The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-08-04
POSTAL EMPLOYEES NOT
EXEMPT FROM SERVICE
Only Those Whose Services Are In
dispenSable or Who Have Real
Dependents to be Excused-POSt-
masters so NOtIneS

Washington, Aug. "a ruling
issued today by the Postottice De-
partment shows that department Of
ficials will make few requests for
the exemption Of postal employees
from military service. Postmasters
are instructed not to ask for eXemp
sion for carriers or laborers or for
clerks in second-class offices be-
low the $1,000 grade, clerks in
lirst-class offices below the LOO
grade or any above these grades I'M
less they are qualified distributors
of mail.
The ruling is the first formal ac-
lion by an executive department in
com pliance wit hPresident Wilson S
order directing that department Of
ficialS indicate exemptions and that
he requirement of indispensability
ne rigidly enforced.
AS generally construed, the pos
| al ruling shows the purpose of the
administration to make the govern
ment departments leaders in tree
ing, valuable employees for war ser
| vice.
! The entire mail carriers force,
| numbering thousands Of men, of
whom a considerable percentage are
within the draft age limits, is ex-
! Guided from exemption except for
| physical reasons or because of de-
pendent families. Every portion OF
| The country is reached by the ruling
as even the rural carriers are in
! Guided.
The departments ruling in regard
| to clerks leaves railway mail clerks
| within the exemption classes, as
| they are highly specialized distribu-
| tors.
Provost Marshal General Crowder
| took steps today to reduce the num-
| Der OF exemptions because of de
| pendent families. Instructions were
sent to the governors of all States
pointing out that the minimum pay
of soldiers is now $50 a month and
that local boards must consider
whether a mans dependents could
not be supported on that amount.
The telegram follows:
Please call attention of local
| boards TO the fact that soldiers
pay is not less than $50 a month,
and that all clothing, subsistence.
medical treatment and housing are
furnished him. Under the law he
may allot any portion Of mis- pay to
Il dependent. Many soldiers receiv-
! ing $50 a month are easily able to
allot S25 monthly to the support of
! dependents. In case of death in
line of duty the government will
pay TO the beneficiary designated by
the soldier six months pay.
| Section of the Selective Ser
vice Act provides that those in a
status with respect to persons de-
! pendent upon them for support
which renders their exclusion or dis
charge advisable may be discharged
but it does not require that they
shall be discharged in all such ca
| ses. The discretion of local boards
is invoked by this provision and
such boards may well take the facts
| recited above into consideration in
! deciding claims for discharge due to
| dependency with a view to deter
mining whether, as a matter OF fact,
the person claiming such discharge
Will not be in as good or better po-
sition to support his dependents af
ter selection for military service
than he was before. If such is the
case. of course, the discharge should
not be granted
Government officials generally are
beginning to take up theindividual
questions tina tarise where govern
ment employees are called for SER
vice. Secretary Daniels today said
that knotty problems We're arising
in the Navy Department as to what
Individuals in the clerical force,
navy craftsmen or skilled workers
at the navy yards are absolutely in
dispensable.
The number OF exemptions asked
by the various departments will be
reduced to the absolute minimum,
it is indicated. even if some tempo
rary arrangement of the clerical
work results.
General Crowder has suggested to
the governors that each assemble
the full membership of all district
| boards in his State for general
conference to insure uniform proce-
dure regarding appeals. The COVER
norS were asked also to appoint an
official in each local district TO file
appeals. County attorneys were
/ suggested