South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-07
TIGHTEN LINES
ON EXEMPT IONS
OF MARRIED MEN
Local Boards Get kilograms
From Gen. CrOWder De-
failing Proper Basis
of Discharges.

That all exemption claims based
on the grounds of dependent wives
will be considered with the greatest
care by the local boards is evil
denced by the following kilograms
from Provost Gen. Crowder, which
have been received at selection
board headquarters:
Concerning dependency on the
ground of marriage, please call at
teRtion 10 the fact that a soldiers
pay is not less than $50 a month and
that all clothing, substinence, medi-
cal treatment and housing are fur
nished him. Under the law he may
allot any portion Of his payto a de-
pendent. Many soldiers receiving
$50 a month are easily able to allot
$25 monthly TO the support of de-
pendents. In case Of death in line
Of duty the government will pay TO
the behehciaries designated by the
soldiers six months pay. Section
four of the selective service act pro-
Vides that those in a status with re-
spect 20 persons dependent upon
them for support which renders
their exclusion or discharge advis-
able. may be discharged, but it does
not require that they shall be dis
charged in all such cases. The dis
cret.on of the local boards is in
voked by this provision and such
boa eds may we'll take the facts re-
cited above into consideration in de-
Gliding claims of discharge due 10
dependency, with a view 10 determ-
lining whether. as a matter OF fact
the Isarson claiming such discharge
will not be in as good or better po-
sition to support his dependents az
ter selection for military service than
he was before. If such is the case,
of course. discharge should not be
granted.
Another telegram says:
Concerning recent marriage. The
selective service law does not re-
quire discharges in all cases OF tech
nical legal dependency but only
permits dis harges where in view of
dependency a discharge is advisable.
Local boards may we'll hold that a
marriage duly cOnsummated recent
Il. and especially one contaminated
by a person after he has been call
ed TO present himself for eXamina
ton 10 determine his fitness for mil
itary service, does not create a status
of dependency in which it is advis-
able 10 grant a discharge.
The determination of all exemp-
ton claims will be based on the
merits of each individual case and
will not be granted to any particular
class of men," said a member OF one
Of the local boards Thursday.
"Our instructions from state head
quarters and from Washington make
il incumbent upon us 10 decide each
case individually. The rumor that
has gone abroad that all married
men will be exempted does not hold
good. IL is our duty TO decide the
status Of each married man accord
ing TO that particular mans position
in life. We cannot grant eXemp-
tions to all married men just be-
cause they are married men
Tighten Lines.
The instructions from Washington
tighten the lines around all other
forms of exemption claims as well.
sworn proofs submitted in support Of
exemption claims will be scrutinized
closely by the board members.
The examinations of the men call
ed 10 appear before city board No.
. will be completed this afternoon.
DR.. Berteling, the physician in
charge of the examinations said
Tuesday that the number of phys
icaIIv unfit would run as high as 3
per cent of those examined. Tuesday
morning out of the first p men ex-
amined only six were passed with
perfect marks Many of the defects
found. however were OF minor con-
sequence and were not such as 10
disqualify.
Many Physically nfit.
The second day Of the eXamina-
tons OF the men called from city
division No. ! revealed a percentage
Of physical disqualifcations esti-
mated between 33 and 40 per cent.
The lists OF those who successfully
pass the examinations viii be posted
at the headquarters Of the boards
Thursday or Friday. City board No.
completes its examinations Wed
nesday.
Many File Claims.
Claims for exemption under the
selective draft law were fled up
20 Tuesday noon 10y the following
men who appeared before the city
selection boards for their physical
examinations Charles r. VAIL. 602
Cleveland 81. married. John q
Toney. 749 Cleveland ST.. widowed
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