Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-11
RI q star Correspondent


Eight hundred and seventy-three thou
,,rd men in Pennsylvania. 1Il,sOO OF them
In philadelphia, must go to the polls and
.ooister for military service under the terms
=, tho sAective army service bill ms finally
agreed upon by the confcrees representing
the Senate and House
Those figures are the official estimates of
.,o United States Government for July |.
,o,- based on the last Federal census. and
.oro compiled today following the agree
..o,t on the part of the conterees to include
IN the draft all men between the ages of
,usnty-one and thirty years. inclusive.
throughout the United states, according to
the figures of the census experts, there are
today 10,O27,3OO within those age limits.
Tho official reports of the last census, which
was taken in 1910 show there were at that
time s.s2463S makes between the ages of
twenty-one and thirty.
Estimating the population of the country
At 100000, 900 in round numbers, the state
nent that 10,2O7,300 are males between the
ages of twenty-one and thirty means that
one person in every ten throughout the
United states, including women and chill
lren. will be available for military duty
Under the seective system, Pennsylvania
will be called upon to furnish approximately
one-twelfth of the new Federal army that
Is to be created. This Is in addition to the
thousands of volunteers that must be en-
listed to fill up the quota of the State in
National Guard organizations and the regu-
lar army.
With 10,O27 800 men between twenty-one
and thirty in the United states. the selec-
ton of the first increment of 100000 men
y.,ffh
liable to service under the act must go.
Pennsylvania will furnish for the first incre-
ment 43.650 and of that number $500 will
70 from Philadelphia. Each succeeding
Increment of 100000 will take just that
many more from the available men left at
home After the first increment has been
IN training six months the next VIII be
called and 80 on until the United States
has an army of 100000 men in addition
to the regular army of $4,000 men and
$4,000 in the National Guard.
There Is an ironclad prohibition against
any drafted man hiring a substitute to
serve for him, as was done so frequently
when the draft was resorted to during the
Civil War. Every man drafted must serve
unless excused from service Specific exemp
tions from service are made by the bill
In the case of the Vice President. State and
Federal legislative, executive and judicial
officials. ministers and those studying in
theological schools also members of reli
giouS ORGANIZATIONS whose CTeeuS pTOnlDlt
their members from participation in the
war The President may use the latter eX-
empted class for noncombatant duties.
There is no blanket provision in the act
exempting married men from service under
the draft The married men well as the
single must go to the registration places
for enrollments if they come within the age
limits, but in view of the fact that all
married men having dependents are being
excused from the National Guard at this
time it is not believed that the married men
enrolling under the draft will be utilized for
the present at least. The law does authorize
discharge of those having persons depend
ent upon them"
1t is specifically provided that in add-
ton to those excused because OF physical
disabilities the President may utilize EN-
ployes of arsenals, armories, navy yards
and similar military activities in the reg
ular employment.
Provision is made for the creating of a
local board in each county and one for
every $4,000 persons in cities to determine
the exemption of individuals from service.
The boards, each one of which is to be ap-
pointed by the President and composed of
at least three members are to be free from
military connection. Additional boards, one
for each Federal judicial district. are TO be
created to review the findings of the local
boards If appeals are made to them. The
decisions of the district boards are to be
ANAL except that the President may affirm
modify or reverse any decision.
AS soon as the President signs the Sc
lective service bill making it law. it is ex-
pected that he will issue proclamation
fixing the date on which all men between
the prescribed ages must present themselves
for registi alton. 1t is planned to use the
local election machinery to obtain these
lists of eligibles. and far as possible the
voting precinct lines that have obtained In
past elections will be used in this registra.
ton. Any person who is eligible to service
and who fails to appear for registration
will be liable to years Imprisonment and
registration after that time.
Men In the lowest grades of pay are to
receive $40 a month more than is now re.
ceved by enlisted men in the regular army
That means that privates will start at S2s
instead Of SIS a month. Those who now
receive $46 or more month will have ar
increase Of IS month.