Evening star., 1952-03-02
|UMT Showdown Set
JAS House Suppolieis
Bank on Amendments
By Georue Beyeridoe

lSnoWQoWn hight in the House on
universal military training. with
proponents banking on amend
lments to get additional votes for
their controversial bill.
However. UNIT opponents are
considering a rarely-used par
Iliamentary maneuver which might
open the way for q vote TO send
THE measure back to the Armed
Services Committee before amend
ments could be considered.
The UNIT bill will hit the House
floor Tuesday. If action can be
completed tomorrow on the Treas
lllry-Post Once appropriations
measure. There was some specu-
lation that the money bill might
take two days.
Recommittal Move Studied.
Representative Arends, Of Illi-
nois, the House Republica whip
and leading UNIT opponent, said
yesterday he did not know whether
an immediate recommittal move
would be made, but that 1t was
being widely discussed as a possi-
bility.
Under House rules, the move
could be made by q motion to
strike the bills enacting clause
as soon as the House sat as q
COMMITTEE OF the whole to con-
slider amendments. II that mo.
ltion were sustained, the committee
automatically would rise and re-
port back to the House. A motion
to recommit the bill then could
be offered.
Supporters Of such q move be-
lieve they would have q better
chance to get the bill back to
committee for more study before
members could vote on amend.
ments to cut out possible objec-
tions.
Vins0n Doubts Move.
However, Chairman Vinson oi
the Armed Services COMMITTEES
said he felt confident the House
will not recommit the bill. but
will. perfect it through amend
ments and pass it,"
The Georgia Democrat, leading
the fight for UNIT, has urged his
colleagues either to approve the
bill or kill 1t once and for all. :
The bill under study would
pave the way for inductions OF
18-year-olds for six months OF
training, after which they would
be channeled into reserve forces
for an additional 71a years. Main
argument for the bill is that it
would make available a large
number of trained non-vetefans
for active duty in case Of emer-
gepcy. and permit a cut in size
of the standing forces.
Other Amendments.
Mr.. Vinson has said he will
introduce an amendment to force
a progressive reduction in the
standing services, to begin as soon
as 100000 youths go through
UNIT. He contends that, in full
operation, such a program would
save $13 billion a year.
/ Other major amendment Is
PLANNED include: ....f
/ /. One by Representative Van
Zandt. Republican, of Pennsyl-
lvania, to provide that no youth
could be indicted for UNIT until
the draft for military service ends
/ 2. One by Representative Cole
Republican, Of New York, to put a
Termination date on UNIT.
i Mr.. Cole said he thought such
Jan amendment was mot essen
Itial at ALL" since Congress could
control UNIT each year through
appropriations. But it might an
swer some objection to the plan
he said.
Would Bury Measure.
! Mr.. Van Zandt said his amend
ment is based on his belief that
UNIT should be a peacetime pro-
gram. and not operated concur
rently with the draft. He pre-
dicted that many members who
are opposed to the bill believe IL
should be amended on the floor
and will not vote for immediate
recommittal."
! Representative Barden, Demo.
crat, Of North Carolina, said te
wanted the bill buried without
benefit Of clergy" But he saic
he would vote on any recommittaI
motion land then, take another
shot at 1t II 1t comes around
again"
While party lines are split
widely on the bill. some Republi.
cans charge that House leaders
have scheduled the appropriation
bill for consideration tomorrow
In order TO give UNIT proponents
more time TO rally their forces.