Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-22
WAITING FOR SANTA
OLD SOLDIER APPOINTMENTS
CREATE SOME EXCITEMENT.
Preference for the Boys of 81 the Sub
ject Of Discussion Among Interest
ed Political Leaders.


ride today. The Colombian situation. which
is giving The administration more concern
now than any political question for many
years is being watched closely by the Presi-
dent and Secretary Moody. and considerable
quiet preparation is being made by the
proper officials to meet possibilities. The
administration does not Hike the looks OF
things in Colombia and proposes to uphoid
the interests and pledges of this country
If such a step becomes necessary. The
gravity of the situation is really not fully
appreciated throughout the country. but the
alert representatives Of the government In
South American waters have kept the ad-
ministration so fully posted that the move
ments of the Colombians and prospective
action by them have been carefully re-
ported.
It is not the intention of the President to
have any cabinet meetings during the holi-
days, unless some exceedingly important
question should suddenly come to the front
Cabinet officers will confer with him as IRE.
quently as deemed necessary, but, OUTSIDE OF
the Colombian situation, there Is little TO
require many visits to the White House by
his advisers
There was a general observation today
of the wishes of the President that he be
permitted to enjoy something of vacation
during the holiday season, and there were
no callers at the White House, and i,a no ap. p.
pOl0ImentS LOT tfe dltefDOOl, "HSh LAG
spent some time in his Office.
Christmas Plans
At the White House proper Mrs. Roose-
welt, like all good American mothers and
housewives, has been busy from early
morning until late at night arranging for
Christmas All the children of the family
are here, Theodore, jr., and Kermit having
come from their school in Massachusetts.
The children are finding plenty to do in the
selection Of presents for friends, and are
sharing with their mother the really ardu-
Gus work Of the ante-Christmas festivities
The President has turned over to Mrs.
Roosevelt the responsibility Of selecting
such presents as he will send to personal
friends, and as consequence she is not
and presentation of 125 turkeys to married
employees, policemen and others in the
White House and groun2s was turned over
to Steward Pinckney.
Old Soldiers Preferred.
President Roosevelt has quietly permitted
the heads of some Of the departments in
Washington to override the recommenda-
tons and wishes Of the civil service COM
mission as to the appointment Of old SOL
diers as laborers. The fight against veteran
discrimination and for their preference In
appointments to these minor positions was
begun months ago by Judge Ivory G. Kim
ball, commander-in-chfef Of the G. A. r.
of the District. From the beginning he EN-
countered the opposition of the commits
SION SION and his success in securing recogni-
ton OF veterans has been attained at the
expense of the commission throughout
Some time after the President had ap-
proved an order that laborers should be ap-
pointed from registered rolls in the depart
ments and should be classified according to
the examinations of their physical ability
and general fitness, 1t was discovered that
under the ratings In the Treasury and other
m q Ct11l hn f,,,,,
old soldier to get position as laborer The
ratings for age were such as to absolutely
prevent any man ffty-six years old and
above from such an appointment, no mat
ter how strong and healthy he might be
and how fit he was to do the work desired
of him. A test case arose In the Treasury
Department Of a veteran Of strength and
fitness and he was turned down. Judge
Kimball, after much correspondence and ef
fort, found that he could accomplish moth
ing with the civil service commission and
he took the matter directly to the Presi-
dent, who, July issued an order elimi-
mating age as a consideration when ap-
piled to veterans otherwise qualified accord
ing to the examination for the work of any
given place.
Even this exemption, however was not
sufficient to give veterans much chance of
appointment as laborers, and the question
Of trying to obtain preference for them
when qualified was presented by Judge
Kimball to the national encampment of the
g. A. r. in San francisco. A resolution
was passed commencing the action Of Judge
Kimball and requesting the President to is
sue an order directing such preference.
Judge Ktmball took the matter up with
the heads of the various departments,
writing letters to them, explaining that 1t
would not be long before the old soldier
would be unfit for these positions, and that
the young man would not have to wait
long. Secretary Shaw was the first head
Of department to order preference In ap-
pointments as laborers to veterans of the
civil war. He issued an order that all
veterans who made as high as So per cent
in physical condition should receive prefer
ence This order was satisfactory to the
officials of the G. A.. R., and the work of
having other departments follow this lead
has been pushed right along. The Interior
Department, State Department, Depart
ment of Justice and Government Printing
Office have adopted the same regulations
as the treasury. while the other depart
ments say that they give, preference. but
have adopted no uniform rule as to the
rating required.
The civil service commission has, it Is
stated, not yet sanctioned this stretching
Of its rules, but as the President himself is
not in sympathy With the commission,
nothing is likely to happen. In the mean
time old soldiers who. are aware of the
situation are highly pleased, and are not
sparing in their praise of Judge Kimball.