New-York tribune., 1921-11-07
Veterans Preference
Its Evil Effects on All Branches Of
Government

Government
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: do not believe that the true
significance Of the proposed veterans
amendment to the constitution has
been clearly brought before the voters.
For many years and against heavy
odds a struggle has been going on in
this country to replace the spoils sys
tenn of Andrew Jackson's day by the
merit system. The proposed amend
ment is an entering wedge Of tho
spoilsmen and strikes blow at civil
service reform by creating privi-
legged class and placing at The head OF
the list all veterans who barely c.
cced in passing a civil service exam
ination, irrespective of their fitness.
There are plenty If veterans to ill
all the civil service vacancies for a
long time. In fact, there arc over three
veterans in this state for each posi-
ton. Clearly, therefore, the examina-
tions would become an empty formal
ity No one but n veteran would have
chance Of appointment. The result
would be an inefficient government. and
an inefficient government means an ex-
pensivc government.
During the war our policemen and
fremen were requested to do every
thing possible to keep out Of the serv-
ice in order that these essential
branches of our local government
might not be interrupted. Teachers,
mostly women, who could not serve in
the armed forces during the war, con-
tinued to do their duty to their coun
try in the schools. If this amendment
passes, promotion will be barred to
every one of these loyal men and
women. The teacher who has served
long and faithfully will find that she
cannot hope to become principal or
vice principal, no matter how high his
or her passing mark may be, is any
WEI veteran succeeds in getting a mark
of 70 per cent. Policemen and tremen
will likewise find barely qualified men
of scarcely any experience placed over
their heads in responsible positions.
The amendment would practically ex
clude from the public service all those
who were too old to fight during the
war or all those who were too young.
Thirty or forty years from now there
v-ill be many war veterans left. The
civil service will be practically closed
to young blood We Will have police
departm fire departsmen and
school departments consisting of old
men whose sole qualification is that
they were in uniform. What this would
mean to the service is perfectly OBJ
v;ous. Women would have almost no
chance of appointment, and there are
many positions, notably in the schools
and in the charities departments, for
The amendment is not even just to
those who served. Its benefits extend to:
l. Clerical workers in uniform, such
as the thousands Of men who did Of
flee work for the navy at ESQ Broad
way
2. Men of the students army train
! ing corps, who did not even leave their
colleges.
g. Men who were drafted just before
the armistice and who were honorably
discharged Immediately after.
d. All men who entered in the army,
navy and Marine Corps after the
signing Of the armistice and until the
ratification Of the peace treaty by the
Senate only few weeks ago.
1t does not apply to:
l. Army nurses, who saw the most
dangerous service in France.
2. Red Cross nurses.
5. Ambulance drivers.
Further than that, it is not beneficial
to disabled veterans, for in order to
enter the civil service they must pass
a physical examination. Most dis
abled veterans will not be able to meet
with this requirement..
The question before the voters there
fore is:
Are you going to permit this assault
on civil service reform?
Are you satisfied with 70 per cent
government?
Are you satisfied with 70 per cent
Police Department?
Are you satisfied with Il 10 per cent
Fire Department?
Are you satisfied with 70 per cent
education for your children?
Arc you ready to create an undemo-
cratic and un-American class Of mill
tary office holders?
l had the privilege Of serving as a
member Of the American Expeditionsrv
Forces in France. There seems to be
some doubt as to just what we fought
for. know did not fight for anv
such thing as this amendment. Its
passage would be a calamity to the
state and to the nation
A. W. ROTHSCHILD.
New York, Nov. 4, 1921.