| Show Draft Struggle in Congress tom promised I 4 WASHINGTON June 21 UP P- P p I The s bang slam t am ban g congressional struggle over pence peacetime time drafting of teen-agers teen near a compromise finish Friday with 19 year olds once more subject to call and youths of 18 exempt Only the usual house and senate approval of the hard fought conference conference conference con con- ference agreement was needed to assure a month mine-month extension of selective service beyond the end of this month Speaker Rayburn CD D. D Tex saw a n slight chance the house might act late Friday if two pending bills could be cleared but it appeared more probable the measure would not be reached before next Monday or Tuesday A floor battle against accepting the he compromise was was' promised by Rep cp Short R. R Mo lone member member mem- mem ber of the 14 11 senate and house conferees whose signature did not appear on the final compromise Unalterably Opposed There Is no need at all to extend extend ex ex- tend the wartime draft Short told reporters I am unalterably opposed to taking any teenagers and I also favor holding up all inductions for a few months as previously voted by the house ma ma- Despite Shorts Short's last ditch opposition opposition opposition tion congressional leaders expected expect expect- ed both the tho senate and house to approve the conference report and send it on to the White House well ahead of the June 30 dead line when the present stopgap stop stop gap draft dra t extension expires Along with the draft act extension extension ex ex- tension the conferees also approved approved approved ap ap- ap- ap proved a pay increase plan for all allmen allmen allmen men and officers of all the armed services Like exemption of year olds the pay hike represented a victory for the house conferees who had Insisted upon a separate te bill providing providing providing pro pro- viding higher salaries in the armed forces The senate originally Incorporated ed pay increases in Its draft extensIon extension ex ex- tension measure The Increases were limited to enlisted personnel with biggest jumps for army privates corporals and sergeants along with corresponding lowest graders of others services This was aimed at attracting volunteers and thus reducing educing the need for drafted men However the conferees decided to go along wi with th the house idea ofa of 01 a separate bill giving a 50 pay boost to the bottom enlisted enlistee grades and providing graduated increases for other noncommissioned noncommissioned and commissioned personnel person person- nd nel g generals f Tile The eW flay ay s 's sc scales would give gire army arms army tes and navy havy apprentice tice seamen 75 a a- month noth instead of the tha pr present 50 i Awhile hil g generals and admirals ls at the top lop of ot the ladder would draw as ascom C com compared 0 m p a re d with the present Only important change made In Inthe Inthe inthe the separate house plan was to up tip the increase for army captains and navy lieutenants from 10 to 15 Figures Cost Chairman Elbert D. D Thomas D. D Utah of the senate military committee said tho the over all in increases increases increases in- in creases will add an estimated annually to taxpayers' taxpayers ers' ers bills The senate pay boosts would have cost an additional The bill will meet meet- all man manpower manpower manpower power needs of f the war department department department depart depart- ment Thomas predicted adding that it should please those who contend peacetime conscription was necessary to support our foreign foreign foreign for for- eign policy and carry out our com com- Selective service officials re reported reported reported re- re ported a pool of some men of 19 and older available for Induction Induction induction in In- and Sen Thomas said he believed that these would be re required required xe- xe despite the higher pay In Inducement Inducement Inducement In- In for volunteers Draft officials also noted that had been beer some olds 18 deferred to complete schooling anc and then escaped induction when congress congress congress con con- gress exempted agers teen In extending extending ex ex- tending the draft from May 14 to July 1 They said about of these will reach 19 and be subject subject sub sub- j ct to induction each month after Sept 1 There was no dispute over fix fix ing top limits of the army at on July 1 this year ear and the same date next year with the navy maximum at 58 and that of the marines on July 1 I 1947 |
