Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-24
VINO Can't Answer
Sd Draft Question
FOR U. S. Employees
1seneies at Odds Over
men With Dependents
IN Essential Jobs

wit with Federal agencies at odds on
snich Government men with de-
-. .Iuents rate a 3-B draft status for
ue'ng engaged in an essential activ-
d;soo oiie War Manpower Commission
varS usered yesterday it had no
ro sCick to supply the answer.
r;ts soeral personnel officers. faced
tha losing their married men in
os seepped-up draft, and a number
me men themselves have been
fwsuing the answer in the face of
~oniilcting information.
a. further impetus has been given by
.iie VINO announcement that draft
Soaros had been ordered to speed
ny ciaSSlf1catlon of men with de-
pehoentS into 3-B. Employers are
supposed to file a form certifying
que men are employed in their office
anu outlining their jobs, but some
1eoeral agencies are loath to file
SnyVhing that might look as though
aiey were defying the Presidents
otoef providing that occupational
uelerment requests be channelled
through him.
Directive Likely.
"A War Manpower Commission
SPOKESMAN said yesterday an i'm
meolate effort would be made to
Iino out whether all, some, or any
men in the Government service
should be classified in 3-B and in
olcated that a directive to local
poaros probably would follow.
A selective service expert on de-
Ierments was of the opinion yester-
Gay that the list of IS critical &C
tlvlties should be considered a guide
70 classification in 3-B as we'll as in
the strictly occupational IA and
2-B.
The list includes governmental
services, including services neces-
sary for the maintenance of health.
safety and morale and the prosecu-
lion Of the war" The official
thought that included almost, if not
all, family men in Government.
On the other hand, an authority
on personnel matters pointed to an
ONCE of War Information list of
critical activities, issued December 9,
which had inserted the words
"other than Federal beside Gov
ernmental services. just who made
the insertion in that list, which
came out as a press release and
was never seen by local draft
boards, could not be determined but
1t was explained that the list ap-
piled to occupational deferments
and, in line with the Presidents
order on that score, the insertion
was made.
Civil Service Circular.
Some Federal agencies were still
clinging to Civil Service Commits
sion circular, which suggested that
personnel officers seek 3-B classifi-
cation for "key men" with depend
ents. Under selective service regu-
lations, men don't have to be key
or necessary men but only in a
necessary activity to rate 3-B CLASH
fication if they have dependents.
A Civil Service Commission
spokesman said the circular was
obsolete" since it was issued before
the Presidents order. No instruc-
lions resembling the circular were
ever sent out, it was explained, since
it was assumed that Federal agen-
cies would shelve all previous in
structions in the light Of the Presi-
dents order.
Meanwhile, District draft boards
have been instructed by local head
quarters to classify all Federal en-
ployes in 3-B and Government per-
sonnet men who have called District
draft headquarters to find out what
to do about their family men have
been instructed to file the forms.
The final misunderstanding seer1s
to be on whether the form, ABB,
is a request for deferment. Draft
officials point out that it is only a
certifcation of employment, giving
draft boards more detailed informa-
ton than they can CLEAN from
selective service questionnaires.