Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-04
POSTAL WORKERS
LIABLE TO DRAFT
Department Wants No Exenp-
ton for Carriers, Clerks
or Laborers.
SETS EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS
Government Expected to Lead in
Freeing Valuable Employees
for War Service.
SETS EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS
fBy Associated prewl


WASHINGTON, August 3.-A ruling
to-day by the Post-Officc Department
shows that department. officials will
make few requests for the exemption
OF postal employees from military ser
vice. Postmasters are instructed not
TO ask for exemptions for carriers, or
laborcrs or for clerks in second class
Offices below the $1,000 grade. clerks
in hrst-ciass Offices below the si.l00
grade. or any above these grades un-
less they are qualified distributors of
mail.
The ruling Is the first formal action
by an executive department in COM
pliance with President wilson's order
directing that department officials in
dicate exemptions and that the re-
uurement of indispensabil:ty be rigilly
enforced. AS generally constructed.
the postal ruling shows the purpose of
the administration to make the GOV
crnmcnt departments leaders in free
ing valuable employees for war SER
vice.
MAIL CARRIERS FORCE
EXCLUDED FROM EXEMPTION
The entire mail carriers force. num-
boring thousands of men. of whom II
considerable percentage are within tho
draft age limits is excluded from eI-
cmption unless for physical reasons
0r because they have dependent
families. Every portion of the coun-
Try is reached by the ruling. as even
he rural carriers arc included.
The departments ruling III regard TO
clerks Leaves railH ay mail clerks with
IN the exemption class. as they are
highly specialized distributors.
f'roros;- -M@rshal-Generai Crowder
took !te2s to-day to reduce the
number uf exemptions because or de-
pendent iniriii.s. Instructions were
sent 20 the Governors of all States
porting out that tho minimum pay
i soldiers is now s3e a month. and
ma, local boards must consider
whether i mans dependents could no,
lie supported un that amount The
telegram follows: -
I-louse sGlil attention of local boards
to, the fact that soldtsr's pay is not
less than $50 month. and that all
clothing. subsistence. medical treat
meat and housing are furnished him.
Under the Law. he may ail,t any pur-
II, of his pay TO dependent Many
soldiers receiving 500 ii month are
easily able tn aliur SIS monthly l" tie
support of dependents. In case Of
death in line OF duty. the government
Will pay TO the beneficiary dcsigna ted
by 'he soldier six months pay.
PROBABLY IN BETTER POSITION
TO. SUPPORT DEPENDENTS
Section Of tho selective SER
vice act provides that those In = status
with respect TO persons dependent upon
them for support which renders their
exclusion or discharge advisable may
be dis. S.hLrEed. but IL docs not rcu,Iire
that th.y shall DO discharged in all
such cases. The discretion of local
boards is invoked by this provision.
and such boards may we'll take the
facts recitcd above into consideration
in deciding claims for discharge, due
to dependency, with a view to deter
mining whether, as matter OF fact,
the person claiming such discharge
will not be in as good or better posi-
tion to support his dependents after
selection for military service than he
was before. II such is the case, OF
course. the discharge should not be
granted"
Government officials generally are
beginning TO take up the individual
questions that arise where government
employees are called Tor service.
Secretary Daniels. said to-day that
knotty problems were arising In the
Navy Department as to what indi-
viduals in the clerical force. navy
craftsmen or skilled workers at the
nary-yards arc absolutely indispens-
able
The number OF exemptions asked BY
the various departments will he re-
,:uccd to the absolute minimum. 1t is
indicated, even If some temporary de-
ranscment of the clerical work re-
suits.
General Crowder has suggested to
the Governors that each assemble the
full membership of all district boards
in his state for a general conference
to insure uniform proceedings and re-
Eardng appeals. The Governors were
asked also to appoint an official in
each local district to file appe ais.
County attorneys were suggested