The Colorado statesman., 1918-06-15
TOO MANY SOUGHT
TO EvADE SERVICE
APPEALS FROM THE LOCAL AND
DISTRICT DRAFT BOARDS
NUMBERED $4,000.
WEDDING 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.

Washington.-Twent thousand
appeals were made by men who sought
exemption from the draft and bad been
refused by the local and district
boards. Out of approximately 2,OOO,-
600 men in class l this may not seem so
large a number. At the same time
the desire of 25,000 young men to es-
cape military service was rather dis
couraging to the war officials, partcu-
larly since upon examination many
of the claims for exemption appeared
to be frivolous or equivocal.
Army officers administering the law
and dealing with applications for ex-
emption, especially when they were
backed by senators and representa-
tives in congress, found considerable
difficulty in adjusting the various sit
uations in view of the fact that here
in Washington many thousands OF
clerks claimed exemption as employ
ees of the government, while large
number of other young men within the
draft age were seeking and securing
commissions in the various noncom-
batant staff corps and were very nu-
merous in their uniforms on the streets
of Washington and in the departments.
There has been decided change on
this score within the last few weeks.
The provost marshal generals office
has been reaching into the depart
ments and lifting out the clerks who
were within the draft age and liable
to service. Every department has
been called upon to furnish the num-
ber and names of all men within the
draft age. Another reform has been
started by the secretary of war, which
is the wedding out of staff officers In
Washington who have been filling cler-
lcal positions. OF course this cannot
be accomplished in its entirety, but II
has been remarked during the past
few weeks that many officers in uni
form, with suitcases in their hands,
have been seen vending their way to
the Union station on the route to
somewhere" with the possibility Of
doing real military duty.
Many people in the United States
hope that q recent announcement from
the post office department will result
In better mail service between the
United States and the soldiers in
France. During the several weeks in
which complaints have been aired Of
flcially as well as unofficially about
the inadequate mail service, there has
been a contention on the part of the
post Office department that the delays
were due largely to the manner in
which the war department was han
ding the mail. Even in his latest state
ment the postmaster general said the
military authorities in France would
not 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, 1t is expected
the war department will take charge
of the distribution of mail sent abroad
and 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
and cons as to whether an ad-
ditional 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 revenue bill now
would mean defeat of the Democratic
party in the congressional elections,
for the reason that everybody would
be agitated over the proposed new
taxes. There were very few-and
very sagacious politicians, too-who
q l., Iat 20 hnx
revenue bill out of the way and .un-
derstood. rather than to have the I'M
known hanging over the whole people.
President Wilson has never been
much impressed with the political eff
feet of legislation which he considers
necessary. Four years ago the con-
dition of the revenues made 1t neces-
sary to pass another revenue bill. 1t
was the first bill to be called war
revenue measure, and was given that
name because the war in Europe was
alleged to have been the main cause
of the falling off of treasury receipts.
Politicians in congress argued against
passing any such bill before the cleo
tons, but President Wilson insisted
that 1t was necessary and therefore
the people would not be dissatisfied;
and 1t 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
obliged to. Their salaries and the sal
aries of their employees go along just
the same whether congress is in ses-
sion or not and 1t is natural that they
should prefer to be at home, minging
with their people. especially those
members who are seeking reelection.