Evening star., 1939-12-09
Veterans Spokesman
Hits Civil Service Edqe
For Wartime Group
Peace Years Soldiers
Worthy Of Preference
Equally, Says Chittenden

Defending the preference for
Government employment that peace
time veterans share equally with
those with war service, represent
ative of the Regular Veterans
Association today hit back at views
expressed on behalf of the American
Legion before the Presidents Com
mittee on Civil Service Improve
ment
Recalling that John Thomas Tay-
lor, legislative representative OF the
Legion, yesterday had told the COM
mittee that his organization was
not interested in peace-time vet
Grams and expressed the belief that
those who enter the armed service
in time were seeking only
employment, Leroy P. Chittenden,
national educational director Of the
R. v. A., said his group wanted ito
register our emphatic opposition and
resentment to such a statement"
Statements Hit as Misleading.
Pointing out that an Army pri-
vate draws but $21 a month, the
witness declared that '''is' rather
poor pay for the most hazardous
occupation of all"
Then he added: To-day our Army
and Navy need men and need them
badly. Such statements as were
made here yesterday before this
committee by the representatives of
an organization which acknowledges
itself as the primary exponent of
an adequate national defense, do
not tend to aid the recruiting services
of our armed forces. Rather do
they have the very definite effect
of persuading parents that the
Army. Navy, Marine Corps or Coast
Guard is not a fit place for their
sons. The r. v. A. resents their
unwarranted act upon our regular
service men,"
The R. v. A. includes both peace
and war time veterans in its ranks,
and their representative was one
from several veterans groups who
appeared today before the commit
tee at the Supreme Court Building
to urge that the principle of vet
erans' preference be retained in the
program the committee is devising
for improving civil service pro-
cedure.
Another veteran representative,
Thomas Kirby of the Disabled
American Veterans, declared that
the disabled, while being ranked at
the top of employment registers, are
being passed over by appointing
officers.
Should Be Told Reason.
Mr. Kirby said that where disabled
men are passed over they should
have the right to know the reason
that they might set up a defense.
Under the present system where an
appointing officer passes over a vet
eran he must explain the reason to
the Civil Service Commission, but
this is made in a statement which
is held in confidence.
Other veteran witnesses today
included Ralph w. Updyke of the
National Association of Regulars and
Charles w. Griffin of the Catholic
War Veterans. The committee,
which is headed by Justice Reed,
was told by the Civil Service Com
mission today that all legal positions
in the Government except those of
a policy-forming nature should be
subject to the competitive system,
A sharp, difference of opinion
exists throughout the Government
on the method of applying civil
service to lawyers, the principal
lay officers of the various depart
ments and agencies already having
gone on record against using the
same selective process as is used for
other workers. The commissions
statement, presented by John @.
Cannon. principal legal examiner,
reiterated its stand, however, that
there is no reason for differentiating
IN their treatment.
The committee completed public
hearings today and will turn now
to the final draft of the report.
which is due to 60 to President
Roosevelt before the end OF the
month.