Nixon Proposes Program Which May Eliminate Draft

President Nixon presented concrete proposals yesterday which would lead toward the elimination of the draft and the creation of an all-volunteer army by July 1, 1973.

In a special message to Congress, Nixon repeated his year-old proposal to gradually phase out student deferments and immediately eliminate divinity school exemptions.

"No one knows precisely when we can end conscription," Nixon said yesterday. However, he continued, "The objective of this administration is to reduce draft calls to zero, subject to the overriding considerations of the national security."

Two-Year Limit

Nixon also asked Congress to limit to two years the extension of the Selective Service's authority to induct draftees. If this request is enacted, the Selective Service's power to draft men would end on July 1, 1973. Normally, Congress renews this authority for a full four years.

Nixon qualified this move by stating that although he "shall make every endeavor to reduce draft calls to zero by that time," the government would be "carefully and continually re-examining" its policy.

In addition to requesting an end to all remaining educational deferments, Nixon made a more general appeal for a national draft call by lottery to make draft liability throughout the nation "as equitable as possible."

"I urge favorable congressional action on these proposals to reform the draft and make it as nearly fair as we can for the time it is needed," Nixon said.

To make military life more appealing, Nixon urged an experimental program of wage incentives, a $1.5 billion increase in Congress's allocation for servicemen's pay, and the expansion of medical scholarships, recruiting efforts and ROTC programs.

Good Luck

John C. Carr, director of the Massachusetts Selective Service, said last night, "I wish him luck. I don't know what kind of incentives he can come up with to attract people who don't want to be shot at in the first place."

"Another thing that worries me." Carr continued, "is the possible development of a military caste in this country. Maybe I'm too pessimistic, but all these objections make the plan seem impractical to me."

"I'm also afraid that the plan is not feasible with a standing army of 3 million men," Carr added. "He should be prepared to reduce the size of the army if he wants the plan to work."