The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1942-05-14
Boords Now Stricter
In Classifying Men
With Dependents

" Ill
Instructions have been issued to
all local selective service boards in
Montana providing for more rigor-
Gus classification of men with de-
pendents and also for their classi-
fication into subdivisions of class
III-C men with dependents) as de-
termined by their present occupa-
tons, E. M. Birley, State Director of
Selective Service, has announced
today.
Local boards will first classify
registrants of the third registration.
(men within the SO to As age brack-
eD who claim dependents, according
to their occupations, degree of de-
tendency, date when dependency
was acquired, and attitude toward
serving in the armed forces. They
will then proceed with the reclassi-
fication of Glass III registrants of
the first and second registrations
according to the new, frightened reg
ulations.
Director Birely emphasized that
he has advised local boards that in
classifying men with dependents,
the burden of proof of a depend
ency status must fall on the regis
trant himself and not on the local
boards. Hereafter before a man
may be placed in Class lila or
lib. members of the local board
must be absolutely satisfied that
dependents are not acquired for
the purpose of evading the draft,
Director Birely said, and it is the
concern of the registrant himself to
prove his good faith in assuming
the support Of dependents.
In the event men with depend
ents are called to active service,
Glass lila will be the first of such
group III men to be selected, ac-
cording to present information.
Glass lila men are those with one
or more dependents and who are
engaged in nonessential occupations.
lib is new classification and in
cludes men with one or more actual
dependents and who are engaged in
war industries or in industries sup
porting the war effort. Local boards
have been informed as to what con-
stitutes war industry, Director
Birely said. Regardless of the fact
that a registrant is necessary
man. in his work, if such work
does not qualify as a war industry
or necessary to war production as
defined by National Headquarters
Selective Service System, he would
not be eligible for Class lib class
ification.
Director Birely also warned that
hereafter, if registrants acquired
dependents on or after September
10, 1910, and before December 8
l94l, they must prove that they
were not voluntarily acquired for
the purpose of evading the draft
before the registrant will be entitled
to Glass III status because of de.
pendency If dependency were ac-
quired after December 8, aftel
Pearl Harbor", the registrant mus
prove that it was due to circum
stances beyond his control If de
pendents are acquired just prior tx
the time a man is scheduled for in
duction, unless he is able to con
vince the board that they were no
acquired in order for him to quail
ify for dependency deferment ane
thus evade service, the registrant'
dependency will be disregarded ane
he will be classified as man avail
able for induction, Director Birel.
said.
The fact that registrant is ;
married man has no bearing what
soever on his classification, Direc.
tor Birely stated If a registrar
acquires or has acquired actual ii
nancial dependents through mar
riage, the facts of his dependenc,
will be given the same consideration
as any other dependency case; bu
there is no provision in the Selectivt
Service regulations for any classifi
cation specifically pertaining tt
married men.
Director Birely emphasized tina
the old liberal peacetime policie
for classifications no longer appl,
and that all classifications are nov
to be made according to the cur
rent regulations which are mor
drastic and naturally affect man,
who prior to the outbreak of wa
were unquestionably placed in
deferred status.
Director Birely also warned tina
as the manpower of our countr,
continues to be depleted and NOR
and more men are called to activ,
service, regulations for classification
and induction will probably becom,
, more stringent and inclusive, ant
it is possible that in the futur
: National Headquarters will arrang
/ for the Redistribution and Undue
, ton of men with dependents re
CARELESS of when or how they ar