The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-07-18
OPERATIONS
MAY START
THIS week
Only Seven States Have
Not Completed De-
tails Of Exemption
Boards

Washington, July 17.--Ail but seven
OF the states had reported completion
OF their local exemption machinery
tonight, encouraging officials in their
hope that drawing of lots to determine
the order Of liability under the select.
I've conscription law may be held be-
fore the end Of the week. The war dc.
partmcnt has been informed that in
those states remaining to report only
a few local districts are missing.
Details Are Completed.
Although no details have been re.
vealed 1t was learned tonight that the
plan of the drawing to be held in Sec-
retary Bakers office virtually has been
completed and that an announcement
on tho subject may be made by Provost
Marshal General Crowder tomorrow.
General Crowder may reveal enough OF
the details OF the plan to guide news
papers IN preparing to publish the re-
suit and to inform registrants what
facts they must ascertain In order to
know their exact position on the ia.
blity list.
Would Mako Aliens Liable.
While these preparations are going
forward. sentiment apparently IL
growing In congress- In, favor Of
amending the conscrption act 30 az to
make aliens liable. for service or to
otherwise relieve the requirementa
placed under the present allotment
upon communities with large foreign
population. BILLS to this end have been
prepared. but the administration has
not indicated that 1t will favor any
change. Many officials hold to tho
opinion. on the other hand, that to
compel aliens to serve would be q
violation OF International law.
Detailed plans OF the drawing It
self remain to be finally approved by
Secretary Baker, There are Indications
that II more complex arrangement than
yet has been outlined publicity would
be employed In the interest of perfect
fairness.
Points for Registrant.
Az far as can be told now, every
registrant will have to be Informed
not only OF the serial number placed
on his card by the local exemption
board. but also of the exact number OF
registrants In his district. Otherwise
he will be unable to know until he 10
ordered before the board what his or
der OF liability Is.
Given his own number and the to-
tai number OF registrants In his dis
trict, any registrant can determine
what place he occupied In the line -
soon as the results of the lottery arc
announced. II there are 1,50O registered
men every serial number above that
will represent a blank in that district
when It is drawn and the rotation
numbers of the drawing will pass them
over.
An Example.
II number f,42s should be drawn
first. No. 1856 second and No. 1,247
third. the order or liability in q 1900
district would be No. 1.42B first and
No. LAT second. While officials OF ths
provost marshal's office refused today
to discuss charges of unfairness In
allotment of quotas made in tho senate
yesterday. 1t was pointed out again
that tho revised population estimates
OF the census bureau upon which thu
allotment was made were based
wholly on the actual drawing ut the
registration. Under the law tho bureau
had to consider the fluctuatiOn OF tho
population since 1910. the last census.
and the war department had counted
In aliens in making allotments, oven
though they were exempt from serv-
ice.
Reconsideration of population esu-
mates in the light OF registration re-
turn show that on the average . $40
per cent OF the total population were
within the age limits OF the draft bill.
In large commercial and industrial
centers. however the percentage ran far
above that figure because OF tho In
flux of young men.