Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-25
ALLSCTTY DRAFT
|QUOTAS EXCESSIVE
5ongressman Costello Pro-
tests Against System of
Pro- Rating Conscripts
H A R R / S B U R G
Hethod Bulked Philadelphia, De-
nying Districts Credit for
' Volunteers

3 a@raft quotas in order to Insure the city q
Io1are deal In connection with the number
~ youths who are to enter the national
1}eny was tho outstanding feature In a
o<etement made today by Congressman
Peter E. Costello.
Despite the fact that Colonel Frank p.
Sweeney. of Harrisburg, has denied the de-
mand Of Congressman Costello for re-
vioion Of quotas in Kensington. .Frankford
& And Tacony. the Congressman made It plain
nat he has not given UP hope.
n philadelphia is the most loyal city in
the country and is willing to make any
baerifice. but must not be expected to do
nore than its share" said Congressman
Costello, the system under which the exemp-
tion districts of the city have been given
their quotas is unfair and not in harmony
with the system that has been applied to
other cities in Pennsylvania.
e cRITICIZEs METHODS
when the War Department issued orders
!. 20 the various States to raise certain num-
Bors Of men for the national service our
efucials In Harrisburg following these In
Otructions, divided the State into exemption
district. Each district according TO Gov
eofnment estimates contained $4,000 people.
NOW the War Department specified that
each district after its draft quota had
BEEN fixed was 10 be given credit for all
men who had entered the national service.
instead of treating Philadelphia by districts
Ae city was treated as whole In the
matter Of credits. 1t was held that the city
Instead Of drafting 22.5oo men should be
gtvsn credit for $500 who were in the
service Of their country.
NJ In all fairness each district should have
been treated separately. and II this had been
zone many districts in the city would have
Z Q4o their quota cut in two and in several
m1tances wiped out entirely.
. pro rata basis. This means that districts
which have sent two and three hundred
men into the army and navy are given no
more credit than districts where recruit
tng has been at a low ebb.
in the Thirty-fourth District which
ocnprises the Thirty-ifth and Forty-nrst
Wards, the quota has been hxed at SOL I
am quite certain that IL this district had
bean treated fairly in the matter Of credits
our quota would be virtually filled today
HARRIsBURG's DEFENSE
"At Harrisburg it was explained that
oetsrmining credits by districts In Phila-
oelphia would involve too much time De-
4 spite that, the military officials Of the State
1eparate Lancaster City from Lancaster
County and gave It credit for every man
already enlisted. The same is true OF
4 Aerris6urs and Wilkes-Barre. In word
2these districts which are not much larger
than any of the Philadelphia districts were
treated separately and today are an
nouncing to the world that owing to the
patriotism Of their youth. It is not neces-
0ary to draft men for the army.
n what Is true Of those cities would be
/ tf11a. Of many districts In Philadelphia II
nay had been treated fairly. have lodged
- protest against the system and have
< not abandoned hope that the military au
eherities will appreciate the Justice of my
4emands and take steps to revise the dis.
frict quotas
NOT OPPOSED TO DRAFT
Congressman Costello emphasized that he
u " not opposed to the draft. but Is simply
criticising the system under which is
applied. He also places the blame upon
the military officials Of the State.
Close upon the heels of the Costello state
ment came the announcement of r. J.
Cattell, City Statistician, that Philadelphia,
swing TO the Governments error in esti-
mating the city's present population. would
!, be forced to furnish nearly 1000 men more
than 1t should.
Our draft quota" said Cattell. was
txed after the Government had estimated
our expanded population. Its estimates
were too high and as a result we COM
pelled to draft hundreds Of extra men. No
ecubt this number will reach 2ooo."
coNFERs WITH MAYOR
Congressman Costello held a long confer
ence with Mayor Smith today. but at It's
close declined to state whether the Mayor
Aed decided to inject himself into the sit
nation and demand revision of the city
quotas.
NY protest may be in vain" said the
Congressman, but / have at least sue
eoeded In placing the blame upon the shou-
oers of those who are responsible
Phtladelphans of conscription age who
ore Employed in war industries cannot be
\ relieved of military responsibilities. Many
of them can claim exemption. and particu.
y Ieyly u their work is essential In the prose-
eution of the war, but in no instance can a
man obtain an unconditional release from
= military service. Such men are to be ex.
enpted while they continue In the industries
In which they are now engaged but when
they leave their present employment they
/. ere liable to service in the fighting units.
This important phase in the national
4yaft made its appearance today, when ex-
aomption boards circulated a lot Of literature
<opong Industrial plants.
CAN REVOKE EXEMPTIONS
7& In pointed language the War Department,
makes 1t plain that any man who obtains
Gxemption because of the fact that he 4.
oroployed In some work that Is directly con
oerned with the prosecution of the wal
must remain at that work and that the ex
6rnption can be revoked at any time.
# - make this plain. the War Department
- its draft regulations, issues the following
X warning to conscripts filing industria
0lnifps for exemption:
rRemember that you have been called To-
= Military service and that the certificate o
\ ~ district board is only conditional ol
;&tur remaining In the kind Of industrial
( &orvlce on account Of which you we're dis
Y E6hfGed No such exemption shall continu
when cause therefor no longer exists. an
roar certificate of discharge may be with
i1ravn or modified by the district board a
NJ time that the district board shall d.
< I41rmine that the circumstances require IL.
This regulation applies to all civilian
q t>hother engaged In private or Government
b &1aots Illustrating how this ruling Is I
applied one Of the exemption board mem
16 oRsrs the following explanation:
<kst US assume that Mr.. Jones Is no,
8Ged In . shoemaking plant that IL en-
4 on war contracts. 1t is essential tina
>shaii remain At his bench. for IN
|&rs and sailors must have shoes. No,
30 IN ali probability will be exempted
~ the exemption 10 to be effective b
rsmain at his task. Jones IL not com
4 TO remain In one factory. but mut
1roof that he is still working at hi
and In plant where the work pei
u OF vital interest to the oovsrr
u~.-- g..