The Washington herald., 1921-10-02
|PANlSH WAR VETS
URGE RETENTION
FOR EX-SOLDIERS
[ndorse Law Protecting
Service Men From
Losing Jobs.

oiiowing statement, which is of in
ferest to every former service man:
The Wholesale dismissals of for
mer service men from government
Employ. which has been taking
place in every navy yard and arse
mai throughout the country. due to
the reductions in force made neces-
|sary by the cessation of war work.
has brought forcbly home to the
veterans the fact that there is no
adequate law which protects them
In retention of the positions which
they have been holding.
In order to bring the matter
squarely before the veteran bodies
OF the different war periods. to the
end that concerted action may be
had in the effort to secure perma-
nency OF tenure in civil positions
under the government for former
service men whose records are good,
the legislative committee of the de-
partment of the District of Column
oia. U. s. w. V. prepared a draft
OF a proposed law, which was in
dorsed by the department in con-
Sention. with instruction to the
chairman. Comrade Jas. ]. Murphy.
to present IL to the national en-
campment at Minneapolis.
The law as presented was in
dorsed unanimously by the encamp-
ment. as the best of many similar
proposed laws. and the national leg
islative committee directed to use
its best efforts to secure its pass
age.
Drafts of this law have been
submitted to the cha ,rmen Of the
national legislative committees Of
other veteran bodies for presenta-
tion to the annual encampments Of
their organizations. and it is eS-
pected that their Endorsement will
be added to that of the U. S. W. ".
Concerted action by all those
concerned should result in this
matter being placed before Congress
in such a favorable light that the
justice of the claims of the veter-
ans for retention in their positions
will be clearly recognized and so
stated as a matter of law"
Following Is the resolution pre-
sented by the department of the
District Of Columbia, U. s. W. V:
wars have lost their positions and
in many cases have suffered demo-
tions in government service: and
Whereas, this condition is due
to Inadequate legislation for the
proper protection of these veterans
who have honorably served their
country In time of war: Therefore
be II
Resolved. That the twenty-t third
annual national encampment of the
United Spanish War Veterans in
convention assembled urgently re-
1uuest the Congress of the United
States to amend the act OF Congress.
approved August %. 1912 (37 Stat,
413). In substance as follows:
Amend Sec. 4, Act of Congress
approved August 20. 1912 (37 Stat
413):
.-First-The Bureau OF Efficiency
shall. subject to the approval OF
the President, establish a system of
en1ciency ratings for the ciassiied
s.rvic. in the several executive de-
Dartments and independent estab-
Iishments with such frequency as
20 make them as nearly as possible
r.cords of fact Such system shall
provide a minimum rating of EN-
ciancv which must be attained by
an employe before he may be Fro
ynoted. IL shall also provide a rat
fng below which no employe may
cali without being dismissed for in.
aracfency. All promotions. demo
,ions and dismissals shall be gov
.rpsd hy the provisions of this act
nrovided. however, that the provis-
ion. ~ this act shall not prevent
IN. dismissal OF any employe for
violation Of the Civil Service rules
"Serond-That in the event of re-
Auctions being made in the force In
,nv Of the executive departments
or independent establishments. in the
Dj.tri,t Of Columbia or elsewhere
No nerson who has served In the
A,i1ftary or naval forces OF the
limited states in the civil war. Span
h-American war. Philippine Insur-
rertion. China Relief Expedition and
,rorId war, and has been honorably
drscbarged therefrom whose record
IN said department or independent
establishment is rated good. shall
he discharged or dropped or re-
ducrd in rank or salary.
f.Thlrd-That for the purpose OF
,raking effective the provisions OF
This act the heads of the several
executive departments and indie
nandent establishments in the Dis
trfct Of Columbia or elsewhere shall.
within thirty days after the passage
Of this act. furnish the Bureau of
FncIency with copies Of efficiency
ratings kept in such bureau or in
dependent establishment: provided.
that in the event such bureau or in
dependent establishment has not es-
such ratings shall he established
and submitted to the Bureau of Eff
cheney ratings referred to in Sec
tion 1 of this act to the President
for his approval
."Fourth-That any person know
ingIy violating any Of the provis-
YSns Of this act shall he summarily
removed from office. and upon con-
viction thereof shall be punished by
n fine of not more than 81 900 or by
Imprisonment for not more than
one year Be IL further
"Resolved. that the national leg
tslative committee of the United
Spanish War Veterans be directed
TO request the cooperation of the
ratioral legislative committees OF
the Grand Army of the Republic
the American Legion and Veterans
of Foreign Wars. to the end that
speedy action will be taken to enac,
law which will prevent this un-
Just treatment of men who have
followed the flag in times of war