New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-19
Local Boards Here
Start to Classify
Draft Registrars
Actual Work of Putting
Men on the Lists Is Well
Under Way
Desertions 5 Per Cent
Two Thousand Names Are Re-
ported on the First
Delinquent List
Desertions 5 Per Cent

The actual job of placing draft regis
trants who have returned their an
swered questionnaires in one of the
five new classes was done for the first
time yesterday. Only the more alert
OF the 1s9 local boards in this city adj
vanced that far yesterday. And they
in so far as it affected :he first regis
trants to receive their questionnaires.
The whole machinery of sending out
the questions, answering them with the
aid Of local law boards and making the
classification will be kept in motion un-
ill every one who has registered for
the draft on June 5. except deserters
and those already drafted, is placed in
one of the five classes.
The time in which the classification
work will be done is expected to vary
from district TO district. The time
limit set is sixty days, and. according
TO the provost marshal's calculations.
"thc great bulk OF the clerical work
pertaining to the original jurisdiction
of the local board can and ought to be
concluded before January 20. The dis
trict board will sit as soon as appeals
are made in sufficiently large numbers,
and it is possible that the first appeal
will filter in to-day. as the registrant
has only four days in which TO take his
case to the higher board after his local
board has classified him.
Praise for Local Board
The philosophy Of the local boards
place in the selective service system Is
set forth by Provost Marshal General
Crowder in his latest pamphlet of IN
struction TO the boards.
THE selcctive service system is es-
sentially an integral part OF TINS great
rational army of defence" he says. II
is composed of men over the age o.
those who are called upon to bear mus
kets. But the duty Is so grave that u
should be regarded from every stand
point and in every aspect as partaklng
Of the same unselhsh and patriotlc
character as the soldiers. This service
has been given this aspect from the
beginning. and il is not too much 70
saw that one Of the vital elements IN
the success OF the law is the fact that
tho selective boards have performed
their duties as high patriotic ser
vice and not as paid officials OF the
Federal government"
John VI. Bowers, member OF the legal
advisory board, told the district super
intendents at the Board OF Education
yesterday how the teachers OF the city
could cooperate with draft officials IN
carving out the questionable plan: 1t
was estimated that it will take thirty
minutes of the ordinary registrant TO
answer his questions, with the aid OF
competent adviser.
philip J. McCook, representative OF
the adiutant general, held conference
in his Office on the subject of draft de-
serters Yesterday with Major K. V. Ven
able. who takes charge Of delinquents
brought to Governors Island, and Lieu
tenant Hayes. in charge of the police
work of rounding up those who fail to
respond to orders to report for military
service. It is understood that the de-
linouent list for the first draft contains
1000 names, or per cent of the entire
quota.