Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-07-12
Civil Service CHARGED
With Failing 10 Guard
Veterans Job Rights
Rees Attacks Rulings
Assuring Ex-EmpIoyes
Only one-Yeor Tenure
BY JOSEPH YOUNG.

3sCJA COCllOd GlfC IlCCO, 1OCpuD1tC-
an, of Kansas, ranking minority
member of the House Civil Serv-
ice Committee, today charged
that the Civil Service Commits
sion has failed to protect the
employment rights of Govern
ment employees now in the armed
forces.
In speech in the House, Mr..
Rees declared the commission has
surrendered its statutory obligations
completely, and by its own action it
has been relegated to a position of
a rubber stamp, perfunctorily APP
proving personnel actions taken by
various agencies of the Govern
ment."
Mr.. Rees criticized present regu-
lations which assure returning vet
Grams only one-year tenure in
Government service. He also criti-
cized misplaced emphasis on eff.
cheney ratings" declaring that un-
der the commissions present reduc-
tion-in-force procedure a veteran
with a fair efficiency rating would
be eliminated from the Federal pay
roll before nonveteran with a good
efficiency rating.
Shocking Situation"
This is a shocking situation,
Mr.. Rees said, because I can show
that efficiency ratings in the Gov
ernmnet service have become mean
ingless.- shall never agree that the
hairline distinction between the va
rious graduations in efficiency rat
ings should result in the discharge OF
veteran employee as long as he is
performing satisfactory service.
IF efficiency ratings must con-
troll, then the entire subject should
be investigated with a view to de-
termining how the absolute protec-
ton of veterans rights can be as
Sured.
THE tragic part is that when ca
reer service veterans return to their
old jobs, which is all they are al
lowed at present, they will find
ahead of them the famous 90-day
wonders who have reached newly
created higher paid jobs, having en-
tered the Federal service after the
veteran employees had left, under a
new civil service system utterly de-
void of any resemblance to merit
system" Mr.. Rees asserted.
Draft Act Cited.
Informed of Mr.. Rees' charges.
Civil Service officials pointed out
that provisions of the Selective
Service and Training Act guarantee
war veterans, whether in service or
private industry, only one year of
employment after they return to
their old jobs. The efficiency rat
ing provisions are contained in the
Veterans Preference Act of 1914 as
passed by Congress, civil service Of
f1cials said.
Mr.. Rees also criticized what he
called unjustifled salary promotions
in the Government during the war
period. He declared there is no
logical connection between the pro-
motion policy of the various Gov
eminent agencies"
A six-point program to strengthen
the merit system in Government
and offer full protection to war
veterans from the Federal service
was offered by Mr.. Rees, who said
the entire situation should be in
vestigated by the House Civil Serv-
ice Commute.
Offers New Program.
He offered the following program
/. An outstanding war veteran
should be appointed to the Civil
Service Commission to assure the
protection of all veterans in Gov
eminent service.
2. The Civil Service Commission
should reassume ito statutory obi
cations under the Classification Act
and should complete responsibility
for classification and promotions.
3. The commission should promul-
gate job classification standards for
all positions in the classified de-
partmental service which are now
without proper standards.
4. All recruitment in Federal Serv-
ice should be handled by the Civil
Service Commission, and appropria-
tons to the various departments and
agencies should not be diverted for
this purpose.
5. Reduction of Federal personnel
wherever it can be achieved.
s. A review of the entire matter
of efficiency rating with a view
toward the adequate protection OF
veterans and career service en-
ployes, particularly under reduction
IN force procedures.