Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-08-14
LATE INSTRUCTIONS
ON DEPENDENCY

Below We publish in full the recent |
instructions for local boards regard. |
ing claims for exemption on grounds |
OF dependency. 1t is a matter that |
is causing the persons charged with |
the raising of the national army grave |
concern. and should be most care
fully considered by all persons COM
ing within the action of the selective |
draft law.
Section 2 of the Selective Service |
Law eXemDts no person from mill |
tary service on the ground of depend |
ency. 1t only authorizes the presi |
dent to exclude or discharge from
draft those in status with respect
TO persons dependent upon them for
support which renders their exclu.
sion or discharge advisable The
controlling necessity is to raise an
army. 1t is advisable to disturb de-
lpendents just as little as the necessity
OF raising an army will permit. To
this end section Is of the regulations
was compiled carefully and after the
most earnest consideration. If ex-
pcrience is to prove that the generous
conditions prescribed by section IS,
or any abuse of them, will interfere
with the raising of an army, then 1t
is no longer advisable TO discharge so
wide a class. and the conditions
4 stated therein will have TO be re-
stricted until an advisable rule is
4 reached. Nothing has happened to
i change the belief that the persons
4 enumerated in sections II and Is
\ could be discharged without inter
4 fering with the raising of an army,
4 OF section IS may render its continu-
: ance no longer advisable. Reports
are TO the effect that, in some dis.
f tricts, as high as 80 per cent of per.
4 sons called before local boards are
3 filing claims for discharge on the
ground OF dependent relatives. Such
a percentage of claims, when viewed
Z in connection with all available stats.
= tics, indicate beyond question that
advantage is being taken of the pro
visions OF the law and regulations
which were intended TO reduce to a
minimum the misery at home nor
mally attendant upon war. There is
IA moral certainty, in the eXtrava
4 gance Of this percentage, that hun
2 dreds OF unfounded claims are in
! Cluded in these totals. This state OF
affairs greatly increases the burden
Z OF local boards for, if so high a per.
I: centage of registrants claim exemp
: ton. only the uncompromising action
4 of local boards can prevent new
{ regulation on the subject of depend
? ency TO far more restricted class
! and to very neCessitious and clearly
: sence of a stern repression by local
Z boards of unmeritOrious claims this
4 result Is inevitable since any such
Z percentage of exemptions as reports
Vi CIullliS luulCdie "Oulu Hulllly Inc
7 law and prevent the raising of an
7 army. II is thus apparent that the
J filing of these improper claims will
Z react directly and injuriously on per
\ sons whom the present regulations
Z were designed TO protect and thai
+ the welfare of persons who hav,
J filed bona fidc claims under tn,
Z present generous clauses of the regu
Z latiOns Is seriously imperiled by per
Z sons who have filed claims withou
! merit. and that the only protection
)! of persons whose cases are within tn
- meaning of the preset rules lies ii
= the power of local boards to refus
! exemption in every doubtful case. |
Z is true that cases Of discharge on tn,
Z ground of dependency are appealed
7 to the district board, but this claus
: Is only inserted to secure uniformit,
/ of action. District boards are to eS
Z anime these cases to discover d,
Z partaEes from the law. regulations
! and rulings; and they will not an
] cannot open every case on it's merit!
Z II Is in the local boards alone, Their,
Z fore, that the solution of the dill
7 Guilty and the protection of deservin
Z claimants lie"