Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-02
HIGH PERCENTAGE
CLAIM EXEMPTION
On First Day Practically All
Found Physically Fit Would
Evade Service.
FIFTY MORE MEN CALLED
Warnings Against Trivial and
Fictitious Claims for
Exemption.
FIFTY MORE MEN CALLED

merited claims for exemption from mil
itary duty would meet with stern meas
ures. was issued last night by local
draft officials when 1t was learned that
there was such n high percentage of
claims filed by the first increment of
.. Aichmond men WHO appeared for ply
sical examination yesterday. Practi-
cally every man found physically fit
Tor service had an excuse to offer. al
though IT is expected that tho sitting
OF claims will cut the total exemptions
down to a reasonable figure.
The initial physical examinations to
determine which men here shall serve
their country were held yesterday in
Division No. 4, when one-thrd OF the
frst quota was summoned before the
board The physical examinations were
hnished on schedule time. with fair
percentage Of men ft for duty. Exam
nations in the same division will con-
tinue to-day and Tomorrow, while the
FIRST increments in Divisions and 3
will be examined to-day.
VIEW WITH ALARM HEAVY
CLAIMS FOR EXEMPTION
SO heavy were the claims for eS-
emption filed by the first increment
s'ot OihtidiS III clHtT uiNlSlOnS viewed
1t with alarm. S. watkins Ellerson.
chairman OF Division No. 2. was out
spoken in his criticism of the trivial
and disingenious claims made by some
OF the draft subjects Such conditions.
he warned. will not be tolerated in his
division. He announced that the board
over which he is chairman will not
only sift all claims 10 the bottom. but
VIII resort to criminal prosecutions II
the bounds arc overstepped either by
claimants or by others in supporting
afhdnvits. w. q. Clarke. Jr.. clerk of
Division No. 5. also remarked on the
trivial claims made by men yesterday
In Division No. 4. los men were sum-
moned TO appear for physical examina-
ton yesterday. or this number, nine
men were absent and their names were
turned over to the city police for ac-
ton. One of the subjects had died
since June 5. two had been transferred
elsewhere and one had enlisted in the
United States Navy. or the ninety-nve
examined by the physicians. sixty-twc
were pronounced physically Mt for ser
vice The thirty-three rejected men
must be re-eNamined under the law
CALL FOR FIFTY MORE
MEN TO FACE EXAMINERS
While the men stood up well physi-
cally. the number of claims for ex-
emption was surprising and alarming.
In view of the large total. the division
board Issued a call for fifty additional
men to appear for examination on We'd
nesday morning. The men rejected
yesterday will be re-examined on Sat-
urday. Those rejected to-day will be
re-examined on Monday aad those re-
tected tomorrow. on Tuesday. Accord
Ing to George w. Rogers. division
chairmen, few OF the men failed to
put in claims for exemption. the ma
tority Of which were on the grounds
Of dependent families.
Drs. J. Fl. and ]. D. Hinchman were
the examining physicians. The physi-
cal examinations were conducted with
dispatch and efficiency All of the
board members, In compliance with
the law. were present. The men
ordered for examination, for the most
part appeared promptly. They had
taken the advice OF the board and had
bathed before presenting themselves
The majority brought a towel, as re-
quested. IN which to wrap themselves
while awaiting their turn. The exam
nations were conducted in the Prevoca-
tional School. Twenty second and
Broad Streets
OTHER DISTRICTS BEGIN
EXAMINATIONS TODAY
Divisions No. and will start ex-
aminations to-day. Division No . will
hold examinations at Richmond Acad-
emy. on the old Richmond College
campus Division No. 8 will hold it's
examinations in the Mechanics Insti-
tute. Division No. will start it's ex-
aminations tomorrow, holding them in
the basement Of the John Marshall
High School.
The government has an appeal in the
case OF every man examined In event
man Is found physically disqualified.
he must be re- examined by another
physician before he Is finally given a
certificate which will exempt him as
long as his infirmity continues.
In event the board grants a man an
exemption on the grounds of dependent
relatives, the case is automati atically an
pealed to the district board, which re-
views all the evidence and passes upon
1t. Claims for exemption on occu-
pational grounds go directly to the dis
trct board.
The Eastern Virginia District Board
OF which Edwin P. Cox. Of this city. is
chairman. met again yesterday and
went over all details connected with
the draft. The board Is all ready to
start actual work. but will not have
anything before 1T until some time next
week. as claimants have seven days in
which to file their proofs. and the local
boards five days in which to make a
decision.
MEMBERS or EXEMPTION
BOARDS MAY NOT RESIGN
No members of local exemption
boards will be permitted to resign,
except from total inability to perform
the duties. This was made clear yes
terday in a statement issued from the
office Of Governor Stuart The state
ment follows:
z BY direction Of tho provost st-marshal-
general the Governor Of Virginia di-
rects me to say that no designations
Continued on Ninth Page.)