New Britain herald., 1917-07-31

as an excuse and rretext to avoid
military service.
The evidence produced in each
of these cases should be very
carefully scrutinized:
First, in order to see that the
Gle sses sought to be protected
are properly protected and their
rights preserved; and,
Secondly, to see that the Gov
eminent is NOT imposed Upon and
that men are not permitted to es-
cape military duty under this hu-
name provision of the regulati tons
who are not entitled to it's protec-
ton.
While no general instructions
can be given that will apply in
every case it may be said with the
greatest propriety that the local
board should exercise all possible
caution to see that the law is ad-
ministered according to it's pur-
pose and spirit and that it is not
permitted to be abused to the ad-
vantage of those who would
shield Intensely es Improperly be-
hind the law.
If the local board has reason to
believe that any person is seek
ing to discharge himself from
military service by making a false
claim as to the dependency of any
relative, or the fact that he is the
support of such relative, the local
board should not resitate to point
out to such person that he is ex-
posing himself to the penalties
for perjury provided for in the
Criminal Code of the United
States, and also to the penalties
provided for by this act.
If any such person persists, after
such admonition, in advancing a
wrongful claim or in making any
untruthful affidavit in support of
such claim, a report Of such fact
should be made to the office of
the Provost Marshal General, and
also to the office of the United
States District Attorney for the
Federal judicial district in which
the local board is located.
BY following the suggestions
without doubt the board can pre-
vent in the interest of the honest
administration of this law many
improper claims for discharge,
and the local board should be as
Jealous to prevent the filing Of
improper claims as it would be to
humanely allow those which are
proper.
1t would serve no useful purpose
in these suggestions to local
boards to set forth and here re-
peat all of the requirements of
the rules and regulations as to
the allegations which must be
contained in the various aff1da-
Wits ard supporting affidavits re-
quired to be filed for the consid-
Grafton of the local board in de-
Gliding the different cases where
discharge is sought for depend
ency.
Under the draft law it is pointed on,
hat the word labor, Wnen used in
publications. for exemption. is con-
trued as "bodily or mental exertion'
nd that it may be physical or intel
ectual, professional, mechanical
ommercIal, clerical, or agricultural
nd the means for the support of the
ependent cited in the claim for ex-
mption must be produced by the Ia
or stated, whatever it's character
'or instance, If q man says he is a
mechanic and his wife depends on his
abor as such for support, he must
rove that he is d mechanic and that
lis wage as such supports his wife.
The procedure tC be followed in
very possible case which may JUST
Y exemption is referred to in detail
fter which and in conclusion the in
tructions read
Must BE Entitled to Exemption.
Every member of every local
board should understand and ap-
preciate that ultimately each state
must furnish its full quota Of
troops. Therefore any defcien-
cv in one locality of the state
must be finally made UP from
other localities. This obviously
makes it to the interest Of each
board that every other board /,
the state should properly perform,
Its duties, particularly in the mat