Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-03-09

veterans already have received
credit for the time they spent in
the armed services.
The defeat of the amendment
to include all Government en-
ployes who are veterans was
particularly heart-breaking one
The House first approved the
amendment on a standing vote.
"a to "a. But when a teller vote
was called for, the House voted
down the amendment, 81 to SO.
The various postal unions did a
masterful job in lobbying for the
bill. They persuaded many House
members to vote against the Muir
ray amendment to include all
Government veterans. This was
because they feared the inclusion
Of all veterans would kill the en-
tire bill because OF the cost aspect.
Chairman Murray Of the House
Civil Service Committee and Rep
resentative Rees. Republican, Of
Kansas vainly argued that in
clusion of all veterans in Govern
ment eligible for within grade
promotions would cost only $40
million more than the $163 million
1t would cost for postal veterans
alone. But their pleas fell on
deaf ears.
The most disappointing thing
about the whole affair was the
complete failure Of the regular
Government employe unions to
fight for the rights Of all veterans
in Government. The, regular Fed
eral employe unions did absolutely
nothing on behalf Of the amend
ment to include the rest of the
Governments veterans.
Consequently, veterans In Gov
eminent lost the chance of a life
time. The defeat of the Murray
amendment kills any chance of
action in this regard by Congress
this year. And the prospect for
next year is far from bright. In
the opinion of many Capitol Hill
observers. the only real chance
veterans had was TO have the
amendment tackled onto the postal
bill. e5z...s g,y.i Il, a..s4
Postal veterans are almost as
sured of the within-grade pay
raises this year. since the Senate
already has passed a similar bill,
and only minor differences remain
to be worked out.
ANNUAL LEAVE - The Senate
is due to act today on the Douglas
amendment to reduce the an
nua1 leave Of Federal workers
from 26 to 20 days and sick leave
from Is to IL days. The amend
ment, which is tackled onto the
urgent deficiency bill, is expected
to be rejected.
EXAM CONFERENCE.-THE
controversial apprentice plate
printer exam is once more in the
news.
The House Civil Service Com
mittee will hold hearings tomor-
row on legislation to compel the
Civil Service Commission to hold
an open exam for these jobs, in
stead Of limiting the test to en-
ployes in the Bureau of Engrav-
ing and Printing.
Negro employees at the bureau
have commended they were re-
fused chance to take this exam.
Several weeks ago, the bureau an
nounced the exam would be given
for them and other BEP work.
ers. Now, however. Representa-
tive Ramsay, Democrat, Of West
Virginia, at the request Of vari-
Gus AFL employe unions, has in
PRODUCED q measure to make this
test open to everybody.
4
STATUS FOR VETERANS
Veterans In Government who are
war-service or temporary en-
ployes would get permanent
status, under a bill introduced
yesterday by Representative
Granular. Democrat, Of Pennsyl-
vania.
Under the bill, veteran would
need at least five years of Federal
service and an efficiency rating of
good" or better to qualify for
permanent status. The measure
was referred to the House Civil
Service Committee.
y \
PERSONNEL OFFICES - The
Budget Bureau intends to trim
still further the number of people