The sun., 1917-08-28
POLICE AND FIREMEN
NOT DRAFT EXEMPT
Provost Marshal General
CrOwder Rules Against
Gov. Whitman's Plea.
APPEAL BOARD PROBLEM
Telephone and Rapid Transit
Employees Status Next to
Be Determined.
APPEAL BOARD PROBLEM

simultaneously with the receipt OF
Provost Marshal General C-owder's rul-
Ing to the effect that police and firemen
may be drafted for the national army,
the district board for the hearing OF ap-
pealed exemption claims found itself up
against new problem affecting tele-
phone and rapid transit employees.
The question OF whether the public
service corporations are to be crippled
by conscrtption OF a large number OF
their employees was presented at a late
afternoon session over which Charles E.
Hughes presided. Eight appeals taken
by linemen and cable operators con-
nected with the New York Telephone
Company came up for discussion, and by
unanimous consent Of tho board mem
bers all were held up TO await a special
ruling Of the Provost Marshal General.
Louis Marshall. chairman Of one OF
the Investigating committees. was IN
favor Of instantly rejecting these ap-
peals, but Mr.. Hughes announced: The
New Haven Railroad has already filed
blanket claim for the exemption Of
several hundred employees. and the In
terborough Rapid Transit Company is
contemplating a similar move. Under
the circumstances ] believe would do
well to get an immediate ruling from
the Provost Marshal General as to
whether or not these cases can be
construed as within the clause Of the
law allowing exemption on industrial
grounds"
Passes Upon $50 Cases.
Working from early morning until
dark the board passed upon $50 cases,
exclusive Of appeals taken by the Pro-
vost Marshal. The latter were prAc-
tically all taken upon formal grounds
and denied without discussion. OF the
claims for exemption 27S were refused.
Mrs. Reon Lea Bowen OF 119 West
Ninety-second street, a young bride. was
commended as a heroine by the board.
When the appeal Of her husband, an
architect. was read to the board ex-
Judge Edgar NJ. Cullen announced that
the pair had been married on May &c,
after the enactment of the conscription
law. The bride, he said, when apprised
Of the fact that her husband had claimed
exemption on her account, announced
that she wanted him to serve his coun-
try and would gladly resume her former
occupation as stenogra pher In order
that he might do his bit. whereupon
the board passed Bowen as eligible for
service.
Application Il Denied.
Other war Benedicks were ruled fit for
army service. The board members seem
to be of the opinion that a mother has
enough duties on her hands without be-
ing forced to work for living, but that
woman who 10 childless and In good
health can endure few hardships II
necessary.
The Provost Marshal Generals atti-
tude regarding the drafted employees of
the Police and Fire departments became
known early IN the day when Commits
sioner Arthur Woods made public a
lengthy communication from Washing
ton.
At his request Gov. Whitman had
asked the Secretary OF War to exempt
police and fremen in cities of more than
100000 population on the ground that
the importance OF the service performed
by them here is increased at present by
necessity OF guarding against plot and
arson.
The application was denied, however
Provost Marshal General Crowder calling
his attention to the fact that in all likel-
hood not more than 500 policemen will be
drafted in the entire city and that ths
! number will scarcely be missed by the
department. 1t is expected that a sim
| liar number Of firemen Will be called
| to the colors
The Fire Department contains 1850
| uniformed members OF whom 1.462 are
| eligible for military service. A num-
ber of them already have been drafted
The District Board. headed by Chairman
| Hughes, Mayor Mitchell and Commits