The Seward gateway daily edition, and the Alaska weekly post., 1918-01-23

A new regulation, sent out from Washington by the Provost Marshal General on January 9th, repeals the formers provisions of the Selectiye Service Regulations relative to com pensation for members of local boards. Section l95 provided that members of local boards might be paid at the rate of one dollars per hou5 or seven and one-half dollars per day, for time ac- tually expended in the performance of the duties of the board; the total compensation, however, not to exceed one hundred and fifty dollars for any one month. By the provisions of the new regulation, local boards are to be paid thirty cents for each registrant to whom the questionnaire is mailed and who is finally classified by the board This regulation was placed in effect by a telegram from the Provost Marshal General. The. telegram an nomcing the change in the rcgula- tions reads as follows:
 This office has been urged repeat edly and iusistently by members of local boards and by other persons in authority throughout the country con nccted with administration of the sel- ectiye service law to place the salary and expense feature of the classiica- ton system on a unit basis so far as possible. These requests have been heartily endorsed by every state off cial, connected with the administra- ton of the law, with whom it has been discussed; particularly the effort has been made to linduce) local boards furnish calculations and estimates of the cost of their work Many mem bers of local boards and other per sons have renewed their offers and pledges of gratuitous service; many others have made estimates which in- dicate a careful investigation of the work to be performed and the season. able cost thereof; but a considerable number, regardless of the size of reg ;s,rat.ou in the respective jurisdiction have made their estimates on so cX- trayagant scale that the total cost could not be paid out of any appro- priatiou which Congress would be willing to make or which the people of the nation would approve. It is necessary not only that every person connected with the administration of the sclcctiyc draft law shall be con servatiye in the expenditure of public funds. The nation is at war, person. al sacrifices are being made on every hand. The soldiers who are being sel- ected by local and district boards have given up comfortable homes have sev- cred home ties, in many cases have been delighted Co sacrifice large in- comes in order to work and fight for their country twcnty-four hours day for thirty dollars per month. Most of these men are willing to serve for ev- en less or for nothing. They are now enduring or will hereafter endure sui ferjug and hardships and in many cases compelled to sacrifice their lives OF their health. Therefore it is not unreasonable to request the great ar my composed of local board members to meet the govemmu, and cooper ate with it in the mu.,et ot minimum cost. This is their country, they are part of its army, and it is confidently expected that they will give the gov ernment in the future as they have in the past the best that is in them, and that they will receive compensation only to the extent that may be ueces- saIy in their condition of life. In com putting, a unit cost, this office has en- deavored after consultation with many board members and state officials, to fix upon a unit cost, the total of which will equal the compensation which