Norwich bulletin., 1917-07-17
SeIective Army to
 Be Soon Selected
AWAITING COMPLETION OF Ex-
 EXEMPTION MACHINERY
EASY ACCESS TO LISTS
Local Boards and Press to Cooperate in Task of Explaining Enumeration and Exemption-Only Eleven States Have Completed Organization, and Some Districts Have Not Finished Numbering Process.

Some Districts Have Not Finished
 Numbering Process.
 Washington. July 16.-with drawing of lots for the selective army awaiting only completion of exemption machin- cry in few scattered sections of the country, officials here are anxious that regiStrantS take every opportunity be- tween now and the day of drawing to inform themselves thoroughly regard ing exemption regulations so as to reduce to a minimum the confusion to be cleared up after designations are made.
 Press Will Cooperate
 To this end attention was directed today to various sections of the reg Llations over which questions have arisen, and it was suggested that the local boards and the press cooperate during the week or so remaining be- fore lots are drawn to insure that the registered men know just how to per form their part in the great task of examination and exemption.
 So that easier access may be had to the lists of registration numbers in the hands of local boards. Provost Marshal General Crowder telegraphed the governors of all the states asking that instead of posting the lists at the board offices they be placed "in some safe, central office such as police head quarters" In the larger cities, espe- cially, the provost marshal general said, much inconvenience has been caused by having the lists available only at out of the way board offices.
 Only Eleven Reports Complete.
 Only eleven states tonight had not reported their organizations complete and in many of these only a few dis trict boards had not finished number ing registration cards. The great ma jority of districts throughout the coun- try are ready for the drawing and states telegraph that all the boards in their jurisdiction have filed their lists the drawing date will be set. Officials think it will not be earlier than Sat urday.
 Limit of Local Boards
 Officials here are anxious that local boards make it clear everywhere that no question of exemption of any reg 1stered man for any other cause than physical disability or dependent rela- tives can be taken up before the local boards. The whole matter of indus trial exemption is left to the superior boards. one of which has been created in each federal judicial district.
 Industrial Exemption.
 No individual case where exemption is desired because the registrant is engaged in any industry classified as vital to the war will be taken up until that individual has been called LID for examination by his local board. found to be without dependents and physic- ally fit for military duty and certified to the superior board. After that ap- plication to the superior board for ex- emption on other grounds will be ad- missible. The registrant or his em- ployer may file necessary affidavits with the superior board seeking ex- emption and the case will be heard promptly.
 Absent Registrants.
 been much doubt is the status of reg istrants absent from their registration districts. Scores of requests have come from men in this situation asking home towns for examination They have been informed that if they are selected for examination each will be notified by mail by his local board and then can apply to the local board for permission to undergo examination in the town where he is located
 Such action cannot be taken, how ever. until the registrant has actually been summoned by his local board.
 Blanks for Appeals
 The government has distributed to all local boards complete sets of any other matters in connection with the process. Full instructions for fill ing out any form of blank and specific instructions as to the manner in which each is to be used also have been pro- vided.
 Registrants may examine these at the quarters of local boards, but every effort has been made to prevent the filing of aff1davits or other documents that do not apply to a case actually under consideration. Otherwise the boards would be Swamped with efforts to get a decision in advance.
 It was for this reason that the reg ulations provided that no man could come up for examination in any way before either local or superior boards until he was actually summoned for military duty.
 The Greatest Misunderstanding.
 Probably the point in the whole process which has led to the greatest misunderstanding and confusion Is the system by which industrial exemption IS to be granted. Many persons have regarded it IS certain that men in munitfon- making or other strictly war industries would be exempted as a class. This is not the fact. What is to govern the process is the importance of the individual in such an industry. If another man could take his place without prejudice to the working of the plant he will not be granted mi1i- tary exemption.
 To make this policy effective the superior and not the local boards are assigned the task of saying whether l or not a man should be retained at his | desk or bench. The bulk of emptions | and consideration of these cases will | keep the local boards fully occupied | leaving to the more de1fberative supe- 1 rior boards the entire handling of the | much more vexing questions of indus | trial exemption.