Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-31
REcISTRANTS
Examinations in Class |
Commence Today
Status of All Resistrants Married
Since Enactment Of Selective Ser
vice Law Is Definitely Established by
Decision by District Draft Appeals
Board Of New York City

Local board for Division No. l OF
Kcnnebec county is now making list
Of registrants who claimed deferred
classification for dependency in cases
where marriage took place since May
IS, 1917, in accordance with instructions
received from the provost marshal gem
eral in Washington. In order to secure
uniformity of action all government
appeal agents have been instructed to
appeal all cases where local boards
have granted deferred classification in
either Class or on account of sucn
marriages.
The district draft appeals board of
New York City of which ex-United
States Justice Charles E. Hughes is
chairman. has just rendered decision
Which definitely establishes the status
of all registrantS who have married
since the enactment of the selective
draft law. Justice Hughes and his as
sociates take the ground that the pas
sage of the act made military service
the paramount obligation resting on
all men of the draft age. All registrants
knew this and those what later mar
ried and then claimed exemption, by
such claim created the plain presump-
ton that the marriage was contemplate
ca for the purpose OF escaping military
service. BY unanimous vote the board
ruled that no marriage contracted since
May is, 1917, shall be regarded as en-
titling man to deferred classification
unless it be shown that the reglstrant
was justified in believing that he was
no longer subject to the draft when he
entered the bonds of matrimony.
This exception is explained by the
board members TO mean that where a
rcgistrant has been called in the first
qualified and has received a certificate
of exemption on other than Industrial
or agricultural grounds previous to his
marriage he should receive the same
that would be accorded
him had his marriage taken place pri-
or to May IS. This exception also APP
plies to men who between May IS and
Dec. 10 endeaV ored to enlist in either
the army or the navy and were reject
Cd for physical reasons. These men
are considered as having been justified
in contracting marriage.
Tho result of tie investigation to be
conducted by the appeal agent will be
awaited with interest.
In some of the local boards there has
arisen the question if married men with
dependent families should be drafted il
their pay and the aid which they would
draw from the government and the
state exceeds the amount they are
earning at their vacations. The local
board in Augusta holds that the ques-
ton is not one of pay, but is purely q
matter of right and justice, that chill
dren need the care Of the father as well
as of the mother and that the intent
Of the law is that unmarried men and
those without dependents should first
he accepted.
The first group Of men in Class in
this division will be examined this aft
ernoon by DR.. William II. Harris and
DR.. Il. l.. Mckay az the postotfice
building and the examinations will con-
tinuc every afternoon until all men in
Class have received their physical
examinations, the number of men be-
ing between 900 and 700.