Document: 334 U.S. 323 68 S.Ct. 1020 92 L.Ed. 1416 HILTONv.SULLIVAN et al. No. 560. Argued April 21, 1948. Decided June 1, Mr. Charles Fahy, of Washington, D.C., for petitioner. [Argument Counsel from page 324 intentionally omitted] Paul A. Sweeney, respondent. Justice BLACK delivered the opinion Court. 1 This case raises questions concerning relative rights war veteran and nonveteran employees to retention in government service when a program reduction number civilian makes it necessary some be chosen discharge. The acute point controversy is this: In treatment permanent tenure civil employees, should qualified honorably discharged veterans, merely because they are such, retained preference nov eterans, even though those nonveterans have served Government substantially longer time than veterans. depend upon whether certain regulations promulgated by Civil Service Commission valid under proper interpretation controlling statutes. 2 petitioner was twelve years, 1934 1946, duly appointed status employee working Charleston Navy Yard. His work such high quality as earn him an efficiency rating 'Excellent.' By successive promotions, he arrived at responsible position Leadingman Shipfitter basic wage $12.08 per day. January 7, shortly after post-hostility governmental began, demoted paying $10.08 day part force. demotion apparently due fact that did not veteran's preference. October notified curtailment funds eliminate positions his competitive level accordance with name had been reached action. He told that, if approved, then placed one-year 'furlough status' rather absolutely separated hoped conditions might justify recall duty within year. also informed 'active service' already terminated unless sooner recalled would force end furlough period. 3 said require termination petitioner's active divide into three main groups—A, B, C. Group A, which has highest priority retention, composed 'permanent employees'; groups B C limited tenures employment. A divided five subgroups, first particular importance here. These subgroups are: 4 Subgroup A-1 Plus, (Veterans World War II) period return duty; 5 A-1, Veteran's 'good' (or higher) ratings; 6 A-2, Employees without ratings.1 7 result these groupings Plus veterans priority; second; which, having preference, classified, third. Thus valid, every member both must 8 After receiving notice furlough, filed this complaint district court declaratory judgment, mandamus, other relief. defendants were Secretary members Commission. charged Commission's prescribed priorities veterans' over all regard periods including failure consider length establishing 'unreasonable, arbitrary, capricious, statutory warrant, contrary express provisions' applicable prayer classifications declared void, compelled restore original o sition Shipfitter, required rescind promulgate new ones law, 'such further relief just' granted him. answer stipulations fact, parties moved summary judgment government's motion granted. Court Appeals District Columbia affirmed. 165 F.2d 251. Importance raised prompted us grant certiorari. 333 841, 663. 9 First. While admitting right challenge validity action, contends cannot Plus. premise argument invalid, grouped fall A-1. We find no adequate support record. Veterans could qualify ratings or better. But language defining includes ratings, below 'good.' And rendered, 61 118 comprising rated all. True, asserts 60 now sixty-first resigned. potential membership who tried. classification provides continuing one year returning left employment duty. There indication additional will Yard reclaim shipfitter jobs otherwise employees. does claim repealed altered so future can include only higher. Under circumstances we unable say able Therefore accept contention likelihood injury too remote attack on it. If there much reason subgroup 10 Second. finds § Selective Training Act 1940, 54 Stat. 885, 890, 50 U.S.C.Appendix, 308, U.S.C.A.Appendix, 308. That section reemployment any person temporary order perform training armed forces satisfactorily completed training. It requires appropriate application release training, person, still duties old job 'if employ United States Government, * shall restored like seniority, status, pay.' Section 8(c) 'shall cause restoration.' 11 appears little room ambiguity Congress selected its purpose restoration former entered give restored' it, supplemented examined legislative history 1940 nothing whatever faintly suggests intended e §§ mandatory implied words used. command 8(b)(A) Federal rehire contrasted sharply requirement 8(b)(B) private employer need reemploy 'the employer's changed make impossible unreasonable do so.' difference noted congressional sponsors Act, thought set example industry providing employees.2 Congress, having, thus provided reemployed, declaring cause. 12 Petitioner contends, however, Court's interpretations Trailmobile Co. v. Whirls, 331 40, 67 982, 91 1328, Fishgold Sullivan Drydock & Repair Co., 328 275, 66 1105, 90 1230, 167 A.L.R. 110, holding invalid. dealt obligations their employment, our relevance case, Fishgold, following discharge forces, employer. Within thereafter layoffs became each nine days. laid off while continuously kept collective bargaining agreement 'decreases' based primarily 'length service.' held since Fishgold's temporary, relationship, 'discharged' meaning 8(c). statute slack lay workers temporarily given continuous reinstatement terms company employer-employee contract entitled greater 13 several reasons why invalidation classification. place, here concerned not, 8(b)(B). previously pointed out imposed unconditional obligation Government; guaranteed get back Government. guarantee reemployed For subsection unreasonable' 14 evidently considering significant differences industrial practices potentialities, markedly different nature employers. define 'impossible relieve nor attempt now. plain conceivably seriously affect, reasonableness possibility rehiring, but retaining full year's work. reason, among others, 8(c)'s prohibition against made light returns government-guaranteed non-guaranteed job. 