The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1921-06-11
WAR DEPARTMENT FIRST
There is Prediction that Bell
Telephones Petition for a
Rehearing for Increased
Rates Will Be Dismissed on
Grounds That a Rehearing
Would. Merely be Repetition
(By Max Abernethy).

partment through Adjutant General
John Van B. Nets Office here is
sounding a warning to North Caro-
| lima newspapers to be warned against
being made the medium for "exon-
Grating men whose names appear on
the printed lists of alleged draft de-
serters through Misrepresentation
The department points out that
very likely many cases will arise
where men whose names appear on
the Stacker lists will attempt to show
that they are wrongfu1ly charged.
with evading the draft. The following
from a letter written to Adjutant
General Metts will explain the War
Departments attitude with respect
to menvwhose names appear on the
[slacker lists:
Attention is invited to the fact
that all of the names on the printed
those lists because the War Depart
nsent tfu0Md, in the investigation of
the selective service records, that the
proper local board officials had en-
tered echarges of desertion against
them, and subsequent Investigations
have failed to produce any reason for
removing such names from the lists.
MANY cases will arise where the
men whose names are on the pub
lished lists will attempt to show by
certain evidence which they may
produce sEhat they are wrongfully
ON the list, and by misrepresenta-
tions to those not familiar with the
provisions of the selective service
regulations will cause the publication
of their cases in such manner as to
martyrize themselves and at the same
time put the War Department in the
position of publishing men without
just or proper cause therefor
The following case is typical:
"A man received an honorable dis
charge from the Army in the early
part of 1918. He then was called by
his local board, failed to respond and
was properly reported to the Adult
ant General of the Army as desert
honorable discharge of 1913 to a
make claim that he is
on the list, and have the
alleged injustice done him very much
whereas he became de-
serter after the date of his discharge
and he was rightfully published as
such.
After citing several cases similar
to this one which are typical the
letter closes with:
Newspapers should be warned
against being made the medium for
such Misrepresentation, and they
should not publish such claims with
out first having the report from the
War Department upon any single
case.'
What action the State Corporation
Commission proposes to take regard
ing the petition of the Southern Bell
Telephone Company for rehearing
of its application for increased tele-
phone rates in North Carolina had
not been decided upon today.
A prediction is that the petition
will be dismissed on the grounds that
to reopen the case would merely be
repetition of what the Commission
has already gone into with some de-
gree of thoroughness. The commfss-
ioner seems undisturbed over the
intimatfon in the petition that the
telephone company's return from the
rate now in effect is 'unreasonably
low and if continued will result in
confiscating its property in violation
of XIV amendment to the constitu-
tion of the United States"
Criticism lodged against the Com
mission for granting the 10 percent
increase is believed an indication
that further raises viii be disallow-