Telegram from Secretary of War Baker to Governors - May 2, 1917
Transcript
S.S. War Department Telegram Official Business. Washington May 2, 1917. The Governor of One. Section five of the pending set to authorize the President to increase temporarily the military establishment of the United States carries a provision which authorizes the President to utilize the services of any or all officers or agents of the United States, and of the several States, Territories, and the District of Columbia, in the execution of the act; requires all such officers and agents to perform such duty in the execution of the act as the President shall order or direct; and confers upon such officers and agents full authority for all acts done by them in the execution of the act by direction or request of the President period. Two. In the execution of the act it will be necessary to have a disbursing officer for each State to disburse Federal funds in payment of expenses incurred in making the required registration period. Three. Assurances thus far received from governors of States are to the effect that in many instances the necessary services connected with the registration will be rendered gratuitously and buildings and other facilities required for the purpose furnished without cost to the United States period. The Federal Government appreciates such offers and intends to encourage them, but desires to make provision for prompt payment for services and facilities for which payment is to be made period. To this end, the Secretary of War desires to designate disbursing officers as follows: For each State, the adjutant general of such State, or, at the discretion of the Governor, another officer to be designated by the governor and assigned to duty in the office of the adjutant general period. Four. The expenses of registration will include compensation for the services of registrars and their necessary assistants, the rent of necessary buildings in which to conduct the registration, other expenses incidental to the preparations of places of registration, and stationery, et cetera. To the extent that the necessary services and facilities are not supplied gratuitously, the Government will pay for them period.
Transcript
War Department Telegram. Official Business Washington May 2, 1917. Five. Each disbursing officer will obtain funds to meet necessary expenses in connection with the registration from the War Department period. Before funds can be placed to the credit of a disbursing officer, it is necessary that he furnish a bond as required by lawperiod. The blank forms to be used in meeting this requirement will be sent to the designated officer, as will also a circular from the Treasury Department giving a list of surety companies that are acceptable to the War Department period. The designated officer should, if practicable, select as surety a company named in the Treasury circular, as to do so will avoid delay in investigating the financial status of the surety period. Six. I am no unmindful of the fact that in each State there is at present a State property and disbursing officer, who is a bonded official; but it is believed that this officer
Details
| Title | Telegram from Secretary of War Baker to Governors - May 2, 1917 |
| Creator | Baker, Newton D. |
| Source | Baker, Newton D. Telegram to Governors. 02 May 1917. Crowder, Enoch H. (1859-1932), Papers, 1884-1942. C1046. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | In this letter the Secretary of War, Newton D. Baker, wrote state Governors and explained the process for registering soldiers and the utilization of officers or agents within the states during the draft. This document is part of a collection compiled by Enoch Herbert Crowder, the Edinburg, Grundy County, Missouri native who served as Judge Advocate General. Crowder devised the Selective Service Act in 1917 which drafted America's forces during World War I. |
| Subject LCSH | Crowder, E. H. (Enoch Herbert), 1859-1932; United States. Army--Recruiting, enlistment, etc.-- World War, 1914-1918; Draft; Baker, Newton, 1871-1937; United States. War Department |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Selective Service Act of 1917 |
| Site Accession Number | C1046 |
| Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the State Historical Society of Missouri: 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65201-7298. (573) 882-7083. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | May 2, 1917 |
| Language | English |