'discharge' accepted determinative scope 15 foregoing distinction illustrated workers, unlike confronted situation employer, outstanding them proportion reductions become necessary. Whatever seniority discharges entirely acts issued harmony them. See 37 555, U.S.C. 652, U.S.C.A. 652. discovered construed recognize nonveteran's factor sufficient override therefrom Thus, whose private-employment contract-derived prevented being off, comparable statutorily derived argues, Veterans' Preference 1944, 58 390, 861, effect amended conferred service. discussing think merit. 16 Finally, decision layoff violate Here confers security pay, s treated more thirty days equivalent prior practice considered military violates 'discharged dropped' 'reductions made.'3 Moreover, 863, safeguards eligibles administrative denial rights, specifically places furloughs suspensions pay same basis discharges. common found 'layoffs' 'furloughs' 'industrial parlance.' To 'furlough' less word depriving entire jobs. hold applied Consequently, acted removals 17 Third. strongly urges invalidity gives 'Veterans higher ratings' preferences nonveterans, conceding 'good argues actually prohibits fails substantial weight absolute may An alternative subgrouping well power 'rules regulations' authorized 12. question presented therefore relevant 18 particularly relies reads: 'In personnel agency, competing released service, ratings: Provided, spent credited computing total *.' interprets portion invariably 'due effect' determining what reduction-of-force program. above 'military preference' defined proviso, namely, army 19 supports recognition comparative follows immediately section's relies, 20 '* Provided further, better nonpreference equal lower 21 proviso special withdrawal proviso-defined classes general clause relating views creation 'preference employees'4 'shall', 'be employees' between nonveterans. interpretation, consideration determination nonveteran. section, argued, used them, plainly called language, harmonizes parts Act's r oad purposes. compelled, history, preceding clauses viewed long series enactments executive orders granting close relatives. agree factors pertinent fairly reached. 22 1876, seventy-two years ago, passed law department making 'any force' 'retain persons equally naval widows orphans deceased soldiers sailors.' 143, 169, 37, 37.5 1912 greatly strengthened 1876 policy 'in event departments, soldier sailor record good dropped, reduced rank salary.' 360, 413, 648.6 ambiguous about provision. discharge, drop, reduce Length way veteran. subsequent recognized provision giving preference,7 extended field service8 service.9 23 Executive Order 4240 4, 1925, 5068 March 2, 1929, provided, here, where 'good,' similar passage 1943 Regulations outstanding10 higher, precisely afforded attacked mean 1944 narrowed long-existing personnel. oft hat passing opposite—to broaden narrow 24 Senate Committee sponsor measure 'this bill takes away existing either order, strengthen, implement heretofore effect,' 'give sanction rules branch *.'11 explaining involved 'heart section,'12 stated 'was same' Act,13 before out, service.14 Bill floor House, proponents explained strengthening broadening embodied statutes orders.15 25 Not friends explain broad grant. Hostile witnesses graphically deemed unfairness written. One witness representing Reform League said: 'I you ought regardless I fair, months years. believe made, grave injustice people service.'16 another last taken on.'17 26 bil knowledge standing Act. appealing policy. adopted responsibility interpret overrule policy.18 27 Affirmed. 28 REED, concurring. 29 conclusion case. My disagreement subdivision Second indicates differ corresponding 30 governed 890. specifies 31 Nothing come my attention me continuity other. legislation depended constitutional authority—the Power. see attribute intention public needs discriminate deserving Compare Corp., 110. 32 FRANKFURTER JACKSON join opinion. 33 RUTLEDGE, 34 concur result. expressing Regulations. classification, understand construction II I, competitors. sum services. so, instance disregarded. least possible, think, read complex bearing problem go far. 35 reach question, take account efficiency. No specific mention made. ignores considerations unauthorized scheme,1 efficiency, wholly unrelated sustained. preferred others hardly arbitrary excess authority conferred.2 36 true classified himself.3 informed, disputed,4 men received event. Hence told, disputed, purporting displace Since view Regulation stand, facts exclude time, showing call forth exercise discretionary proceeding reformulate Upon appropriate, remedy judgment. remaining two A—3, A—4, Nonveterans Code Fed.Reg. (Supp.1945) 12.303, (Supp.1947) 20.3(a). Hearings House Military Affairs H.R. 10132, 76th Cong., 3d Sess. 80—82, 118, 235; 86 Cong.Rec. 11697. 40 Ops. Att'y Gen. 115 (Sept. 20, 1946) referring Opinion, Attorney General Mitchell interpreting 5068, 1929. substac 1027. grants wives, mothers. 851, Pub.L. 396, 80th 2d Sess., Jan. 19, 1948, 851. H.R.Rep. 1289, 78th 3. Disabled 1865. 571. expressly preserved 1883, 403, 406, 638, carried forward Acts, repeated most comprehensive manner 1944. interest expression, us, whole provide relation demotions dismissals 3567, 24, 1921. 3801, 3, 1923. Departmental Circular 146, Comm'n, 22, 1936. (Supp.1943) 12.301—12.313. regulations, categories according tenure, status. rating, enjoyed tenures. S. 1762 4115, 8—9. Id. 29. 27, Three organizations collaborated drafting 8. representative Committee: 'This II, widows, wives disabled themselves qualified, disbursed. provides, definite appointment positions. many instances exists virtue except bill, likewise, civil-service rule, regulation prescribes confirms regulation.' 41—42. 3502, 3503, 3505. 33—34. 63, 65. worthy note, hardships resulting replacement older hass Acts pensions 55 age worked involuntarily 939, 691(e); 426, Feb. 28, 691 seq. 9201—9202, 2443, 79th S.Rep. 1678, 1—2. Depending U.S.C.App. 301, seq., 301 requiring restr ation forbidding year, later enactment U.S.C., Supp.1946, quoted opinion, second proviso. 2. cf. note (i.e., veterans) 'all employees,' designation certainly scope. very appear place stress withhold six months, award actual performance. Ordinarily, course, determined interests adversely affected. seem consistent scheme deferred defeat use reasonable determine event, oust established trial final disposition appellate review.

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