Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-24
LOCAL BOARD INSTRUCTED
IN MILITARY REGISTRATION,
Major Christopher L. Avery Explains
the Censeription Act.

Major Christopher L. Avery, repre-
senting Governor Holcomb, explained
the CONSUMPTION registration act to Of
hcials of New London, Norwich and
other Eastern Connecticut cities and
towns at a meeting held for that pur-
pose in the council chamber in the
municipal building at New London
Wednesday afternoon More than 40
men assembled at the chamber for in
struction to the methods to be en-
ployed in taking the registration on
| Tuesday, June ).
The provisions of the act and the
| processes to be followed in carrying
out its intent were little understood
| by the majority of the officials. but
Major Avery went into the proposition
a comprehensive idea eff the results de-
sired and the way to proceed step by
| step.
The meeting was opened at o'clock.
| Soon after it opened Mayor Rogers re-
eeived q telephone message that a
number of city and town officials from
! this end of the county had assembled
/ at the Norwich city hall by mistake
and would arrive at the meeting as
soon as they could reach New London.
! The meeting proceeded. Major Avery
| announcing that he would hold another
meeting for the Norwich delegation.
| The local board of registration had
| been advised Tuesday that a military
| official would meet them at the city
| hall Wednesday afternoon. but this
was an error as no arrangements for
| a local meeting had been made. When
| it was discovered that no one had
been detailed to meet the board here
| the telephone message was sent to
| New London and the members of the
board. with the exception of Town
| Clerk C. S. Holbrool who is III, fol-
| lowed soon afterwards by automobile.
| One of the first matters explained in
connection with the registration was
tAaf all
or not. in each city and town. between
the ages of 21 and so, inclusive, must
register on June 5th. Failure to reg
lister, it was declared, would lay the
delinquent liable to the penalty pre-
scribed in the act.
Attorney William T. Conner asked
what provision is made for persons
who might be confined to their homes
by sickness and unable to go out to
register. Mr. Avery replied that such
persons will be expected to notify the
board of registration.
The latter Of registration Of persons
employed here but voting elsewhere
was brought before the meeting Mr.
Avery said that the best plan. where
possible, is for such a person to make
trip to his home town to register. but
If this is not possible, such a. person
can meet the requirements of the law.
by securing a registration card here
md sending it to the board of regis
tration in his home town. so that il
Will reach there on or before June ..
The board of registration. upon receipt
OF the letter bearing such card, will
Investigate the authenticity of the in
formation upon it. and if it is found
to be accurate and true, will return a
certificate to the sender in this city
showing that he has complied with
the law
Mr. Avery said that in unusual cases,
such as that of a travelling salesman
from far off being here on June 3,
the same course would be followed,
the only difference being the time re-
CURED in seTrling the card to the ap-
picanfS home town, which would
make its arrival there date well after
June 5.
Membership in the Home guard did
not exempt anyone, Mr.. Avery ex-
planned, membership in the army or
navy being the only ground for ex-
emption. He also said that as he un-
derstood the act no one can register
by agent; there are but two ways
either personally or by letter as ex-
planned.
Governor Holcomb has designated
hrst selectman, the town clerk and
registrars of voters as the board of
men as are required may be named
He said the selectmen and town
clerks are required to take the federal
oath and he volunteered to admins
ter the oath, copies of which he had
with him, to as many present a wish
ed to take 1t. Mayor Rogers and 9TH
er members of the New London board
of registration were the first to take
oath, Miss Sarah J. Graham, a notary
public and stenographer to Mr. Az
cry, in an ante room administered the
oath to the seIectmen and town clerks
present as they filed in from the
council chamber.
Mr.. Avery explained that copies of
this oath must be sent to the adju-
tant general at Hartford. The men,
hO a -i=f IN fai< ~
will also be sworn IN, but the copies of
their oaths will be flied away in the
respective cities and towns. He said
the men sworn IN as board members
should at once begin the appointment
of the men to assist in taking the
registration, should swear those men
in Immediately, get the polling places
ready, secure registration cards and
certificates from Sheriff Brown and
then within "a hours wire to Gov
erpor Holcomb that their towns are
ready to go ahead with the work so
that he in turn may notify the fed
eral authorities that Connecticut is
ready.
Mr. Avery said it is estimated that
of the 100000, 900 people in this coun-
try 10 per cent, or in other words
10. 600, 900, will be affected by this or
der. He advised the board members
from the several towns to estimate
the population of each town and at
ter dividing it by ten requisition Sher-
iff Brown for that number of cards
and certificates.
The local board got to work inme-
diately and brought back with them
5000 cards.
do we do this work free OF charger"
someone asked
why. the governor expects that
you WILL" Mr.. Avery replied. I'm
here free of charge and the president
and the governor feel that inasrnuch
as so many young men are to spill
their blood and possibly give their
lives that you can serve this one day
for nothing, But if you can't get
men enough to do this work free of
charge, don't let that stop the regis
tration. You are allowed 81 a day
per man wherever necessary, but the
governor wants to carry on this work
with as little expense as possible"
Mr.. Avery suggested that men of
clerical experience, such as bookkeep-
ers, be secured for the work wherever |
possible. He thought this would IA
cilitate the work and make for greater |