The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-08-14
TOO MANY FILING
EXEMPTION CLAIMS
Work Before BOardS-TO Them Falls
Task Of Wedding Out Meritorious
Applications for Discharge
From Service

AVi ~
From Service
Washington, Aug. 9.-Aholesale
claims for exemption from the army
Draft. reported from many sections,
caused Provost Marshal Genera:
C1owder to telegraph the governors
Of the States tonight directing that
local boards reduce discharge for
dependency to a far more restricted
class and to very necessitous and
clearly defined circumstances
In some districts as high as 80 per
cent. of registrants called for exemp-
tion are fling claims for discharge
on the ground of dependent relatives.
Such a condition indicates, General
Crowder said, that unfair advantage
is being taken of the regulations de-
signed to protect men who properly
should be. exempted and actually
threatens to- interfere seriously with
the raising of the. National Army.
The message TO the governors fol-
lows: a..
"Section 3 of the. selective service
law exempts no person from. military
service on the ground of dependency
It only. authorizes the president 70
exclude or discharge from draft those
in a stotus with respect : to- persons
dependent upon. them ror. support
which renders their exclusion or dis
charge advisable :. The. controlling
necessity is, to raise an army. 1t IS
advisable to disturb dependents just
as little as the, necessity of raising an
army will permit. To this end Sec
.tion 1s of the regulations was COM
piled carefully. and after the most
earnest consideration. If experience
is to. prove that the generous condi-
tions prescribed by Section 18 or anY
abuse of them. will interfere with the
raising of an army. then it is no
longer advisable to DISCHARGE so wide
a class and the conditions stated
therein will have to be restricted un-
til an advisable rule is reached
"Nothing has happened. to change
the belief that the persons enumeraS-
ed in Section Is could be discharged
without interfering with the raising
of an army, there are indications tnat
abuses of Section 13 may render its
continuance no longer advisable.
Reports are to the effect that ii
some. districts as high as 80 per cent
are filing claims for discharge on the
ground of dependent relatives. Such
a percentage of claims when viewed
in connection with all available statis-
tics indicates beyond question that ad-
vantage is. being. taken. of the pro-
visions of the law and regulations
which were: intended to reduce to a
minimum the misery at home nor
mally attendant upon war.
There is a moral certainty, in the
.ext-ava rance Of the percentage, that
hundreds of unfounded claims are in
cluded in these totals.
"This state Of affairs greatly Ia
creases the burden Of local boards for
if so high percentage of. registrants
claim exemption, only the uncompro-
missing action. of local boards can pre-
vent a new regulation on the subject
CT dependency which will reduce dis
charges for dependency to a far more
restricted class and to very .necessi-
tous and clearly defined eircumstanc-
es. = -;
"It is thus apparent that the filing
Of these improper claims will react
directly and injuriously on persons
whom the present regulations were
designed to protect and that the well
fare of persons who have filed bona
fide claims under the present gener-
Gus clauses of the regulations is Sc
riously ,imperiled by persons who
have fled claims. without merit and
that the only protection Of persons
whose cases are within the meaning
Of the present rules lies in the power
of local boards to refuse exemption
in every doubtful case.
cit is true that cases of discharge
on the ground of Dependency are ap-
pealed 10 the district board, bat this
clause is only inserted to secure, uIl-
1orraity of action. District boards are
10 examine these cases to discover de-
partures from the law, regulations
and rulings; and they will not and
can not open every case On dts Mer-