Evening star., 1951-03-04
Morse Set 10 Revise
18az-Year Draft Plan
Before Senate Votes
By George Beveridqe

Oregon. disclosed last night he will
make laSt-minute revision to-
morrow to get support for his con-
troversial draft amendment to set
1872 as the minimum compulsory
induction age.
The Senate is scheduled to vote
tomorrow afternoon on the 1917
year proposal, in the first impor-
tant showdown on draft expan-
sion. Pending before the Senate
is long-range measure to re-
duce the draft age from 10 to 1S,
extend draft service from 81 to
26 months and pave the way for
a permanent universal military
training program.
Meantime, strong support for
Senator Morse's argument has de-
veloped from the other side of
Capitol Hill. Chairman Vinson of
the House Armed Services Com
mittee predicted his committee
would refuse to approve a draft
below the 1S12-year level.
new Analysis Released.
Mr.. Vlnson declared the COM
mittee's own draft bill-which in
cludes the 18l2-year feature
would furnish enough manpower
for military expansion to 4 mil
lion men, if necessary. He re-
leased a new statistical analysis
in support of his stand.
Senator Morse told a reporter
he will change his amendment
before the Senate vote tomorrow
to restore these provisions:
l. That draft boards cannot
induct men below the age of 19I
until they have taken all avail
able men between 10 and 26.
2. That when the boards go be-
low 10, they must take the old
est 18-year-olds first. beginning
with those 1S years and II months
old and going down to 18 years
and six months.
Good Chance" He Predicts.
These changes will bring the
Morse amendment substantially
closer to the bill on the floor
and eliminate one of the chief
arguments against the Oregon
Senator's proposal. Senator
Morse said. "I think I've got a.
very good chance of getting it,
through"
However. Senator Lyndon John
son, Democrat, of Texas, chairman
Of the subcommittee which drew
UP the Senate bill, said he is con-
f1dent the 1812-year limit will be
defeated by substantial margin"
Meanwhile, Mr.. Vinson said he
expects a committee vote on the
House bill by next Friday, and
that House debate would start |
mot later than March IA"
That bill, in addition to the 1872 |
age level, would extend service to
26 months. draft childless hus-
bands and roll back induction
standards to the low point of
January. 1945.
Sees Adequate Pool.
These provisions. Mr.. Vinson
said, would give the armed forces
July l draft pool of 1,5O3,0G0
men-enough, he said, to expand
to 4 million men and still release
thousands of reservists now on
active duty.
In his statistical analysis, Mr..
Vinson said the military will be up
to a 3.46 million strength by next
July "or shortly after" The fig
ure will be met, he said by adding
to 81 million men on duty last
October /:
About 100000 National Guards
men or reservists; 100000 draftees
or enlistees between 19 and 26;
10000 voluntary enlistees II or
18 years old; 10000 World War II
veteran enlistees, and $4,000 re-
enlistments.
411,000 to Be Available.
Mr.. Vinson pointed out that
411,000 men between the ages of
40 dll0 ~ WILL DC dVdldUtC 1lCAG
July l. The House bill would adj:
/. 264,000 men between 1872
and 10 Gncluding those taken be-
cause of reduced induction stand
ards).
2. $4,000 of the 100000 men
now classified At.
3. $4,000 childless husbands.
4. $1,000 men reaching 10 since
last July, who at present would be
deferred as 4-F.
5. $4,000 additional men not
yet examined who would be 4-F
without the cut in standards.
From this draft pool of 1,5O3 900
men, Mr.. Vinson said, the Penta-
gon would need 1000 men dur
ing the next fiscal year. But by
extending draft service to 26
months and freezing expiring en-
liStmentS for one wear. he con-