Evening star., 1947-06-18
LANCER 10 Probe Hiring
0fEx-0fficers for High
War Department Jobs
Senator Charges Army
Has Taken Care Of Many
Without Examinations
BY Joseph Young

S1ldlI llldA LdllSCl Va tIiC 1Cl1N
ate Civil Service Committee to-
day charged that the Army has
"taken care of many of its top
ranking officers by placing them
in high-paid civil service War
Department jobs Immediately
after their separation from mill
tary service.
Senator LANCER announced his
group viii investigate the entire
situation. He said a subcommittee,
headed by Senator Thye, Republi-
can, of Minnesota will take charge
OF the inquiry.
Many cases have been called to
my attention where many officers.
on their discharge from the Army,
were given civil service jobs at more
money in the War Department" I"
Senator LANCER declared.
No Examinations.
"These officers did not have to
take any examinations for the jobs.
They simply stepped out of uniform
into a good civilian job at better
pay than they made in the Army.
"This committee is going to get
to the bottom of this situation and
find out why such shocking favor
itism and irregularities exist in the
War Department.
The officers in question are not
Regular Army men but evidently
gained the favor of "higher-ups" In
the War Department and were fav-
ored with high-paying civil service
jobs on their discharge from the
military service, Senator LANCER
said.
War Department officials con-
cede that there have been some
conversions" from military to civil
service jobs, but they contend that
these have been only isolated cases.
Temporary as Yet.
Civil Service Commission officials
said the job appointments were of
the temporary variety, since exam
nations for permanent status in
these top-bracket jobs have not yet
been given These former officers
evidently will have to take examina-
tions to hold their jobs, it was said.
Senator LANCER and other men,
bers of his committee, including
Senator Baldwin, Republican, OF
Connecticut pointed out that while
these former officers are stepping
into good jobs, other civilian en-
ployes are being either dismissed or
down-graded.
The Senators also feel these for
mer officers have obtained a firm
foothold in some of the top civilian
jobs in the department and will
have an unfair advantage over their
competitors when permanent status
examinations finally are held. At
present, there have been no dates
set for examinations for these posi-
tions.
Unemployment Pay Bill Drawn.
All employees separated from Gov
ernment service through no fault of
II1GlT OWL WOulu UcilCllG ulluCl d blll
Senator LANCER has had drawn.
This measure. now under study
would pay such workers unemploy-
ment compensation weekly up to 10
weeks totaling either IS per cent of
their basic salaries or $40 weekly,
whichever is greater. The States or
the Civil Service Commission would
pay this benefit, in turn being reim-
bursed by Social Security. Existing
agencies would be used under the
legislation.
The bill would date back to March
1, half way between the beginning
of the calendar year and the end of
the fiscal year. Dismissal wages
totaling two weeks for those fired
under economy measures, transpor-
tation costs and Sc daily expense for
travel time also would be provided
under the measure for those return
ing home within 80 days after
dismissal