WAR DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE PROVOST MARSHAL GENERAL
WASHINGTON

November 17, 1917

Honorable Thomas W. Bickett,
Governor of North Carolina,
Raleigh, North Carolina.

My dear Governor Bickett:

I am very much gratified to learn from your letter of the 14th instant that the organization of the Legal Advisory Boards has been commenced.

You are quite right in your understanding that nothing definite should be done toward the organization of the Medical Advisory Boards until the officer of the Medical Reserve Corps reports to you. There was a conference here yesterday of the Medical Reserve Officers from nearly all the States. They conferred with the Surgeon General, the committee representing the American Medical Association, the medical section of the Council of National Defense and with me, and I understand that they are returning to their respective states today with full and complete instructions.

Your recommendation for the commission of Mr. John D. Langston, as an officer of the National Army to be assigned as your assistant, will be acted upon in due course.

I regret that the new Selective Service Regulations make it impossible for me to accede to your request to continue Mr. J. F. Mitchell as disbursing officer. You will observe, by reference to Section 31, that the officer of the National Army or Reserve corps, assigned as assistant to the State Adjutant General “shall act as disbursing officer at State Headquarters” and there is no authority for departure from this regulation.

You will observe by reference to Section 43 that certain clerical assistance is provided for State Headquarters, including a Chief Clerk and such additional clerks as you may certify to be necessary in the execution of the law.

Sincerely yours,

E. H. Crowder
Provost Marshal General.

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