Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-07-06
The President Issues Exemptions
Rules.


Regulations to govern the next step
toward selecting national war army from
the millions registered for service June S
were issued Monday at the direction Of
President Wilson. They leave to be pre-
scribed later the manner Of determining
the order Of liability Of the men registered.
but set forth In great detail the method Of
arriving at exemptions and the wosk gen.
orally Of the local district boards already
named to carry out the task
The call to the colors Of the first $50. 900
men to be chosen under the selective draft
law probably win be issued about July 10.
Issuance Of the call on that date will de-
pend upon the speed with which the ex-
emptiOn boards and other machinery Of
the selective draft organize and get out Of
the way the preliminary work which Is
now under way.
Exemption regulations add little to the
terms Of the draft law. the question Of
whether a man between the ages Of Fl
and so is entitled to exemption because Of
dependents. the nature Of his occupation or
his physical unfitness being for the boards
to decide after proper investigation Il is
made very clear. however. that there are
to be no class exemptions and that each
individual case must be decided upon It's
merits. The local boards-one for each
county Of less than $4,000 population or
city Of 10000. with additional boards
where necessary for each additional So
900 population-will pass upon claims for
exemption except those based upon indus
trial Or agricultural occupation. subject to
appeal to the district boards
All cases involving agricultural or indus
trial exemptions will be passed upon by
the district boards-one for each Federal
judicial district-which also will decide
appeals from decisions Of the local boards.
In the near future a date will be set by
Brig. Gen. Crowder. provost marshal gen.
eral. for the meeting and organization Of
the boards. At the same time it Is ex-
pected that the regulations will be promul-
gated. 80 that the process may be put
under way without delay. The present
intention is to call the men selected to the
colors about September l. OF as soon there
after as the cantonments to house them
can be completed.
In a statement accompanying the an
nouncement Of the regulations the Presi-
dent called upon the boards to do their
work fearlessly and impartlally and to re-
member that "our armies at the front will
be strengthened and sustained II they be
composed Of men free from any sense Of
injustice in their mode Of selection"
The following classes ot-pefsons will be
exempted from the conscfipt army by local
exemption boards:
Officers Of the United States and Of the
several States and Territories and the
District Of Columbia.
Regularly ordained ministers Of religion.
All students Of divinity preparing for the
ministry on May IS. 1917.
Persons in the military or naval service
Of the United States.
Subjects Of Germany residing in this
country.
All other resident aliens who have not
taken out their first papers.
The following persons viii be discharged
by local exemption boards. upon investiea-
ton:
County and municipal officers.
Custom house clerks.
Persons employed in the transmission
Of the mails.
Workmen employed in the arsensls. navy
yards. and armories Of the United States
Persons employed by the United States
designated as exempts by the President.
Steamship pilots.
Mariners actually employed in sea ser.
vice Of any citizen OF merchant within
the United States.
ANY married man whose wife or child Il
solely dependent upon his labor for support
Any son Of widow solely dependent
upon his labor for support.
Father OF motherless child or children
under sixteen years Of age solely Deepen
dent upon his labor for support.
Brother Of child or children under six
teen years Of age who has or have neither
father nor mother and Is or are solely de
pendent upon his labor for support.
Amy person who is a member Of well
recognized religious sect organized or ex
listing May IS. 1917. whose creed forbid
its members to participate in war.
All persons morally deficient. such al
criminals.
All claims for exemption must be sup
ported by affidavits.