Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-19

The Civil Service Commission has an
interesting tale with a moral of a
soldier who
Veterans Waive Their declined to
Priority Rights. prererence
that his service in arms gives over
the civilian. The commissioner re-
minded him that he might lose out
to other veterans who had not waived
the privilege, but 1t made no differ
ence to him. This young veteran who
had served in one Of the crack fight
ing divisions insisted that he had not
been hurt in the warm fact had been
made better; and held that he was
not entitled to an advantage over any
other citizen Of the United States.
Several branches OF the American
Legion are reported to have taken the
same view as this young man, and 1t
is reported that at the general meet
ing Of the legion they will recommend
that service men waive their right or
preference to civil service classifica-
ton.
A civil service commissioner. moved
by the letter of this young veteran.
points out that one situation Is not
met by the law as it stands. All vet
Grams have preference over civilians:
but there is no special privilege for
the incapacitated veteran even though
he may be quite capable OF filling
vacant government position. In Iact.
the law is a little against such men;
for the commission cannot certify
them i they have certain disabilities
even though not such as to disQualify
them for the performance of the duties
of the position. However, the commits
sion is sending such cases to the fed
eral board for vocational training, and
capable oT filling the job. gives him the
but cannot give him the
job.
The Secretary of War has given d.
rections that settle questions which
arose over the right
Va+arons aud of the ex-soldier to
=, :. wear his uniform.
tAe ohuofm. 1t most concerns
the reserve officer.
He directs that reserve officers not
on active duty don the uniforms of
their corps and rank on occasions of
military ceremony and on public holi-
days-such as Decoration day. They
also may wear them-but it Is not
compulsory-when engaged in the in
structiOn or training of military ca
diets at an educational institution.
On such occasions the proper insignia
is ~. s." with a superimposed "R." in
gilt.
This right to wear the uniform is
not to be confused with the privilege
which Congress conferred upon dis
charged men of the Army, Navy and
Marine Corps, provided they wear the
mark. the later pre-
scribed red chevron. Reserve officers
assuming to act under this law must
con1ne themselves to the uniform and
insignia which they were wearing at
the time they received the discharge.
Congress, by a joint resolution ap-
proved September %. thus defines the
veteran who has the right to wear
the uniform with the red chevron.
Amy honorably discharged enlisted
man for whom the law authorizes
travel allowance as an incident to
entry upon and relief from active mill
tary duty comes within the scope Of
the law which permits discharged
men of the Army. Navy and Marine
Corps to wear the uniform with the
ehevron."
*x
TT took the war" says the d.
rector of medical relief. ito bring
home the nation
Treatment for wide realization of
T.L1 the gravity of the
annual ravages of
the white plague.
'The 1918 epidemic of influenza
brought to light many cases Of un-
tuberculosis. and, with the
rehabilitation Of the military forces.
the physical examination Of thousands
of claimants of war risk Insurance
made 1t apparent that the govern
ment has a large duty before it in
the care of these patients, estimated
to be approximately $4,000, including
the $4,000 who were rejected at the
camps.
through the United States pubic
health service with many sanatoria
for the treatment of these cases.
Most of the patients are young men,
and the government is ANXIOUS that
the treatment should be instituted at
Tue earliest PoSsiuie ddte. InlS VIII
enhance the chances Of recovery and
may be the means Of restoring to
health thousands who otherwise would
be doomed to DEATH"
All discharged soldiers, sailors and
marines suffering from the disease
should place themselves in touch with
the supervisor of their district to Sc
cure physical examination and, II 1t
should be necessary, treatment. Any
Red Cross agency will furnish the
name and address of the supervisor,
and a letter to the supervisor will
procure prompt results.
X X *A*
Maj Gen. Peter C. Harris. the adiu-
tant general of the Army reports
that he Is max
Records to Be Filed ing ready to
:. c4.4. furnish the rec
=" S'"'S0' ords of the in
dividual men who served in the Army
to the states from which they en-
listed. He has placed a force of a
thousand clerks at the preliminary
work and. as soon as the complete
rehabilitation Of the Army permits,
will add $500 to constitute the work.
ing force. On account Of the adop-
ton of individual cards for the men
and the requirement Of modern an
planes and methods, this body will
be ready to deliver to the state adm
tant generals in a year what it took
a force of 500 clerks thirty years to-
accomplish for one-half the number
of men Of the civil war.
The Secretary of War has issued the
directions. of interest to ali
officers and men who have lost ar
had damaged their personal pronertv.
"All claims for private property lost
or destroyed in the miIi,arv
OF enlisted men. members of
the Army Nurse Corps and of casual
officers. who are unable to secure the
OF board of officers, as
o,.;h La In, h.