Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-02-21
CLERKS TO CARRY
ON BOARDS WORK
Duties of Local Draft Boards
after Men Are Classified
Are Outlined.

Montpelier, Feb. 1s.-Adjutant- General
II. T. Johnson has received from the war
department ruling which Is of no small
matter with the local exemption boards of
Vermont In which II IL suggested that
the chief clerks shall take care of most
of the work and that the boards when
they have completed classification shall
leave the work for the most part to the
clerk. The Vermont boards still have a
great deal of work to DO, in fact there are
some registrants whose papers will yet
have to 70 to the district beard In which
the registrnnts have not been yet been ex-
| amined.
The following memorandum has been
sent out to local boards:
To Local Boards
The following letter is published for your
information and guidance.
February 10. 1918.
From Office Of the Provost Marshal-Gen-
eral:
To the Governor of Vermont.
Subject: General duties of local board
members:
/. This department has been re-
quested by several state headquarters
to outline the general duties of local
boards after the completion Of classi-
fication. Some fifteen thousand citi-
| Gems compose these boards, and 1t was
| recognized early that the government
| must adopt some policy which would
enable these men to assist 1t in it's
hour Of need yet not take unfair ad-
| vantage of their patriotism to their
| business and financial loss. To this end
| the regulations calling for classical
ton were planned and put into effect.
With this work completed the local
/ hrs 10 Alt ctr
They will be asked now to supervise
only the drawing of army units from
their respective communities. They
Will not be required to be present at
the actual physical examinations. The
regulations require that they approve
or disapprove the result of such exam
nations, as shown by the physician e
record and recommendations. To
tighten the demands on the time OF
board members, they may authorize the
chief clerk to sign documents In the
name of the board. The main duty of
local boards henceforth will be the re-
classification Of men whose status may
change to such a degree as to entitlc
them to be transferred from one class
to another, or to classify such men as
may either have failed to register or
who may be hereafter required to reg
I lister.
2. 1t is suggested where possible
that n member Of the local board shall
act as chief clerk, although 1t should
be said here. clerk hire will be closely
regulated and In short tine based
upon the actual registration of a local
board.
3. Mobilization duties will largely be
mechanical and the preparation of the no.
tees. the making Of the lists. the securing
Of transportation should be performed by
| the clerk. When large attachments are
entraining 1t is not too much to ask the
local board to be represented by one men,
ber These occasions are usually public
functions and the presence Of a represen-
tative Of the government is desired
I. From what has been said, 1t will be
seen that. when the classification Is COM
plete. the duties Of board members will be
supervisory and general and no more oner.
GUS than that imposed on members OF
town and city councils and the like. From
time to time specific tasks will be imposed
requiring more time and effort, as for in
stance, the possible registration and clas-
sifcation Of men who have attained the
age Of q since June 5, 1917. When such
specific tasks are required, compensation
will be provided for those who must re-
quire 1t. At other times there will be nc
serious demands on the time of board
members and hence no compensation will
be provided.
s. The local and district boards are
about to complete the erection of an army
building machine. the like Of which is UNI
known in this worlds history. From II
will come the armies of the future ant
this country never again will find itsell
unready. The men who have built 1t have
toiled night and day for many months
their work was not such as could be
measured in money; true few have COM
planned but the great majority have toilet
on patiently and periodically through try
ing ordeals, changing regulations and con
fusng details, and the result Of theil
work stands out to-day as a monument
to their toll. History will find way tc
recognize the work Of this great body OF
citizens who in the rush of war prepare
ton. have given the best that they had te
give.
HUGH S. JOHNSON,
Colonel. Cavalry National Army. Deput,
Provost Marshal General.
BY command Of Governor Graham.
HERBERT T. JOHNSON,
Colonel Acting Adjutant- General