Evening star., 1943-04-11
Draft Heads 10 Defer
Minimum Of 1900
D. {. Key Workers
Committees Greatest
Concern Is Adequate
Police, Fire Department
By DON S. WARREN,

vvAAASAV1@ANs
With the exception of the cases
of policemen and 'firemen, Dis
trict officials indicated yesterday
they will have to be "hard-
boiled" in passing on requests of
municipal agency directors for
draft deferments for any Of the
13,000-odd city employees holding
"key positions"
The greatest concern of the newly
named District Deferments Commit
tee and the Commissioners, it was
made plain, Is for maintenance of
adequate forces Of trained police
and flremen.
Police and Fire Department offi-
cials said yesterday they planned to
ask that all the 1,7o0 police and 872
f1remen be classed as being in "key
positions" and eligible for six-month
deferments. The Commissioners
have not adopted any formal policy,
but they are to review the problem
tomorrow at conference with Will
liam E. Leahy, District Selective
Service director.
Substitute Training.
So convinced are top District on
cials that only the barest minimum
of employees will be permitted draft
deferments that steps already are
under way in many divisions to de-
velop system of training of substi-
tutes to be ready to take over the
jobs of even relatively important
officials.
One official estimated that aside
from police and firemen, it appeared
unlikely the District Deferments
Committee would recommend more
than 500 or 900 other municipal
workers for 'key position" classifi-
cation.
1t was reported school officials
were preparing to ask deferment
classification for senior high and
normal school teachers and for en-
gineers in the custodial service,
plus a number of administrative
officials.
To replace the previously in
formal handling of deferment ques-
tions, the Commissioners on March
q announced the appointment of
the Deferments Committee and at
that time it was revealed all Dis
trict departments would be called
upon to submit new lists Of persons
in key positions. Since then, the
program of the new committee has
been broadened to include all agen-
cies which are supported by mu-
nicipal funds.
Fowler Heads Groups.
Walter L. Fowler, District budget
officer, heads the committee. Other
members are Corporation Counsel
Richmond B. Keech, Col. Joseph D.
Arthur, jr., assistant engineer COM
missioner; Inspector Harvey G. CAL
lahan, assistant superintendent Of
police, and Geoffrey M. Thornett,
the Commissioners secretary. '
They are dealing with the cases
of all municipal workers between
the ages of 18 and As. Department.
heads are directed in rules issued by
the committee to submit key posi-
ton lists not later than Thursday.
In his outline to department heads,
Chairman Fowler said extreme
care should be exercised to keep the
requests to a minimum and yet pro-
tect essential services"
The Fowler committee recon-
mendations will 60 to the Commits
sioners, and their judgments will be
forwarded to the review committee
OF the War Manpower Commission
for final decision. It is expected also
reports will be made to local draft
boards for their information.
Word to Departments.
In his advice to department heads
regarding requests for key position