The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-08-12
EXEMPT LINES
To BE DRAWN
MORE TIGHTLY.
False Claims for Exemption
on dependent" Cause
Reaches High Mark.
BOARDS CAUTIONED
TO USE UTMOST CARE
ITO Raise an Army" is the
Controlling Necessity.
New Regulations.
Tallahassee Bureau,
The Pensacola Journal

Tallahassee, Fla, Aug. lift so
many exemptions because of Deepen
dency are claimed throughout the
United States that it appears that
the necessary army cannot be raised
out of the first number of drafted
men, section eighteen providing for
such exemptions may be no longer
continued, according to a telegram
received here today by Major Edward
Anderson, who has charge of the NJ
lective draft in Florida, from Pro
vost Marshal General Crowder The
wire states that it appears that Ibis
section is being abused. "The con-
trolling necessity is to raise an ar
my" says the telegram, land if ex-
perlence proves that the clause pro-
vldlng for exemptions because of de-
tendency is being abused, the first
numbers drawn, with the exception Of
those physically disqualified, will be
placed in service, the government
probably providing for the care of the
families of the men drafted.
Today's orders from Washington
also state that no examining physi-
clan or member of local board who
is related to a drawn man by blood
or marriage nearer than second
cousin may examine that man.
The orders are as follows
Washington, D. c., Aug. 9th. 1917.
Major Edward Anderson, Tallahas-
see, Fla.
Section No. of the Selective Ser
vice Laws eXempts no person from
military service on the ground of de-
tendency. 1t only authorizes the
president to exclude or discharge
from Draft Those in a status with
respect to persons dependent upon
them for support which renders their
exclusion or discharge advisable"
The controlling necessity is to raise
an army, 1t is advisable tn disturb
dependents just as little as the neces-
city of raising an army will premit
To this end Section No Is of the
Regulations was compiled carefully
and after the most earnest COnsid-
Grafton.
If the experience is 10 prove that
tie general conditions prescribed by
Section No. IS, 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 until an advisable rule
is reached. Nothing has happened to
change the belief that the persons
enumerated in Section No. IS could
be discharged without interfering
with the raising of an army, but
there are indications that abuses of
Section IS may render its continu-
ance no longer advisable.
Reports are to the effect that in
some district, as high as so per cent
of persons called before local boards
are filing claims for discharge on
the gVound of dependent relatives.
Such a percentage of claims when
viewed in connection with all avail
able statistics indicate beyond ques-
ton that advantage is being taken
of the provisions Of the law and reg
ulations which were intended 10 re-
duce to a minimum the misery at
home normally attendant upon war.
There is a moral certainty, in the ex-
hundreds of unfounded claims are
included in these totals. This state
of affairs greatly increases the bur
ueH OIL local DodFuS LOT, IL 4 HlSU per
centage of registrants claim exemp-
ton, only the uncomprom1sng action
of local boards can prevent a new
regulation on the subject of Deepen
dency which shall reduce discharges
for dependency to a far more re-
stricted class and to very necessi-
tous and clearly defined circum-
stances. In the absence of a stern
repression by local boards of unmer-
itorious claims this result is newt
able since any such percentage of
exemption as reports of claims indi-
cate would nullify the law and pre-
vent the raising of an army.
1t 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
fde claims under the present gener-
Gus clauses of the regulations, is Sc
riously imperiled by persons who
have filed claims without merit, and
that the only protection of persons
whose cases are within the meaning
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