The Washington herald., 1917-08-14
draft DETAILS
PLANNED HERE
Local Officials Discuss Law
Providing for New Ma
tional Army.


All of the local exemption boards,
attorneys of the provost marshal,
District appellate board. and the ma
jority OF those concerned in mobiliz-
ing the draft quota for the District
met last night in the District Build
ing for an informal conference.
District Commissioner Brownlow
presided at the session which devel-
oped these important facts with re-
gard to the plans for securing 1,O2.
men from Washington for the con-
script army:
1. That 30 per cent of the Dis.
trict's quota will be called into ac.
tive service on September s; q second
quota of 80 per cent on September Is,
and third quota on October 10. The
remaining 10 per cent will be called
at the discretion and under regula-
tions named by the provost marshal
general.
Garrett b. Van Ness, member Of n
local exemption board, resigned.
The conference last night was on,
of a number that have been held
by the local boards but was the
first one to which the press was
admitted.
In the informal discussion among
members of the local exemption
boards, it was disclosed that there
was considerable difference Of opin-
ion as to how the details of the
law should be worked out and DR.
William C. Woodward. District Com
missioner Brownlow. J. s. Easily
Smith and Daniel ]. Donovan ex-
planned at some length, knotty ques-
tions which have arisen.
Commissioner Brownlow, in stat
ing how the Districts quota would
be called. made it plain that II was
discretionary with the District
board to pull the first quota OF 80
per cent from as many local board $
as were necessary to furnish the
full quota.
Lodgings for Men.
Explaining 1t further, he said that
this first 80 per cent mobilization will
be taken from the available men, re-
gardless of whether some districts
might have to furnish a proportion OF
the men larger than others.
1t developed that the District Of
hcials are considering sending the men
summoned to the national army by
the local boards to a central lodging
house. This plan is preferred to send
ing them to local hotels for quartering
until they can be examined by the
army doctors and certified for the
cantonment camps. A committee, con-
sisting of exemption officials, Burchell.
Wilmarth and Hacker, was named to
confer with the provost marshal gen.
eral and find out whether armories or
other quarters are available and what
the War Department thinks of the
plan suggested.
Acting Adjt. Gen. Donovan has been
authorized to handle cases of appll-
cants who have registered since July
10 and such cases must be referred
to his boards.
Other points covered at the con-
ference were that IL reasonable
claim is shown while an appeal was
not filed with the District board with
in the required time, the board will
consider the appeal. There will be
no discrimination in favor OF those
who are financially able 10 hire an
attorney to prepare their appeals and
attidayits and those who cannot af-
ford to do it and might be discrim-
mated against. because of ignorance or
lack of funds.
The District boards wants additional
facts received by any exemption board
after 1t has granted a discharge or
exemption. Every case will be ap-
pealed by the Provost Marshal and
must be heard by the District board.