In order to facilitate the work of the District boards I am writing today to all local boards to certify to the district boards their reasons for refusing to grant exemptions claimed on account of dependent families or relatives, and also certify in each case whether or not the claimant has any grounds for exemptions for industrial reasons. In this way the District board will have before it the opinions of the exemption board in each case.

On reports made by Mr. Mackey, and upon a personal investigation conducted by me, I am convinced that the clerical forces of the Western District Board is incompetent and inadequate. The members of the Board cannot pass intelligently upon claims before it without the records are kept systematically and every record is complete. On account of these things I have taken the trouble to find a man competent to do this work, and I recommend that you dispense with the services of your present chief clerk, and appoint in his place Mr. 

This man is thoroughly competent, is an expert, systematic accountant and will put your office in perfect order. It will be necessary to pay him more money, but that will be economy in the long run. I earnestly urge you to give him complete control of the clerical forces with authority to dismiss any member of the present clerical force and appoint others in their places, and also authority to increase the number of clerical force if in his judgment this is necessary. You will see that I am anxious to relieve the Board of the burden of the clerical work to the end that they may give their attention solely to matters of judgment and discretion.