February 14th, 1918.

Hon. E. B. Crowder,
Provost Marshal General,
Washington, D.C.

My dear General Crowder:-

My understanding of the law is that the only appeal from the findings of a local board is to the district boards, and that the only appeal from a district board is to the President.

My understanding is, and I am so advising registrants every day, that neither the Adjutant General nor myself have any power to ask either a district or a local board to reopen a case. Our power in this respect ended, as I understand it, on November 13th, 1917.

I not only understand that this is the law, but it is my conviction that it ought to be the law and that it should be thoroughly understood that when once a man is passed by a local and district board and is certified for service, he is then a member of the United States army and can be discharged only by applications made to the military authorities in camp, and that no civil officer has any jurisdiction whatever after a man is once certified for service. You will recall that we had no little trouble on account of the Adjutant General and myself being authorized to re-open cases last year. This authority was given us on the 26th day of September in Compiled Rulings No. 12, and was revoked on the 13th day of November. I respectfully submit that it ought to stay revoked.

This letter is written because of the perfect flood of letters that I am receiving, all of which indicate the belief that the Governor is still clothed with authority in the premises, and some of them say that the writers have been so advised from Washington. Please write me a line indicating whether or not the above statement of the law is correct.

Very truly yours,

[unsigned]

B_G