The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-09-22
HOW TO APPEAL
TO PRESIDENT
Local Board Receives Word q Form
Which This Communication
to Highest Authority
Should Take.

The local exemption board yester.
day received official word, concern
ing appeals being made to the presi.
dent relative to the new national
army This wilrbe Of interest to many
and the Communication Is given be-
low:
1. Appeals to the president. Only
statements or evidences submitted to
district boards to be considered on ap-
peal. Communications from other
sources concerning pending cases to be
detained and discussion concerning
them forbidden.
Claims for exemption or discharge
on the ground of engagement. In in
dustry and agriculture are within the
original Jurisdiction OF the district
boards. Decision of the district board
is final, except that the president may
affirm, modify or reverse such decis-
ions in accordance with regulations
prescribed by the president provide
for appeal from the decision OF the
district board on agricultural and In
dustrial claims, but the claim for ap-
peal must be filed with the district
board, who will send all evidence and
other matter considered In the case to
the president for his consideration
IL, ollcl Lue OeCiSlUu CI The UlSlT1CL
board, 1t is desired to submit new
matter, the district board may reopen
the case, consider such new matter,
and If 1t adheres to its original decis-
ion, forward such new matter to the
president. Matter not presented to
the district boards cannot be consider
ed on appeal to the president,
While district boards are not courts,
fhp{ PIN r.4top in paScipp ~, lott
and the function OF the president In
examining their decisions, Is quasi
judicial Since the general rule must
be that nothing which was not pre-
scented to the district board can be
considered on appeal to- the president.
it would be subversive Of the spirit OF
the law and violation Of the judicial
function that is being executed, to
make exceptions In individual cases
and receive suggestions. urgings or
statements from individuals concern.
ing particular cases pending here on
appeal The president, therefore, has
directed the war department to decline
to discuss cases pending on appeal or
to entertain any COMMUNICATIONS. sug-
gestions or additional evidence or
staten ents concerning them.
2. No appeal to the president ex-
cept in claims Of discharge based on
engagement IN agriculture OR industry
authority in washing
ton forbidden to address itself to par
ticular cases within the Jurisdiction
of local boards. Exemptions and dis
charges from draft on all grounds ex-
cept engagement In industry or agri-
culture are placed within the turisdic.
ton OF local boards. From the deci.
sion of local boards in these cases
there is a right to appeal to the dis
trict board, whose decision on the ap.
peal is final. There is no appeal from
the decision of q local board to the
president, nor is there any appeal
to the president from the decision Of
the district board on case appealed
to a district board from local board.
The only cases where there is the
right 20 appeal to the president are
cases OF claims for exemption or dis
charge based upon engagement In IN
dustry and agriculture.
1t would be a practical fmpossfbility
for any central administration authori-
~ to scan the decisions OF local boards
in the millions of cases that are before
them. Furthermore, the law and reg
ulations place the matter Of discharge
and exemption, in all cases except
those based on engagem ents in indus
try and agriculture. in the jurisdiction
Of local and district boards. There is
NO mower in the administrative author
ity to Interfere with these decisions in
cases. To so interfere
would he subversive Of the letter and