Middletown transcript., 1917-08-04
GUARD Modified |DLERs ENROLL
Governor Issues Proclamation
on Compulsory Work.
SHERIFFS TO GET DODGERS
Exemptions Are Few, and Those
Living Easy On Incomes
Must Register For
Duty.

Governor Harrington has taken the
first step in actually putting the screws
upon those who neither work nor fight.
He issued a proclamation requiring
unemployed able-bodied men between
the ages of 10 years and so years, with
certain exceptions, to register on or
after August 20 name, address, age
and other needed information. The
registration will be with the clerks Of
the circuit courts in the counties and
with the Clerk of the Superior Court
in Baltimore city.
On and after August 20 the sheriffs
will begin rounding up the dodgers.
The Governor is determined that those
who do not fight shall work. The loaf
ers eat, and the Governor intends to
do everything in his power to make
them earn what they eat and not to
be a burden upon the balance Of the
community. There will be fine up
to $50 for each idler who does not
register, and If the fine is not paid he
will go to Jail and be registered for
work afterward.
Fine For Refusing Job.
Any person who disobeys the Gov
ernor's assignment to work after the
registration shall have been completed
will be subject to fine up to $500 or
to Imprisonment up to six months,
with assignment to the work after
ward.
A great deal of work is to be done
before August 20 in preparing the ma
chinery for the registration. The
State Law Department has undertaken
to handle much of the details, as well
as the legal work, and Attorney-Gen-
eral Richie has assigned Philip B.
Perlman, one of his assistants, to take
charge. Mr.. Perlman will prepare the
registration cards, containing the in
formation to be supplied by those who
register, and will prepare the instruc-
tons to be sent to the States Attor-
neys, justices of peace, clerks Of
courts, sheriffs and others charged
with the enforcement of the law.
Rules and regulations will be adopted
governing the assignment of persons
to work, and the labor field will be
surveyed to determine the occupations
to which assignments should be made.
Work They Can Do.
The Compulsory Work law, under
the authority of which the Governor is
acting, provides that idlers may be put
to work in occupations carried on by
the State, Baltimore city or any Of
the counties, or any of their agencies;
or in occupations carried on by private
persons, firms or corporations, whether
such occupations be agricultural, in
dustrial or otherwise, provided that
such occupations are essential to the
welfare and protection of the people
OF the State and nation during the
war.
The proclamation Is, in part, as fol.
lows:
Persons able to support themselves
by reason of the ownership of prop
erty or income and those supported
by others are included among those
required to register.
Persons falling within the follow.
ing descriptions will not be required
to register:
These Are Exempted.
Il. Students and persons fitting
themselves to engage in trade or in
dustrial pursuits.
g. Persons temporarily unemploy-
ed by reasons of differences with their
employers.
SO. Persons engaged or employed
in any seasonal business, trade or &C.
cupation carried on in Baltimore city
or Allegany county.
To Treat All Alike.
"Rules and regulations will be pre-
pared and published governing the as
signment of persons Of the description
aforesaid to work, which will assure
that all persons similarly circum-
stanced shall, as far as it Is possible
to do so, be treated alike.
"In due time, and from time to time,
1 will proclaim the occupations which
I find to be essential for the protec-
ton and welfare of the people of this
State and the United States, and which
find cannot be carried on as the pro-
lection and welfare of the people Of
this State and the United States re-
quire without resort to said act"