The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
Ex -Officio Members W . P. G . H A R D I N G , G O V E R N O R PAUL WILLIAM M. W A R B U R G . V I C E G O V E R N O R F R E D E R I C A. D E L A N O G. M c AD C O S e c r e t a r y o f th e t r e a s u r y CHAIRMAN A DO LP H C. M I L L E R CH ARLES S. HAML IN JOHN SKELTON W ILLIAM S Co m p t r o l l e r o f t h e C u r r e n c y FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD H. P A R K E R W I L L I S , S E C R E T A R Y S H E R M A N P. A L L E N , A S S T . S E C R E T A R Y AND FISCAL AGENT WASHINGTON ADDRESS REPLY TO FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD X-145 May 15, 1917 Dear Sir: By direction of the Federal Reserve Board I inclose herewith copy of a letter recently re ceived from the Judge Advocate General's office, and also a copy of the Bulletin of Information ac companying the same. Respectfully, Secretary Inclosures. X-I45a War Department Office of the Provost Marshal General Washington BULLETIN OF INFORMATION Concerning Registration and Conscription under So-called Draft Act. Concerning the Selective Service Bill, the plan for registration briefly stated is as follows: The registration in each state will be under the di rection of the Governor thereof. The Governor will appoint County Registration Boards which will ordinarily be composed of local officials. These boards will, in turn, appoint registrars in each voting precinct, in the proportion of one registrar for each eighty men to be registered. Cities having a population of thirty thousand or more will be registered by City Registration Boards. All ap plication for positions, or offers of services in connection with the registration, should therefore be made to the Governor or to county or city officials. Many inquiries are being made, not only by individuals but by various classes of religious sects, manufacturers, etc., regarding exemptions to be made under the proposed law. To such inquiries it is necessary to reply that the Selective Service Bill has not yet passed Congress and it is impossible to say just what exemptions will be provided for by law and regulations. Boards of tribunals will be appointed for the purpose of passing upon individual cases where exemption is provided for. There is no lack of appreciation of the desirability of continuing without interruption, persons engaged in occupa tions necessary to the supply of our military needs or the main tenance of the national interest, and our guiding principle must be to make the draft in such manner as to secure the great est efficiency, while, at the same time, distributing the bur dens of war. i'cH> juU^ * * X~145a -2- The law and regulations will make provisions for the protection of dependent relatives. It is manifestly impracti cable to pass upon special cases at this time. As soon as the bill becomes a law, the President will issue a proclamation requiring all males between certain desig nated ages to present themselves for registration upon a day to be prescribed by him. From those so enrolled the first draft will be made. It is estimated that there will be enrolled about one million men of each age. In other words, if Congress should fix the age limits from twenty-one to twenty-seven, inclusive, seven millions would be registered. Should the age limits be ex tended the total number registered would be approximately one million multiplied by the number of annual classes. It is ap parent that the first draft will call for but a small proportion of those enrolled. Of course, all males outside of the pre scribed age limits, in addition to a majority of those enrolled, will remain available for peaceful pursuits. Provisions for the registration of absentees, the sick, those residing on military*reservations, Forest Reserves, Naval Training Stations, etc., and those who may be at sea, or those without the continental limits of the United States, will be set forth in regulations to be issued as soon as the law is enacted. It will be the endeavor of the War Department to co ordinate the man-power of the country so as to place each man where his services will be most useful. Immediately upon the passage of the bill full and com plete information and instructions will be given to the public. E. H. CROWDER, Judge Advocate General. War Department Office of the Provost Marshal General Washington May 12, 1917. Honorable W, P. G. Harding, Governor, Federal Reserve Board, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: Replying to your letter of May 5th, addressed to th« Secretary of War and enclosing a communication from Deputy Governor R. H. Theman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, you are informed that the selective draft bill now before Congress authorizes the President to "exclude or discharge from the selective draft or to draft for partial military service only, persons engaged in industries, including agri culture, found to be necessary to the maintenance of the Mili tary Establishment or the effective operation of the military forces, or the maintenance of national interest during the emergency. M "No exemption or exclusion shall continue when a cause therefor no longer exists." As the Bill now stands, the age limits are fixed from twenty-one to thirty inclusive, as you no doubt are aware. The law further authorizes the President to exempt such persons employed in the service of the United States as may, in his discretion, be desirable. For your further information I am inclosing here with a bulletin issued from this office. It may enable you to answer many of the questions arising with respect to regis tration and draft. Very truly yours, E, H. CROWDER. Judge Advocate General.
@FedFRASER