The Robesonian., 1918-01-03


there are comparatively few cases of
dependent fathers and mothers, de-
pendent brothers and sisters, or de-
pendent children who are not the reg
istrant's own children. Most of the
alleged supporters of parents are
merely paying their parents for -
and lodging, as any other Do,----- |
would.
When, therefore, you come to con-
slider Glass 3, it is believed that you
will examine all claims of this class
carefully in the light of your exper-
ience among men, and apply the rules
rigidly in order that sentiment may
not prompt the placing of a single
man in this class, unless entitled to
such classification beyond reason
able doubt, bearing in mind in your
consideration of this class, that the
government will pay to the claimed de-
pendents probably as much as he has
heretofore contributed to their sup
port You should make due inquiry of
the registrant if he is willing that
certain part of his salary shall be as
signed to his parents. If he hesitates
then you will know that the support
of his parents is doubtful, even if he
should remain at home. If he is will
| ing to make such contribution, say SIS
per month, then the government adds
| to that amount $40 for each parent,
making a total contribution Of $35
per month. Knowing how few single
men contribute such an amount per
month to the support of their parents,
you can readily see that Class l would
usually be the proper designation Of
class.
1t is believed, therefore, that if
proper and strict Interpretation of the
rules is applied, both as to Glasses l
and 3, there will be sufficient num-
Der of men assigned to Glass l to
furnish the necessary quotas for this
| State, until the situation calls for the
and unmarried.
| Of course, the married man who
habitually fails to support his family,
the married man dependent upon his
wife for support, and the man not
engaged in useful work, whose fam
lily is supported by income independ-
ent of his labor, are entitled to no
more deferred classification than the
single man without dependents. Their
assignment to active service will not
tend to greatly disturb the economic
balance necessary to be maintained in
civil life. The evidence, however, that
would assign man with family to
this class, should be clear, strong and
convincing. Mistakes are too hard
to rectify, to risk the breaking up OF
the home life and severance of hus-
band and wife, until the national EN-,
ergencies make call upon our last
resources. When the call comes, the
| L.
! noble women.
Glasses 1 and being closely relat
ed on account of the fact that thest
classes are the classes within whicl
all sin"le men fall, must necessaril.
be considered together for compare
tive purposes.
So classes and 4 being closely re
4 lated on account of the fact that thes
h classes will embrace the majority o
q the married registrants, will necessar
d lily be considered together for com
parative purposes, to the end that n
q man shall be placed in Glass VIII
q should by strict Interpretation be plao
81 ed in Class 2, bearing in mind tha
Il should too liberal a view be take
with reference to those strictly dc
& fined under Glass 2, Glass 4 migl
be reached earlier than is anticipa
ed and the result would be that case
of moderate hardship would be sent &;
the same time as the cases Of extren
N hardship.
The conclusion seems to follow 10.
d ically that a strict Interpretation
3 the regulations and strict classif
B cation will result in a fair and ju
- proper classes, and will result in
. sufficient number Of men witho
families being placed in Class l
supply the first demands of the go
ernment, without serious disturban
in the economic and social life of t
Commonwealth.
In your consideration of the clair
by registrants with dependent wiv
and children, the estimates of
amounts necessary to support the fa1
lily should not be your sole determi
ing guide. Just as these estimat
are often exaggerated, so they are
ten underestimated. Especially
this true Of those classes who recei
no stipulated salary, as for instan
the small tenant farmer or labor
who raises his own meat and corn a
vegetables and other produce for ho1
consumption and who by reason of
fact he has never had to buy all
these things, lives we'll, and yet dc
not know how to put proper mon
value upon them. In many cases y
will no doubt find that such a fam
could not receive the adequate supp
they had been receiving, keeping
account of the cost, upon the amol
set out in their estimates. You sho1
search deeper for the truth and ap]
the law upon the facts found under
the circumstances, to the end that
norance and mistake may not res
in unnecessary hardship.
The foregoing instructions have
duplication to the status of registra
under claims other than those on
ground of dependency
By direction of the Governor.
JOHN D. LANGSTON,
Major Inf. u. S. R
Special Aide to the Govern
Dec. 28th, 1917.