Evening star., 1940-09-29
47Chosen 10 Preside
0verD.C. Registration
OF Draft E|igib|es
Gen. Cox Estimates 6,936
Volunteer Registrars
Will Be- Required

Al men and women were chosen last
night to preside over the registra-
ton October Is of all men in the
District between the ages of 81 and
36 from whom will be selected re-
cruits for the fighting forces.
The names of the chief registrars
were submitted by Dr.. Frank w.
Ballou. superintendent of schools,
and were approved by the District
Commissioners.
With registration day only 18 days
of. DR.. Ballou summoned the reg
istrars to a meeting at pm. Thurs
day where they will begin studying
their duties under the tutelage Of
Brig. Gen. Albert L. Cox. District
selective service executive. The
meeting place has not yet been
selected.
Each chief registrar. many Of
them school principals who are ac-
ouainted with the neighborhoods,
will in turn train the huge staff nee
essary to register the estimated one
sixth of Washington's populace in
one day.
Volunteers Needed.
Meanwhile, it appeared likely that
volunteers would be needed to sort
and select the names of men, women
and organizations who were volun-
teering for the unpaid jobs of aides
to the chief registrars. Up to late
yesterday, the flood of volunteers
continued into the office of ASsls-
tant Superintendent of Schools
Chester w. Holmes.
Gen. Cox estimated 6,936 volun-
teers would be needed, to work in
three shifts of 2,312 each. He based
his computations on the maximum
registration of 96 1896 men, although
other estimates were far less
Although schol teachers are ex-
pected to form the nucleus of the
registration staffs, DR., Holmes called
on heads of several Government
agencies. business establishments
and municipal agencies to supply
lists of volunteers.
Offers came almost instantly.
Among the first was the District
Fire Department, whose spokes-
man, Capt, Carlisle Peterson. in
dicated that the fire-fighting shifts
might be altered on registration
day to make available a maximum
number of flremen as assistant reg
istrars. The Police Department be-
gan extensive planning to make
available its personnel. Both forces
served in a similar capacity dur
Ing World War registrations.
Flying Squadrons."
DR.. Holmes said that the fire
men might be used to form four
flying squadrons, to be based
at Western. Central, Mckinley and
Eastern High Schools, from where
they would be rushed to any reg
istration district which might be
overwhelmed with an unexpected
number of registrants.
So great was the rush to volun-
teer that the Police Department
ran out of forms on which to list
them. But despite the apparently
large number of offers, DR.. Holmes
appeared hopeful OF more.
The school system will furnish
3,474 volunteers. and numerous Gov
ernment departments were asked to
furnish as many more as possible.
Among the departments asked Tor
aid were the War, Navy and In
terror, Bureau of Internal Reve-
nue. and the Railroad Retirement
Board. Among organizations the
American Legion and Veterans OF
Foreign Wars ranked high in the
aid offered. Business organizations
receiving requests included the Po-
tomac Electric Power Co., the Ches-
apeake & Potomac Telephone Co.
and the Washington Gas Light Co.
w. P. A. May Supply 1000.
Paul Edwards, director Of the
District Work Projects Administra-
ton, said he might be able to sup
ply 1000 men. These volunteers
will not be paid for their days serv-
ices but Mr.. Edwards declared
supervisors would be instructed to
give the volunteers an extra day Of
work if possible, so that their finan-
cial loss would be made up at a
later time
Still to be selected by Gen. Cox
are the men who will be nominated
for the "a District Selective Serv-
ice Committees. He Is expected to
submit a list of 96 names to the
District Commissioners who will Sc
lect 70 sometime this week.
These committees will have the
burden of selecting and classifying
for service men whose serial num-
bers are pulled from the national
lottery few weeks after registra-
ton day. They must examine the
lengthy questionnaires and decide
II the men are Immediately avail
able or are to be deferred.