Evening star., 1947-03-05
Legion, vFW Hi
New Job Rules
In Civil Service
Discrimination
Against Veterans
Seen in Change
By Joseph YOUNG

Many of the 100000 war veterans
tn the Federal service face serious
discrimination by Government de-
partments under the new civil serv-
ice rules decentralizing activities of
the civil Service Commission, it was
charged today by the American Le-
gion: and the Veterans Of Foreign
Wars.
Appearing before the House Civil
Service Committee, representatives
Of the two veterans organizations
said the delegation O. greater au-
thority in personnel matters to the
individual Governn ent agencies will
weaken the princi-e Of the Federal
merit system gres y.
"Unless the Civil Service Commits
sion strictly policcs and supervises
the activities of the various Govern
ment agencies, the veteran will get
It in the neck" declared Omar B.
Ketchum, legislative representative
Of the VFW.
Flemming Favors Change.
Harry B. Hayden, the Legion's
legislative representative, declared
that the chiefs of the various Gov
ernment bureaus would seize on de-
Capitalization as an excuse to "do as
they please" in personnel matters.
The disputed decentralization
order gives Federal departments
more authority in holding examina-
tions, determining promotions and
classifying various jobs. Civil Serv-
ice Commissioner Arthur S. Flem-
ing disagreed with the veterans rep
resentatives, declaring that the de-
centralization order will give greater
opportunities to veterans in the
Government. He pointed out that
the commission still will make the
policies which the individual agen-
cies will have to carry out.
Mr.. Ketchum declared that a
number of Government departments
already are doing everything they
can" to violate the spirit of the Vet
erans' Preference Act.
Examinations in Field.
TN giving the agencies free rein
in holding examinations and deter
mining promotions, you are going
to see discrimination not only
against veterans but other employees
in the Government as WELL" he
declared.
Mil1ard w. Rice, representing the
Disabled American Veterans, said he
agreed with the position of the
Legion and the VFW that decen-
tralization will lead to wholesale
violations of the Veterans Prefer
ence Act in the Federal service.
''Under decentralization there
will be more favoritism, more dis
elimination and more local politics
in Government agencies" Mr.. Rice
declared.
Herbert jacob. national chairman
of the Legion's Veterans Preference
Committee, said. his organization
was seriously concerned" that the
commission would not be able to
control the actions Of agencies in
the field.
All the witnesses today had high
praise for the commissions work
thus far in protecting the rights
of veterans In the Federal service.
One OF the features of the new
regulations hit by the VFW and
the Legion, Is the right of agencies
to hold Examinations for various
jobs in the field, outside Washing
ton. Without strict supervision by
the commission discrimination
would result, the committee was told.
Complaints on Navy Noted.
Mr.. Hayden remarked: I'VE have
more complaints about the Navy
Department violating the Veterans
Preference Act than all the other
agencies combined" Chairman
Rees replied: This committee has
had quite a number of complaints
regarding the Navy Department and
we are going to look into the
matter"
Meanwhile, the Senate Civil
Service Committee has announced
it will investigate the postmaster
patronage system.
The committee yesterday, with
the Republican members outvoting
their Democratic colleagues, decided
to hold up the 900 postmaster nomi-
nations Of President Truman until
it investigates the situation. Chair
man LANCER said the group will de-
termine whether postmasters "are
required to pay tribute to any po-
litical party and whether there are
any Hatch Act violations along the
line.
Senator LANCER previously had de-
clared Republicans are entitled to
some of the patronage in postmaster
jobs.