Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
Only Strictest Necessity Will
Be Taken as Reason for
Government EmpIoye.
INDISPENSABLE" MUST
BE EXPLAINED IN DETAIL
If Secretary Approves Recommends
ton, Man Is Let Off; If Not, Papers
Are Returned to Board.


rules under which federal employees
shall be exempted from military service
were issued from the White House
last night. They state clearly that
the only government employees who
will be exempted from military service
are those indispensable to the work
of the civil executive departments by
reason of their special personal expert
ence and skill"
Only the strictest necessity for keep
of the military service will be taken
as a reason for exemption. The order
Of the President also states that the
ultimate authority as to the need for
an employe will be the Secretary of the
department. If the employe works in
the interstate commerce commission
the Smithsonian Institution or other
commission or body not organized di-
rectly under one of the ten executive
departments the same general method
will be followed. as far as practicable.
The head of the commission or organi-
cation will be the final authority as to
whether or not any employe may or
may not be spared for military duty.
The chief OF the division. or the Of
Of the service to which the employe In
question in any particular case, IS attach
ed under the Presidents order, will make
an affidavit to the Secretary of the
department affirming that the employe
is Indispensable to the government.
To this affidavit will be attached an
explanation of why the man is more
needed in the department than in the
field. II the Secretary approves the rec
ommenda:ion OF the chief Of division, the
man is exempt; II not. the papers are
marked "disapproved" and returned to
the local exemption board.
ssOFder Issued Aftsr CarvfuI study:
TRe Presidents order was issued
only after the most careful study of
the facts and of the situation involved.
The matter has been hhe subject of
consultation between members of the
cabinet and between the cabinet and
the President. After several methods
were discussed, the President decided
that the situation demanded the Sc
verest construction of the draft act,
and his attitude is clearly expressed in
the Introductory paragraph OF the Or
der. which reads:
"In view of the high national i'm
portance of carrying out the spirit of
the selective service act and of Sc
curing it's fullest effectiveness, by hold
ing to military service all drafted men
who are not absolutely indispensable
orIr of no fsfN
partments by reason of their special
personal experience and skill. l direct
that the greatest care be exercised by
department officials in issuing the af.
fidavits of necessity provided for by
the presidential regulations. section 20.
paragraphs tb), (c) and I'D. for the
purpose of authorizing the discharge
Of such persons by local boards"
The paragraphs referred to are those
which outline exemptions for postal
employees, artificers and workmen in ar
senaIs and navy yards. and persons en-
ployed in the general service of the
government. In each of these para
graphs it is necessary. before man
can claim exemption on the ground OF
being indispensable that his chief must
say he is necessary to the efficient and
adequate operation" of the mails, or the
shop or Office in question. land cannot
be replaced by another person without
substantial material loss
Methods Of Claiming Exemption.
The Presidents order then explains
the methods to be followed in claim
ing exemption. They are as follows:
"In the case of person in the serv-
ice of a department within the District
of Columbia. who files with the. local
board claim of discharge from the Sc
lectiye draft, the affidavit of the de-
tai direct r.
vision and control of the branch of the
service in which he is employed, as
provided for in the above quoted regu-
lations will be forwarded to the Secre-
tary of that department, accompanied
by a memorandum giving sufficient data
to enable the Secretary to determine
whether or not the case is a proper one
for exemption. If on the information
furnished he deems the case proper
one for exemption by the board. he will
indorse the affidavit "Approved": if not,
"Disapproved." In either case, the af-
fidavit will be returned to the official
making 1t, to be filed with the local
board as required by the instructions
on the back thereof.
''In the case Of a person in departmental
service stationed outside Of the District
having direct supervision of the appE-
cant will be forwarded for approval or
disapproval to the official. to be designat-
ed by the Secretary Of the department.
who has 1urlSdlCllOn or COntTOl OF Tie area
within which the applicant is stationed at
the time, unless the affidavit is originally
made by such official next in authority
To Follow Same Method.
"In the case Of a person in the service
of the interstate commerce commission,
the Smithsonian Institution. or other COM
mission or board or body not organized
directly under one Of the ten executive
departments. the same general method
will be followed don 80 iar as I practicable. with
drafted men TO the minimum number
consistent with the maintenance of vital
national interests during the emergency
at is earnestly hoped. moreover, that,