Evening star., 1950-05-25
Stand by Draft Plan
Goes 10 Senate After
216-to-11 House VOTE
By John A. Giles


by draft which would save four
months in emergency inductions
moved to the Senate today.
The House late yesterday
passed the measure by 216-to-11
vote. 1t would do little except
keep the draft in readiness-regis-
ter and classify the Nation S
youth. An amendment even
changed its name from Selective
Service to Manpower Registra-
ton.
Led by Chairman Vinson of the
House Armed Services Commit
tee. proponents met little opposi-
ton to the watered-down. two
year extension of the draft. The
present law. passed two years ago,
will expire June "a. 1t allows the
President to induct men into the
military services when he deems
it necessary, but the extension
measure provides that there shall
be no inductions without a decla-
ration of national emergency by
Congress.
Labor Mobilization Planned.
In the debate on the House
floor, mention was made of a
overall mobilization plan for
labor. industry and manpower for
use in event of war. Representa-
tive Vinson said he was conf
dent" that the National Security
Resources Board, under its new
chairman, w. Stuart Symington,
would come up with such a plan
by January. His statement drew
a round of applause.
Mr.. Vinson told the members
of his committee secret session
with Defense Secretary johnson,
Gen. Bradley, chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff. and Rear
Admiral Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter,
head of the Central Intelligence
Agency. before the lawmakers be-
came convinced that a draft ex-
tension was necessary. But the
Georgia Democrat did not divulge
any details of their testimony.
He said the officials convinced
the committee that draft extern
sion-first requested by the ad-
ministration last January but not
acted on by the group until May
was necessary because "in this
atomic age time is very impor-
tant.'
Russian Actions Stressed.
Repeated references to Russian
military power studded the debate.
The Soviet action in shooting down
an American plane over the Baltic,
in issuing the Trieste ultimatum
and other actions which are a mat
ter of public record were brought
out again.
Sober warnings of the danger of
conflict came from Republicans as
we'll as administration forces.
Representative Gavin, Republi-
can, of Pennsylvania said that "for
the first time in it's history, the
United States is in the front lines
in the time of peace"
Representative Javitts, Republi-
can, of New York, recalling that
he had voted against the peace
time draft two years ago, an
nounced he would vote for the ex-
tension because the interna-
tional "lines have tightened" since
that time.
Some Lawmakers Critical.
Some of the legislators were
critical of the bill because it did
not go far enough. Representa-
tive O'Toole, Democrat, of New
York called it the weakest piece
of legislation ever brought before
the House."
But Mr.. Vinson said that Con-
gress was taking over the induc-
ton reins to protect the Nation
from administration whimSy," and
he expressed the hope that it
would never be necessary for the
lawmakers to declare an emer-
gency.
Until that happens, this is the
situation:
l. All youths reaching 18 years
must be registered. They will
be classified by local boards.
2. Conscription will remain on
the shelf.
3. The President is prevented
from mobiliZing industry or taking
plants for defense purposes.
4. Voluntary enlistments under
two years are banned and 18-year-
olds may not volunteer.