The evening times., 1899-02-09
PREFERMENT FOR
CIVIL WAR VETERANS
A Bill to Protect Their Gov
ernment Positions.
Privileges in the Matter of Appoint
ment and Retention.
A Favorable Report on the Measure
Made by the House Civil
Service Committee.

The House Committee on Civil Service
has made a favorable report on the bill TO
retain in the Government service soldiers
of the civil war. The bill provides: That
in every Executive Department of the
United States Government, and in each
and every branch thereof whether reached
by competitive or noncompetitive exami-
nations under the civil service laws lin
which case the rules and regulations af-
fecting the same shall SO provide), hon.
orably discharged soldiers, sailors, or ma
rines, who served as such between April
u, 1861. and August 26, 1865, shall be GER
titled and preferred for appointment to
and retention in employment in the pub
lie service, and for promotion therein; age,
loss of limb, or other physical impairment
which does not in fact incapacitate, shall
not disqualify them, provided they pos
sess the business capacity necessary to dis
charge 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 hear
ing.
The committees report on the bill is in
part, as follows:
In the matter Of the appointment of persons
Government under existing law soldiers and
sailors who incurred disability in the service,
and who have taken the civil service cNamina-
ton, are To be preferred Under the provisions
OF the bill herewith reported this preference
viii extend TO and include all hoHorably dis
charged soldiers sailors marines. who served
as such between April I, 1851, and August 26.
1865, without reference to the disabilities they
may have incurred in the service. Under the
present Law the right Of preference is based
upon disabilities Under the proposed bill the
right Of preference is based upon the service
OF the soldier who has served during the war,
and has honorable discharge
The present law has given rise 10 a great deal
OF dissatisfaction among eX-UniOn soldiers and
sailors, for the reason that the man who may
have served only one month less. if during
that service he incurred any disability, is given
preference IN the matter of employment by the
Government the soldier sailor who may
have served from the beginning until the close
Of the war. enduring all the hardshps and pri-
yRtions incident 10 that service but incurring
permanent disabilities. The passage Of this
bill viii not in any way affect the operation
81 the civil service Law. rules. regulations,
with respect TO examinations for appointment
Soldiers and sailors under the provisions of
this proposed law. who apply for positions will
be required. as now, 10 pass the civil service
examination. the preference applying only in
the selection Of persons from the eligible list
The proposed bill also applies TO promotions
as well 10 appointments, and il passed will
prevent the removal Of any soldier or sailor ex-
rept for good cause. and upon charges and after
2 hearing. Believing that the discrimination
which the present law makes against the sol
der sailor who las honorable record of
service, but who was fortunate enough not to
incur any permanent disability, is neither right
just. your committee therefore recommend
the passage Of this bill