Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-15
AFT APPEALS BOARD
BARS POLITICAL "PULL"
hurt for Second Philadelphia
Z district, in Organizing, Warns
Against Such Attempts
CLAIMS MUST BE DIRECT
Conmunications From Leaders and
Business Interests Will Be
Disregarded

HQ9 Yhfladelphians who are seeking exemp
t1ons from the new National Army toda!
H were warned that the influence of prominen
politicians or business men will be worth
X LEES
Y This warning was issued by the seconc
District Appeal Board within a half houl
after Il organized In the Office Of It's chair
man. Waiter willard, Lincoln Building.
~ We want IL understood" said James J
x Ryan member of the board. that no mar
" seeking an exemption or no man who seeks
v TO aid claimant must approach any mem.
ber Of this board. All claims must be sent
direct to the board and acted upon by the
board when II Is in session This means
. that communications must not be directed
4 10 any individual Of this court The board
will be guided by the rules and regulations
< prescribed by the War Department and
\ every man will get an even break"
After o-~'~'-'~~. NJ. willard an attor-
q ney, VINO was elected permanent chairman.
y announced that the first sess'1t Of the
hoard would be held next Monda ',ornng
at place to be designated by Unite f,1'as
Marshal Noonan.
Four members of the board Walter Will
lard. DR.. Frank c. Hammond. James c.
Mcdonald and James J. Ryan, appeared dn
Willard's Office few minutes before i2
At IL Judge Monaghan. of Common Pleas
Court No. 5, appeared and administered
the Federal oath to the members. Ellis
Gimbel who was unable to be present owing
TO the Illness of member Of his family.
viii take the oath in few days.
Doctor Hammond was chosen to act as
becretary.
APPEALS CASES FIRST
Although Chairman Willard declined TO
discuss the flood OF exemption claims. II
was apparent that the board will not treat
the exemption claimants with kid gloves.
This was emphasized when Mr. willard was
n ckn al tr aavA he
the exemption of married men. Taking up
copy of the draft rules and regulations
he replied These rules were prescribed
for the purpose of aiding the Pres dent of
the United States TO execute a law which
authorizes him to increase temporarily the
military establishment OF the United states
think that answers the question"
During an informal discussion which fol-
lowed the meeting the board indicated that
cases appealed from the local boards would
be given first consideration, and that in
adstrfal claims over which the board has
original Jurisdiction. will be held in abey-
ance until the appeal cases are disposed
o.
The organization OF the First District
appeal board will not take place this week,
- President Wilson has not appointed A
successor for Joseph r. Bailey. who founI
that ne would not be able to serve on tho
BOARD II was announced from Harrisburg
mat s. 8. Fels. soap manufacturer had
ooen recommended to the President for the
vacancy and II is likely that the appoint
day. u '-N'
MANY TAKE APPEALS
Many of the men who have been re-.
tused exemption by the local boards have
s'enined the intention OF taking their cases
before one Of the two appeal boards in the
cy While It was expected that some
YOU'D olssent from the decision Of the local
boards. It was not expected that any appre-
ciable number would ask the higher rtr,bnns,
20 consider their cases. for as a general
thing, 1t is expected that the appeal board,
WI! De less lenient than the local boards
which are nearer TO the men and know the
minor details Of their condition better.
Tne organization of the Second District
board Will take place at the office of Walter
WIZARD. Chairman. at room sos bincoln
building. secretary will be chosen and
the general plan Of procedure will be dis.
cussed and decided upon The members
OF both boards finally received notification
OF their authority to proceed last night and
VIII be called together tomorrow or Friday
by United States Marshal Noonan and
sven Government warrants, which will
give them full authority to act for the Gov
ernment In refusing or granting exemp-
tons.
Several Of the local boards haye re-
ceived complaints from men asking ex-
symptoms that notaries have charged fees
ranging from 80 cents. the legal fee. IN TO
$z.b0. The boards that have received COM |
plants say they will use their power to
give oaths to the men asking exemption |
unless notaries quit the practice of over |
charging. The members Of the boards have |
tne power to swear applicants.
INDUSTRIAL CLAIMS DECREASE
there
claims for exemption on Industrial grounds |
the number of claims asked for on this
ground Is rapidly decreasing owing to the |
fact that Information as to what employ |
ment furnishes grounds for exemption is |
getting to be thoroughly understood by the |
drafted men.
Among the men called by the Seventh
district local board, which sits at Fifteenth
ana Vine streets police station were many
young men who live at the Central Branch |
y. M. c. A 1t has been noticed that nearly
all OF these pass the physical examina- |
tion. and few OF them ask for exemption
except on Industrial grounds, and several |
are found to be employed in work which
war.
It Is probable that Director of Public |
Safety Wilson will ask the officials at WASH |
lngton to exempt the entire body of police |
men who are subject to the draft There |
are between 500 and 1000 Of them. The |
grounds on which their exemption would be |
lsked would be that they are necessary
% the welfare of the city because II is neat |
. impossible 10 secure efficient men for |
he work Of guarding property and lives and |
'therwtse promoting order Order and |
Iafety In big industrial center such as |
Philadelphia is. Director Wilson SAYS Is |
indoubtedly vital to the prosecution OF the |
var.