Evening star., 1899-02-09
FOR EX-UNION SOLDIERS
Preference to Ee Given Tnem in the Matter
of Appointment.
A Bill RasinS Preference the Ser
vice of the Soldier
or Sailor.

The House committee on reform in the
civil service has favorably reported Senate
bill 600, improving the status of old SOL
diers with respect to appointments in the
civil service.
The report says:
I'm the matter of the appointment of per-
sons to positions in the executive depart
ments of the government under existing
law soldiers and sailors who incurred disa
biitieS in the service and who have taken
the civil service examination are to be pre-
ferred. Under provisions of the bill
herewith reported this preference will ex-
tend to and include all honorably discharg
ed soldiers, sailors or marines who served
as such between April /, 1861, and August
70, 1865, without reference to the disabiH-
ties they may have incurred in the service.
Under the present law the right of prefer
ence is based upon disabilities. Under the
proposed bill the right of preference is
based upon the service or the soldier who
has served during the war and has an hon
Orable discharge.
The present law has given rise to a great
deal Of dissa tisfaction among eX-Unfon SOL
Giers and sailors, for the reason that the
man VINO may have served only one month
or less, II during that service he incurred
any disability, is given preference in the
matter OF employment by the government
over the soldier on sailor who may have
served from the beginning until the close
OF the war. enduring all the hardships and
priNaNonS lnc.oent to that service, but in
curing no permanent disabilities The
passage OF this bill VIII not N any way
ahect the operation Of the c1VIl service law
rules, or regulations with respect to exami-
nations for appointment Soldiers and sail
"fS. under. the provisions of this proposed
/ la", VINO Apply for positions will be re
! qured, as now, to pass the civil service
eXaminatlon, The preference applying only
IN the selection Of persons from the eligible
list
the proposed bill also annlics to nr6
motions as vel as to appointments. and. if
ptsSe&. VIII prevent the removal of any sol
! El"f " sailor except for good cause and
| upon cLa' &2S and after u hearing Beliey-
ING tiat the GtSc' limitation which the pres
en- law makes asairst the soldier or sailor
Who has an honorable record of service
out Wh" was fortunate enough not to i,cur
any permanent disability, is neither right
nor just. your comm tee therefore. recon-
mend the passage OF this bill"
The fun text Of the bill is as follows:
mat IN every executive department of
the Jhted states government. and in each
ana every branch thereof, whether reached
py competitive or non-compettive exami-
nations under the civil service laws Gn
%hfeh case the rules and regulations af-
1echng the same shall so provide) honor
ably discharged soldiers, sailors or ma
rines. who served as such between ADriI
j, 1SG1 and August %. 1860 shall he Ger
titled and preferred for appointment to and
| retention in employment in the public serv-
Ice. ana Tor promotion therein: age loss
OF limb, or other physical impairment which
| does not in fact incapacitate shall not dis
| qualify them provided they possess the
business capacity necessary to discharge
| the duties Of the position involved. And
! persons thus preferred shall not be removed
| from their positions except for good cause
| upon charges and after a hearing
| Sec. >. That all laws or parts of laws in
| consistent with the provisions of this act
| are hereby repealed"
This bill passed the Senate April % 1898