Evening star., 1942-02-11
j. ). 10 Check Jobs
1okeep Employees in
Essential Positions
Uniform Policy
Sought by President
In New Regulations

The Selective Service system
sought advice today from heads of
Federal establishments on job classi-
fications that are considered related
to the war effort or where employe
requirements will. require at least
six months of training.
In compliance with regulations
promulgated last night by President
Roosevelt these two broad categories
will provide the basis for uniform
policy on which occupational draft
deferment requests for Federal en-
ployeS are to be received and con-
sidered.
It was further directed in last
nights pronouncement that an in
ventory should be undertaken i'm
mediately of Federal officers and
employees who. except for occupa-
tional reasons, probably will be
placed in Class Ia Of the draft,
and replacement training be planned
1t once
Same Forms to Be Used.
Such deferment requests, by terms
Of the new regulations. must be
made for individual workers by
heads of the departments or agencies
where the individual is employed
and must be submitted on forms
prescribed by the selective service
system. These forms, draft officials
said today, probably would be the
same as those already in use for
other occupational deferment re-
quests.
In requesting deferments depart
ment heads must certify that the
affected individual is in position
closely related to the war effort or
to essential supporting activities, or
that q replacement can be obtained
only after 4 training period of at
least six months.
The initial deferment request,
furthermore. must be limited to six
months, with the training Of any
necessary replacement workers to
be undertaken during that interval.
For deferment beyond this basic
half-year period. 1t must be demon
strated that: l. A replacement
worker would require at least two
years OF work experience; 2, that a
replacement is available but in need
of further training; 3, that there is
q genuine shortage of qualified per-
sons for replacement purposes and
that no substitute has been found.
Approved BY Advisers.
FORMULATION of these guiding
principles for a uniform Federal
policy on deferments was recon-
mended to the President by five ad-
visers: Secretary of Treasury Nor
eenthau. Secretary of War Stimson.
Secretary of Navy Knox, Brig. Gen.
Lewis B. Hershey, director OF the
Selective Service System, and Will
liam H. McReynolds, administrative
assistant.
The suggestion that personnel
inventory be undertaken at once
with q view to spotting potential
class IA men. and the training OF
replacements. was recommended by
the same group.
In the first World war no single
policy was pronounced by the Gov
ernment. the question OF urgent
need OF individual employees OF Fed
eral agencies being left to discretion
of the department heads.
No blanket deferments have been
sought for Federal employees IN any
category up to the present time in
this war, it is understood, although
there has been recognition by the
Selective Service system that such
specialized men as agents OF the
Federal Bureau Of Investigation
should be given . preferred status
In most cases.
A partial summary OF the service
rolls from some of the major
agencies shows a somewhat impress
sive record. For example, the Civil
Service Commission lists more than
200 Of its employees already in the
armed services. the Treasury nearly
900, Agriculture about 300, Interior
7s0, Commerce nearly $50 and the
Veterans Administration more. than