Services Com
mittee went into another closed ses-
sion with military leaders to get
more data on manpower needs be-
fore starting to act, probably next
week, on the bill, which started out
with draft registration up to the
age Of As.
The House Appropriations Com
mittee cleared it's tracks for hear
ings on a bill that would make
S725 100000 of the Air Force money
for the next fiscal year available
Immediately to speed up procure
ment.
War Plant Sales Held Up.
The White House told the War
Assets Administration to hold up
final disposition of unsold industrial
plants, machine tools and other
equipment needed for war produc-
tion.
The stop order was issued to per-
NIT the Munitions Board to survey
the items in the next 80 days. The
board already has put $50 major
plants under the national security
clause requiring them to be so kept
as to be recoverable to war use
in l20 days.
The revised age limits and ex-
emptions being considered by House
leaders are expected to be available
in bill form before Chairman An
drews of the House Armed Services
Committee begins open hearings on
the draft Monday.
The House committee approved
the UNIT bill last year, but it has
remained bottled up in the Rules
Committee. A resolution from that
committee would bring it up on the
House floor.
The $725 100000 to be made avail
able as soon as Congress can act on
1t for plane production and re-
search is part of the $3.O00,00O, 900
of supplemental defense estimates
the administration recommended
recently, on top of the regular SILL
00o000,000 budget for all branches
OF the armed services for next year.
Chairman Taber of the House
Appropriations Committee said
stepped-up air program proposals
will get highest priority" and i'm
mediate attention at hearings on
requests for additional funds.