The Washington times., 1908-08-08
Commissioners Refuse to
Extend Eligibility of Dis
missed Employees.
ALL MUST ENTER
BY EXAMINATION
Leech Said TO Oppose Ruling, and
Union Prepares Appeal to
the President.

The Civil Service Commission, after
holding the matter in allegiance for
some months. has rendered a decision
adverse 10 extending the one-year ELI
gibiiity Of the 400 bOokbinders discharg-
ed from the Government Printing Of
ice in April and May. 1907.
This means that the discharged men
and women, some OF whom have been
in the Government service for a great
many years. Will have to stand for an
other examination, and II they obtain
reinstatement it must be in the same
manner that an apprentice would. No
preference is to be shown on account
Of former service.
The BOokbinders' Union has made a
prolonged fight for the extension OF the
one-yeaT eligibility, which would have
resulted, If granted, in the reinstate-
nent of a number of the old employees
before the second anniversary o. their
discharge arrived. In this they are IN
derstOod to have had the approval OF
the present Public Printer. who pre-
ferred taking the old employees back, as
needed, rather than enlisting ineXPeri-
enCed ones and training them at Gov
eminent expense.
Ready to tight.
Dissatisfied with the decision Of the
commission. President James L. Feeney.
of the Bookbinders' Union, states that
that organization viii take the matter
direct TO President Roosevelt III the
hope that he will recognize the merit
OF many years service on the part Of
the old Government employees.
The letter received by President
Feeney, announcing the decision Of the
commission follows:
IN relation to the proposal 10 extend
the eligibility for the reinstatement o.
Printing Office beyond one year. you
are informed that the commission, af-
ter careful consideration Of the mat
ter. declines to recommend the enact
feet to accomplish that purpose. be-
ieving that such viii not be in the best
interests OF the service
JOHN c. BLACK,
president"
TT costs the Government a large
amount Of money to break in ap-
prentices in the bookblnding trade, %
said Mr.. Feeney today. "as it requires
several months training at Govern
ment expense before the inexperienced
man or woman becomes the KIND OF
bOOkbinder required al the printery.
Public Printer Leech realizes this and
prefers the privilege Of reinstating The
former employees discharged by Mr..
StIIings, as their services ars required.
Hardship to Employees
a number of these employees are out
OF work. and as commercial bookbinding
differs from that in vogue at the print
ery it has worked q great hardship
upon them to make a livelihood since
losing their positions.
The decision OF the commission has
been eagerly awaited and will come as
a distinct disappointment to these faith
full employees who might have regained
their places within the next few months
II the one year eligibility had been ex-
tended. AS Il is, many Of them are un-
able to stand the educational examina-
ton now required, while expert in their
trade. Because an inexperienced man
has a little better education and can
stand the present examination, he
should not be preferred, at Government
expense, to these discharged men and
women who are less fortunate. We
will take the matter direct to the Presi-
dent and believe we will have Mr..
Leech's cooperation"
Fully 400 former O. ?. o. employees
re affected By the order OF the Civil
Service Commission.