New-York tribune., 1917-09-05
5000 Claim Draft
Exemption on Eve
Of Mobilization
Appeal Board Finds Local
Bodies Have Been Too
Harsh on Married Men

When the District Appeals Board con-
y,,,d Yesterday it faced 5000 new ex-
cnption claims. made just as the first
,,r,irrerts Of the National Army are
citing ready for mobilization in the
tsrtonmeutS.
Charles +. Hughes, chairman Of the
bosr6 after a conference with the
Dembers. decided that many OF the
rocal boards. m their Jealous efforts TO
n,syent fraud. had been too harsh with
,csrrie6 men. The members OF Local
Roard g.. Al Avenue c and Rugby Road,
R,ooklyn. were invited 10 the Federal
Building. where proper Interpretation
NJ inc law was given them, so that no
undue hardship would be visited on
married men who had valid claims TO
exemption.
The overcertifcation OF married
ren for military service, has bec,h
causing extra work and considerable
confusion for the District Board.
Hundreds OF appeals denied by the To-
cal boards. have been reversed on TINS
account bv the District Board.
The District Board yesterday showed
Itself Quick 10 appreciate and grant
valid claims, particularly when the
nrogress Of the war or the pubhc's
welfare was involved. While they in
ouirsd closely into all exemption claims
made on the ground that the claim
ants we're engaged IN an occupation
which affected the conduct OF the wal
,tey refused 10 consider them unless
thew we're found 10 be fawless.
rz,.ztcr RaIeaspd
Edgar Sperrv filed afidavits with the
board Yesterday that he was engaged IN
manufacturing an undersea searchIlgnt'
under government supervision, which
was OF paramount Importance. This
device, which is practically perfected
will be used by submarines and under
sea hunters. Mr.. Sperry's atidavits
were supported amply by government
officials. so his claim was Immediately
granted William G. Fisher and Foster
M. Wilson. who filed affidavlts that tney
were engaged in research work IN con
junction with Mr Sperry's experiments
also were granted exemption.
Rslph Horton. head of the Shetlelu
Farms wsOu-Decker Dairy company
also was discharged. Afidavlts were
fled BIZ the concern testifying 70 the
fact that Mr.. Horton was IN direct
supervision Of their pasteurlzaton de-
partment. The company called atteh-
ton 70 the importance Of this work, a..
u affected the health Of thousands OF
children throughout the city.
H. Eugene Childs filed an affidavit
Yesterday with the board, alleging eN-
rmption on the ground that he was m
:erested IN experimenting with q ne"
and valuable reinforced concrete. HIS
claim was denied
When the board met in regular .ses-
sion al 2 o'clock in the afternoon three
new members took their seats. They
we're Lewis A. Delafeld, former Sen
stor: John Godfrey SAKE and Edward
Horwill.
The board was in session until s
o'clock last night, making a record IN
the number Of cases handled. Inc
board disposed Of 1912 cases. Several
appeals were referred to special com
mittee 10 ascertain whether marriages
performed prior to the passage OF the
conscription act were grounds Tor pc
lief that they were entered into Tor the
purpose of evading military service
Composer Must Serve
Six hundred and six appeals came
from the local boards. The various
sub-committees recommended that 4IU
Of these appeals be affirmed. lhlrty-
three exemption claims on induStrlal
grounds were received and twelve
granted. The provost marshal filed 4o3
appeals from local boards, OF when
number 395 were denied.
The provost marshal appealed the
exemption Of Sigmund Romoerg, the
composer Of "Blue Paradise May
Time" and other plays. The exemption
claimed was that Mr.. Romberg had
dependent wife. The board found that
Mr.. Romberg earned $4,000 last year
and that his royalties were still coming
IN. As he had no children and his wiIe
vas not dependent on his labor foT
her maintenance, his claim, admitted
oy the local board, was reversed.
An Interesting discussion arose over
Ine claim made by Abraham SoDeI' VINO
was passed by local board NO. so,
Sobel made the appeal on the ground
Of dependent wife. The committee
Investigating his claim reported thai
ne had been married on April 2. ms
Was the last day on which Congress
convened and the Presidents message
was read The committee recon,
,AeHced that the decision OF the local
BOARD be affirmed.
James A. Delehanty, former judge OF
GENERAL Sessions, opposed this action
On The ground that no one could have
loreseen at that date the passage oi
'he eonscription act. Justice Cullen
argued that the possibility might have
been expected and urged caution II
granting exemption on this ground
Meier Steinbrink, however, coincide,
with Judge Delehanty, saying ina
young men should not have been eN
peeted 70 have refrained from gettint
married before the bill was a la"
AFTER some further discussion II wa
voted 10 refer the matter to commiV Z
zee consisting Of the chairman ot t tn'
BOARD and the chairman of the stah1iht y
Committees, to decide the date at whiei
oA klaeksT marriages commenced