Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-06-19
sspPEALS FROM THE LOCAL AND
DISTRICT DRAFT BOARDS
NUMBERED $4,000.
anEEDING OUT THE SLACKERS
Good Work in Washington by the
Provost Marshal Generals OFFICE
Hope for improvement in Delivery
of Mail to Soldiers Abroad.
By ARTHUR w. DUNN.

exemption from the draft ana nad Deen
refused by the local and district
gboards. Out of approximately 20OO.-
900 men in class 1 this may not seem so
Iarge a number. At the same time
the desire Of $4,000 young men to es-
cane military service was rather dis
e-couraging to the war officials, particu-
E1arly since upon examination many
a-of the claims for exemption appeared
vto be frivolous or equivocal.
Army officers administering the law
.and dealing with applications for eX-
=emption especially when they were
BACKED by senators ana representa-
rfives in congress, found considerable
difficulty in adjusting the various sit
sUatiOns in view Of the fact that here
In Washington many thousands Oh
clerks claimed exemption as employ
.-ees of the government, while large
vnumber of other young men within the
draft age were seeking and securing
commissions in the various noncom-
blatant staff corps and were very nu-
sEner0us in their uniforms on the streets
of Washington and in the departments.
There has been a decided change on
This score within the last few weeks.
The provost marshal generals office
has been reaching into the depart
cments and lifting out the clerks who
were within the draft age and liable
10 service. Every department has
been called upon to furnish the num-
fber and names of all men within the
draft age. Another reform has been
sstaTted by the secretary of war, which
DIS the wedding out of staff officers in
Washington who have been filling cler-
deal positions OF course this cannot
Sbe accomplished in its entirety, but it
9slas been remarked during the past
flew weeks that many officers in uni
form, with suitcases in their hands,
%f8ve been seen vending their way to
the Union station on the route to
Somewhere with the possibility of
sloing real military duty.
Many people in the United States
s1Ope that recent announcement from
the post office department will result
s4n better mail service between the
United States and the soldiers in
France. During the several weeks in
IDEALLY as well as unofficiaIIy about
the inadequate mail service, there has
been a contention on the part of the
lpoSt office department that the delays
were due largely to the manner in
which the war department was ham
ding the mail. Even in his latest state
Esnent the postmaster general said the
military authorities in France would
mot disclose to the postal officials the
location or movement of troops in Eu-
rope, and consequently there has been
"a great deal of delay. BY the new
arrangement, however, it is expected
sthe war department will take charge
eof the distribution of mail sent abroad
eand in that way letters and other mat
ter to the soldiers will be very much
expedited.
Political expediency and personal
comfort figured largely in the pros
s;and cons as to whether an adj
editiOnal revenue measure should be
considered before the present session
of congress adjourns. AS to the poll
tics of it, the Democratic leaders ar
gued that to pass a revenue bill now
would mean defeat of the Democratic
tparty in the congressional elections,
for the reason that everybody would
sbe agitated over the proposed new
<taXes. There were very few-and
very sagacious politicians, too-who
asserted it would be better to have the
revenue bill out of the way and I'M
sIlerStood. rather than to have the I'M
KNOWN hanging over the whole people.
President Wilson has never been
smuCh impressed with the political eff
feet of legislation which he considers
necessary. Four years ago the con-
-sdition of the revenues made 1t neces-
asary to pass another revenue bill. 1t
was the first bill to be called war
Erevenue measure, and was given that
NAME because the war in Europe was
alleged to have been the main cause
aof the falling off of treasury receipts.
Politicians in congress argued against
passing any such bill before the cleo
"&ionS, but President Wilson insisted
that it was necessary and therefore
Sfile people would not be dissatisfied:
saRd It may also be recalled that the
Democrats won the elections In 1914.
The personal reasons for avoiding
revenue legislation are greater than
the political reasons. Members of
congress do not want to stay in Wash
Ington any longer than they are
sobiiged TO. Their salaries and the sal
asries of their employees go along just
she same whether congress is in ses-
sion or not, and it is natural that they
should prefer to be at home, mingling
with their people. especially those
members who are seeking reelection.