Evening star., 1943-03-02
Draft Dependency
0. K.d for Child Born
Before Sept. IS, 1912
SeIective Service Acts
To End Confusion in
Handling Of Fothers

District Selective Service has ad-
vised draft boards here that If a
mans marriage is good" children
born to his wife on or before Sep
tember IA, 1912, may be counted as
dependent children in the eyes of
the draft, it was learned today.
The bulletin, 1t was explained,
was sent out in answer to numerous
questions from draft boards now
taking married men but not men
whose children can be considered
dependents.
Lack of uniformity in draft board
interpretations of the law on de-
pendents has been previously re-
ported. Some boards have ruled
that the children had to be ac-
quired before an unlimited emer-
gency was declared in May, 1941,
while others are said to have al
lowed men whose children we're
born in the last few months to be
placed In the category of men with
dependent children.
A good" marriage, it was ex-
planned, has to have taken place
before December 8, 1941, and when
mans selection for the Army was
not imminent.
Many Await Review.
Although II mans marriage was
not good" he should have been
taken along with the single men,
1t was explained that some mems
cases have not been reviewed for q
long time, during which the regu-
lations, as well as circumstances,
have changed.
For instance, draft boards might
have deferred a man who married
when his selection was imminent
but when the draft was only for q
year OF training. In reviewing cases
he might be called now. In another
instance, a man might have been
deferred because of a dependent
mother and been married while he
was deferred on that score. The
draft board probably would rule
that his selection had been i'm
mlnent and would not count the
marriage. In that case any chill
dren OF the marriage would not
count, either.
In considering children, it was
emphasized that everything de-
pended on the mans circumstances
before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
For instance, If man was examined
early in the draft and placed in
4-F and was married while in that
classification, he could reasonably
assumed that his selection wasn't
imminent. If he was later reclassi.
fed as available for service his mar
riage probably would be considered
good.
Some Have Good Argument.
On the other hand a man whose
physical handicaps put him in 1-B
couldn't assume that his selection
was not imminent since he could be
called for limited service at any
time.
Although the Presidents procla-
nation Of an unlimited national
emergency In May, 1941, is gen.
orally considered as putting men
on notice that their selection was
draft spokesman said that
q man registered in the first regis
tration, who had never been classi-
fed or ordered to report for a physi-
cal examination and had a high
order number, would have some
basis for assuming he was not about |
to be called and might have a rea-
sOnable argument for 8 good" mar
riage.
Youths of 81, however, should have
been put on notice that their selec-
ton was imminent when their reg
istration was proclaimed In May for
July, 1941, since 1t was explained |
that their names would be integ-
rated with the other registrants and
they could expect an early call.
Their marriages after May, 1941,
would not be considered
good"
December 8, 1941, Deadline.
Regardless of whether men were |
registered for the draft at the time |
Of the attack on Pearl Harbor-and |
that includes the men who reg
lstered February Is, 1912, and there
after-no marriage performed after
December 8, 1941, Is good" in the
eyes of the draft.
The September IA date for chill
dren was selected. 1t was explained, |
to give registrants a To-day "ben-
eft OF the doubt" in addition to |
270 days after this Nation entered
the war.
Draft spokesmen emphasized that
each case differed and, though two
cases might appear similar on the
surface, such facts as the mans age,
date OF marriage and order number
made each case actually different
from every other case and actual