Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-11-22
US. Agencies Hold Up
Veteran Promotions,
Flemming Charges
: BY George Beyeridee
Stcr Stoff Correspondent

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 22.-Civil
Service Commissioner Arthur S.
Flemming today urged that
Congress provide special COM
pensation to veterans during
unnecessary delays" in their
unemployment to Federal jobs.
Speaking at the second session of
the American Veterans of World
War II convention here, Mr.. Flem-
ming cited delayed periods of wait
ing" as chief Government fault
IN the program to return ex-service-
men to Federal payrolls.
At the same time he charged that
many veterans already back at work
have not been promoted to Jobs they
are qualified to hold. He asked all
agencies to review such cases and
correct these injustices." Since
WI day, however, 80 per cent of all
Federal appointments have been
veterans, he said. The appoint
ments total l,424,000.
Cites Job Protection.
During the fiscal year ending next
June, Mr.. Flemming said, 100000
regular civil service appointments
will be made, more than half of
them to jobs now held by temporary
employees.
He warned that hundreds of
thousands of additional workers"
will be laid off during the months
which lie ahead" but said that no
veteran with an efficiency rating of
good" or better will be fired until
all nonveterans in competition with
him, irrespective of their efficiency
rating or lengths of service, have
been laid off"
The commissioner also attacked
present salary ceilings of $4,000 in
executive branches Of the Govern
ment as driving away some Of our
best qualified citizens"
He also told the Amvets he
thought persons who believe they
have the right to strike against the
Government cannot be intrusted
with duties of public Office and
added that Communists and men,
bers of the Ku Klux Khan likewise
cannot and must not be trusted"
Warming From Bradley.
Veterans Administrator Bradley
today warned that veterans will turn |
to increased legislative benefits I'M
less labor and management learn to
reconcile differences without costly
delays"
Gen. Bradley said the veteran be-
cause Of his youth and inexperience
is often the first to feel penalties
Of prolonged contests between man.
agement and labor, whatever side he
may be on"
Urging full production along with
quick settlement Of strikes, he de-
IF we ever abandon our national
welfare to prolong contests between
special interests we shall pay the
cost in wild imitation, unemployment
and eventually in sdepression.s
Veterans have come home from
World War II with a realization that
their interests can be best served
through the general welfare of the
country" he said, but added that
for many, the dream of coming
home was richer than the awaken
ing"
3 Colleges at "Saturation Point"
Earlier, Retaining Administrator
Erskine declared facilities Of Amer
lean schools and colleges have
reached "the saturation point" and
urged that the .Eiehtieth Congress
Increase surplus supply sources, for
school expansion programs.
He also called for extension by
the War Assets Administration of
policy which allows schools a 95
per cent discount on classroom,
laboratory and other educational
equipment. The program is due to
expire December 81.
Maj. Gen. Erskine also placed
responsibility on the Federal Gov
eminent to provide minimum Ttand-
ards Of education for all citizens
and charged 1t is undemocratic to
allow extent of education to rely
on size of the family purse"
Featuring yesterdays opening of
the four-day convention, Housing
Administrator Wilson w. wyatt de-
clared the Nations coal strike is a
direct deterrent" to the veterans
housing program.
Every day that the coal strike
continues will mean a further delay
in construction of veterans homes"
he said. In addition to production
cut-doWns of critical materials, he
said. the strike will affect trans
portation of materials to construc-
ton sites. And If it continues long
enough, construction will stop" he
Iac1erad