Evening star., 1949-02-17
Calls for Changes in
Veterans Preference
Thorough overhouIine Of
Classification Pay Act
Also Recommended
BY Joseph Young

The Civil Service Commission
today recommended in its annual
report to Congress that veterans
preference in Federal employment
be somewhat modified and also re-
newed it's request for thorough
revision of the Federal Classiflca-
ton Pay Act.
In regard to veterans prefer
ence, the commission recon-
mended that veterans should be
required to obtain passing grade
on their civil service examinations
before getting the added 5 and
10 points preference that are now
added to their ratings.
The commission also proposed
that the 10-point preference given
to disabled veterans be limited
only to those veterans who are
drawing compensation disability
payments from the Veterans Ad-
ministration.
Absolute Preference.
The Importance of the. commits
slon's proposal in this regard is
that 1O-point preference veterans
are given absolute preference in
hirings and dismiSSals.
In other recommendations, the
commission asked:
l. A revision and simplification
of the Classification Act and of the
Federal pay scale, and authorize
ton for the individual agencies to
make the various job classical
tions now done by the commits
sion.
Under the proposal, agencies
would have the authority to grade
jobs and set salaries. subject to
audit by the commission. This is
in line with one phase of the
Hoover Commission personnel
proposals that there be greater
decentralization of personnel ac-
tivities to the agencies.
2. Closer coordination between
agencies in setting pay rates for
wage board employees. The commits
sion said there is a serious lack of
consistency among agencies in
fixing rates of pay for these jobs.
3. An increase of Government
employees daily travel allowance
from Sc to $40.
4. Abolition of the requirement
for Senate confirmation of post
masters in first. second and third
class Offices.
Hatch Act Penalties.
S. Authority to the commission
to assess lighter penalties than
outright dismissal from the service
in the cases of Government en-
ployes found guilty of minor viola
tions of the Hatch Act. This bill
recently passed the House and is
now awaiting Senate action.
6. To allow job applicants who
cannot submit proof of one-year
legal residence in any community
to have their names certified for
whenever there is a
lack of qualified eligibles. This
would particularly involve en-
ployes of the Washington area
who move back and forth between
the District. Maryland and Vir-
ginia, and have difficulty proving
a years residence in any one
State.
7. Authority for Federal agen-
cies to grant reasonable period
of sabbatical leave every 10 years
to scientific, professional and ad-
ministrative personnel. to permit
them to engage in special studies.
8. Make liable for punishment
private employment agencies
which seek to victimize applicants
for Federal employment by charg-
ing them fees for alleged help in
getting them jobs. The commits
sion pointed out that such aid is
not needed in obtaining Govern
ment employment.
8. Authority for Federal agen-
cies to detail their scientific. tech
nical and professional employees
to recognized universities, labora-
tories and industrial plants for
research and study directly related
to the work of their bureaus.