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Show SELECTIVE DRAFT LAW HAS M STAGES First, Registration of Citizens Citi-zens and Aliens Between 21 and 30, on June 5. PENALTY FOR FAILURE Second Phase Includes Execution Ex-ecution of Law and Exemptions Ex-emptions Therefrom. By GENERAL ENOCH H. CROWDEK, The execution of the selective service law may be divided Into two distinct stages. First, the registration; second, the selection. The office of the provost marshal general has so far addressed itself it-self to the preparation of regulations governing gov-erning the registration. The most complete com-plete preparation for the registration has been made, and the necessary information informa-tion concerning that registration is clearly clear-ly stated in the president's proclamation and in the regulations that have been promulgated in aid of the selective ser-vice ser-vice law. The second stage of the execution of the law has to do with the direction and determination of exemptions. Regulations governing this matter have not yet been prescribed by the president. That being the case, any answer that might be given as to method, procedure or determination determina-tion would be merely a forecast. If such an answer proceeded from the provoat marshal general's office it might instill into the public mind misleading and erroneous er-roneous information that would be impossible im-possible to eradicate and that might prove very embarrassing to boards which, under the law, are vested with the final decision de-cision of 4ach individual case. Imprisonment 'Penalty. The following statement can be authorized au-thorized respecting the subject of registration regis-tration plans: All male persons who shall have attained at-tained the age of 21 and who shall not have attained the age of 31 on or before June 5 shall be subject to registration in the precinct wherein they shall have their permanent home, excepting only officers and enlisted men of the regular army, the navy and the national guard and naval militia while in the service of the United States. The law provides penalties for failure to register and for dereliction of any of the duties prescribed lor citizens. Any Question concerning what will happen hap-pen to a person if he places himself in . the position of not having obeyed the law is naturally a question for the courts. The defenses that may be interposed will make themselves apparent as the law proceeds to execution. It may be said, however, that the prescribed penalty is that of imprisonment and not of fine. The registration will be made by registrars, regis-trars, who will read the questions to persons per-sons being registered, and the registrars will enter the answer on the cards. Therefore, There-fore, persons who cannot read or write will have no difficulty in registering. Their cards will be authenticated in the usual manner for persons who cannot sign their names. As to Absentees. The age of every person Is a matter of fact. Such questions as "My parents say I am 19 years old, but my baptismal record indicates that I am 21; what should I do?" cannot be answered by this department de-partment except by referring the questioner ques-tioner to the law. The manner In which absentees are registered Is described in the president's proclamation and is clearly eet out in 1 regulations which may be seen at the office of-fice of the clerk of every county in the United States and at the office of the clerk of every city in the United States of over 30,000 population. The president's proclamation authorizes the registration of absentees by mail. But it directs such persons to go to the county clerk or the city clerk of ' the county or city of over 30,000 population where they may be for information. No person should attempt at-tempt to register by mail without obeying the injunction of the president's proclamation procla-mation to go to each city or county clerk. The method actually prescribed !s that upon application to such city and county clerks registration cards will be filled out by the clerk and turned over to the absentee ab-sentee or non-resident, to whJTm it will be explained by the clerk that the burden Is on the absentee or non-resident to see that his card gets to his registration place in hla home precinct by June o. Ask Your Lawyer-Questions Lawyer-Questions concerning th effect of registration reg-istration or of the war on contracts should be answered by local lawyers who . are familiar with the law of contracts in the particular state from which the question ques-tion emanates. One misapprehension that appears in the questionnaire is that claims for exemption ex-emption are made at the time of registration. regis-tration. Such is not the case. The twelfth question of the card asks whether the person registering claims exemption. This is not the claim for exemption. It was merely placed upon the card for the purpose of obtaining statistical information informa-tion from which some conclusion could be made as to the number of persons who should be considered in making selections. Questions as to whether aliens should register are answered by the simple statement that every person of the designated desig-nated ages except certain persons In the military and naval service of the United States specifically named above, must register on June 5. |