The Washington times., 1919-04-28
~ BILL PRICE.

Conflict OF laws Of preference in
the civil service for discharged SOL
diers and aliIors Of the United States
VIII have to be untangled by Con-
gross unless Attorney General Palmer
prevent conflict
The Civil Service Comission, seek
ing to have liberal laws Of preference
fer discharged soldiers and sailors, is
Handicapped by the existing situation,
and may md II necessary to ask Con-
gFess to clarity matters that full JUS
tice may be done to men who have
faithfully served their country.
The general situation as to civil
service preference is found in these
facts:
The act OF March 3. 1855, provided
that persons honorably discharged
from the military or naval service by
reason Of disability, resulting from
wounds or sickness incurred in the
line Of eUty, shall be preferred for
appointH8ents 20 civil offices. provided
they are found 70 possess the busi-
ness capaeity," etc,
This law, Il q observed, applied to
the entire civil service of the coun-
try. but was q preference for dis
abled soldiorB only.
Whnt the PFefoFenee Was,
In interpreting the foregoing law the
commission adopted rules which pro-
vided that all competitors rated at 20
or more should be eligible for ap-
pointment; those below that were
rated .as having failed Disabled sol
diers or sailors, however, who passed
at IS or above were placed on civil
service registers at the topz0f the list
That Is, they were given an adVan-
taEe of 5 per cent over their com
petItors In examinations, and, Il max
ing 6B, were placed at the very top OF
All registers, above applicants making
p5 or 100.
other advantages were that age
limits and apportionment provisions
did not apply.
The New Law and Conflict.
When the census appropriation bill,
passed last winter, was pending, Sen
stor New of Indiana Offered this
rider. which became law: provided,
That hereafter in making appoint
rents to clerical and other positions
Sn the executive departments ana In
independent governmental establish
T,eDts preference shall be given 10
bonorably discharged soldiers, sail
ors and marines, and widows OF sueh'
a. they are qualified TO hold such po-
The Attorney General has render
Ad a decision that the wording OF
this act applies only TO Civil Service
nositIons IN WASHINGTON ana not
70 the country at large. There are
fouY or ave times as many Civil Sery-
- TUnGhfnRt0n as IN
this city.
Following the construction OF the
Attorney General the commission now
Iriyes TO discharged soldiers the same
preferences heretofore granted by the
"a Law 20 honorably discharged "ois
abled" soldiers, that is, . IS per cent
rating from examination will put the
soldier at the top OF the eligible lis.
from Which heads Of departments
A.. should promptly select him The pref
eFence can not, however, as matters
v,nvT stand. be extended beyond ex-
rrutIve establishments in Warrington
DisabTsd soldiers, AonOrabiy dis
charged. have no preference over mer
without disabilities. Outside OF Wash
Snrton. disabled veterans have pref.
erence under the old law.
Ne PrsfeFeaee in Past.
In the past. as stated, soldiers not
disabled had no preference whatever
On civil service in original appoint
rasuts. They did have preference,
bswevsr. in reinstatements in case
they left the Government servte
They were exempted from the one
year limit
Tbe Attorney General has again
been asked by the Civil Service Com
mission to review his decision in an
efort to clear matters. II he does
not do 50, Congress will be urged ~
adjust matters something like this:
Give hOnorably discharged men
from naval and military service The
preference shown in the old law as
"a ALL CIVIL SERVICE POSITIONS,
wherever they may be.
Give disabled veterans still further
preference over men who are not dis
abIed.
PFefeFenee On Reductions.
The laws provide that in reducing
fhs force in executive departments
che head Of each department. shall
Give preference 10 retention to "those
V,eFaonS who have been honoFably dis
ehaFRe6 from the naval or military
ssrVlesso of the United States. and the
WIDOWS AND ORPHANS Of deceased
soldieFs and sailors"
Reports are current that this pref
sFenee NV has not been followed in
aonaS departments In cutting down the
f6FeAN, But the Civil Service Commits
slon points out that II has no con-
tg0i o. authority IN this respect. That
ls Wh01lY up 70 heads Of departments.