Evening star., 1940-11-10
DR.. Dykstra Explains
Plan 10 Be Used in
Draft Deferment
Least Disruption TO
Normal Economy Is
Aim, He Declares
By CARTER BROOKE JONES.

Employees of the Federal and Dis
trict governments, municipalities
and counties will be given the same
consideration in weighing occupa-
tional deferment of men summoned
for military training as if they were
working for private concerns, DR..
C. A. Dykstra, director of selective
service, said yesterday.
The entire selective service pro-
gram. he emphasized, will be car
ried out with the least possible dis
ruption of the normal economy"
Whether a man is to be called to
the colors or placed in a deferred
status because he is considered
necessary to his industry or gov
ernmental unit is matter for his
local draft board to pass on indi-
vidually, DR.. Dykstra emphasized
but he pointed out that the board
has clear authority to hold such
public employe as fireman essen
tial to the community welfare and
great him deferment.
The board is charged with determ-
lining which registered men should
be deferred for vocational reasons
and which are eligible for the Army
regardless of whether these men are
volunteers or await their call to serv-
ice. Volunteers must go through the
same mill. The only difference is
that they do not have to wait until
their order numbers come up un-
der the sequence established in the
national lottery, but may be con-
sidered for service at any time.
Ask Employers Check.
DR.. Dykstra suggested that en-
ployers, both public and private.
make a preliminary check of en-
ployeS likely to be inducted into the
armed forces. listing key men con-
SiGered essential to the department.
industry or business.
The employer, he pointed out.
may strike off all who are married
or are physically unfit.
The remainder ne added. will
be those who may be subject to call
for training. Then take 5 per cent
of the total number. The figure
should give an approximation of the
number of employees who might be
selected from those eligible for
training during any given year un-
der the present act. if there were
no provision made for occupational
deferment."
The director explained that the
employer has the obligation TO
assist the reglstrantS in presenting
information in all cases of occupa-
tional deferment to the local boards. -
In other words" said DR.. Dyk-
Stra, "the same standards apply to
a person in public service as to those
in private employment. 1t is clear
ly the intention of Congress and of
the President that selective service
be administered in such way as
to cause the least possible disrup-
tlon of the normal economy. How
ever, each case must be determined
as an individual matter and on it's
own merits"
No Agency Need Suffer.
He asserts that no city, State or
other Government department need
suffer any loss of efficiency through
the operation of selective service"
In pointing to the broad policies
laid down for the boards in the
regulations, DR.. Dykstra said:
Many questions have arisen as
TO the status of public employees,
Federal, State and local, under the
Selective Service Act. Most of these
questions indicate that there still
seems to be a great deal of mis-
understanding of the principles of
occupational deferment. Some To-
cal Government officials have raised
the question of group exemptions
for local public employees. Such ex-
emptions are, of course, prohibited
by law.
For example, take the case of
f1remen. Fear has been expressed
that the act might operate so as
to deprive & city of the services of
an experienced fire chief, thus i'm
pairing the safety of the community.
This is clearly covered by provi-
sions of the act and the regulations.
which provide that the local board
may defer any man who is found
to be necessary man in his job,
where the job is on an activity
which is productive or useful and
contributes 10 the well-being of the
community or the Nation.
Certainly this is broad enough to
allow local board to defer a fire.
man if it finds him to fall within
this category
DR.. Dykstra added: Much of the
fear which has been indicated has
been exaggerated by the failure to
realize the relative improbability of
so many individuals being selected
at any one time from any one enter
prise to cripple that enterprise"
Decision Rests With Board.
While occupational deferment ap-
parently is associated In the public
mind with those who make planes,