Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-27
Provost Marshal General
Refers All Questions About
Exemption to Local Boards

Thousands of men registered under
the selective service law have been
flooding the provost marshal generals
Office with questions regarding their
qualification for exemption from serv-
ice and on other subjects. AS a result
the provost marshal general today pro-.
mulgated rules under which no guess
tions from individuals or from local
exemption boards will be answered by
his office.
These rules follow:
II. Questions by individuals should be
asked of the local board nearest them.
If the board is unable. after considera-
tion of the regulations and rulings. to
answer the question, it should forward
the question to the governor for de-i
cision.
% Questions from local boards
should never be addressed to the pro-'
vost marshal generals office. but in all
ernor of the state.
"3. In no case will opinions or rul-
ings be given on individual cases that
have not yet been presented to the
proper local board.
First Reports Awaited. 8
Reports of the first selection boards
to fill their quotas for the selective
draft army are eagerly awaited by
Washington officials, because they will
give the first definite information as to
the probable percentage of reflections
to be expected among the 100000
registrants. for physical reasons or for
dependents.
All available statistics Indicate a
probable rejection of one in every four
for physical disability. In particular!
localities this will vary greatly, but
the average for the whole country ia
expected to be between rs and 80 per !.
cent. There is no available data as to
dependents, however, or as to how
many must be excused under industrial
exemptions.
1t appears probable that peculiar re,
suits will be brought out in some dis
tricts. If the reasoning of some off,
Gals is correct, the lowest rejection
and exemption rates will be disclosed
in well-to-do communities. such as the
suburbs of large cities where men OF
incomes make their homes.
Sons of such men, it is suggested.
have had better food, better care and bet
ter surroundings than the factory hands
Of nearby towns and they should be in
better physical condition.
May Be Small Percentage. \
AS a class such young men could
hardly be regarded as Indispensable, Of
icials say, in their civil business or in.
iustrial capacities, and dependents-
0rODaDly Will HOl Tree dS many OF Ih6m
from service as of most other classgs
In factory towns, on the other hand.
he rejection. rate for physical dis
ability probably will be high. The fact
hat the men are confined six days a
week at their machines undoubtedly will
lave affected their physical condition.
Virtually every married man of those
in these places is the sole
support of his wife and children, and
;uch men cannot be taken. Also, il
he industry in which they are engaged
9 vital to the carrying on Of the war
Industrial exemptions will run high.
Only reports from selection and dis
rict boards in typical communities.
however, can show exactly what is to
,e expected. Roughly, the War De-
has estimated that two men
must be called for every soldier ac-
epted but they realize that the returns
nay tell Q tar different story