The Washington times., 1937-05-17
By ]. EARLE MOSER

LIl6 SIONCIIlIuCA1V oSA VIC, WAL W
cupy the House Civil Service Com
mittee beginning this week.
Gu Wednesday, Chairman Ram
speck's more or less stymied group
of legislators will begin hearings
on three bills designed to
strengthen the cause Of veterans
and definitely add to the prefer
ence they are supposed to get in
seeking Federal jobs-and which
they claim they frequently do not
get.
A measure composed by Repre-
sentative Joe Starnes Of Alabama,
H. r. 1921, is entitled THE Vet
Grams Preference Act Of 1887" and
brings within preference limits
widows of veterans and wives OF
disabled veterans. And it provides
that preference shall hold sway
in ALL Government employment,
in unclaSsified jobs and ANY tenn
porary or emergency administra.
ton, bureaus or projects" that are
set up.
It would give 10 points in tests
to disabled veterans, widows, and
wives of veterans who are ineligi-
BILE for service because OF age or
physical disability. All veterans
would get five points.
It's heaviest ammunition, how
ever, Is in an amendment forcing
appointing officers to select pre-
ferred veterans when they are
among those certified as eligible
by the Civil Service Commission,
ahead of other eligfbles regardless
Of ratings or anything else. Also,
veterans and wives and widows
would receive preference on Civil
Services unemployment lists, and
in reduction of force veterans
would be the last to be dropped.
Many other minor amendments,
added to the above, make it an ex-
cellent bill from the standpoint OF
veterans organizations.
H. r. $3.50, authored by Repre-
sentative John E. Rankin, Of Mis-
sissippi, would provide that hold,
ers of the Medal of Honor, Distln-
guished Service Cross or the Navy
Cross shall be employed within the
Civil Service without competitive
test. It provides:
"A veteran may apply to the
United States Civil Service Com
missioners at any time for ap-
pOintment or employment in the
classified Civil Service to any
position for which he or she may
have the necessary qualifica.
tiOns without any competitive
examination.
Upon acceptance Of the ap-
plicatiOn by the United States
Civil Service Commissioners the
veterans name shall be placed
first on any existing register for
the position applied for. APP
pointing officers shall make re-
QUESTION for the names of any
and all such veterans and APP
point or employ any Of them"
The third bill, H. r. 6497, was
written later by Congressman
Starnes and is similar to H. r.
1921 but slightly milder. Appoint
ing officers are allowed to pass
over veterans who are certified by
Civil Service but must explain
why. It also authorizes Civil Serv-
ice to give quarterly tests, open to
veterans and preference apph-
cants" for jobs for which there are
existing registers.
In view Of the cluttered condl-
ton Of Congress, it is deemed I'm.
certain whether or not the bills,
if reported, will go very far this
year. At least, however, the hear
ings will give veterans groups a
chance to thoroughly air their
grievances.
"a cooking school? PhOOie!
What do I need with q cooking
school? Why, I'm an expert now.
Didn't you know that? Sure I.
but at the same time I believe it
viii be a fine thing for the rest
Of the personnel who need to
know some pointers on the art"
Thus spake Reed Martin, chief
clerk Of the General Accounting
Office, today as he gave his in.
dorSement Of the Government
Girls Cooking School to be placed
under way Thursday at the Social
Security Boards Potomac Park
Apartment Building by Jean
Green, Washington Times culinary
expert and adviser.
Martin, whose eyes twinkle as
he reminiSceS over the excellent
buckwheat cakes he claims he has
made, said he hoped the G. A. o.
would have a good turnout at the
weekly classes Of the school, sug.
costing that announcements be
placed on bulletin boards Of the
16 buildings occupied by the
agency. He added:
CATER al. the more good cooks
we have, the longer we live"
Representatives of all Federal
offices are urged to attend Thurs
days opener, which begins at 4:45
p. m. and is likewise for the Spe-
cial benefit of Social Security's
Bureau of Old-Age Benefits, now
moving into the Potomac Park
Building, Twenty-first and C SITS.
N. w. The class will be finished
in time for pupils" to attend
their own dinners. Attendance is
absolutely free. and lessons will
be conferred in the building cafe.
terra.
Here are some ways to reach the