The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-04-24

positions out from under Civil Ser,
vice.
AS you know, the White House has
announced an Executive Order re-
pealing two orders of the previous
Administration placing several hun
dred policy-making jobs under Civil
Service AS contemplated, the new
order would give Agency heads a
free hand to replace present job
holders.
The previous Administration acted
after the Hoover Commission made a
strong appeal for an effective career
Civil Service in one of its major re-
ports. 1t was largely responsible, for
example, for creation of Assistant
Secretaries for Administration in half
a dozen departments. These little
cabinet" posts, meant TO be filled by
career people, were set up to give
Government continuity of operation
despite political changes.
Knocking the top out Of the Civil
Service could remove the incentive
for Government employees to work
hard to reach the top if they are then
threatened with firing for political
purposes. Such action also could de-
stroy employee morale and make for
mediocre and more expensive Govern
ment in the end.
But there is even more at stake
here than the Civil Service Act. The
Veterans Preference Act is being ar
gued among lawyers back here. Some
say the Act does not give job pro-
lection to top Civil Service en-
ployees. Others cite court decisions
to the contrary.
The Act itself is clear enough. 1t
says it applies to all jobs in Govern
ment with single xception--those
confirmed by the Senate. And even
that exception has an eXception--theI
Act applies to postmasters even
though they are confirmed by the
Senate
Veterans Preference frequently |
gives an employee greater job securi-
ty than permanent Civil Service Sta
tus. For example, veteran has ap-
peal rights which aren't given to a |
civil servant. An agency |
that fires veteran must be able to
prove that it was for the good of the
service. Otherwise, he can take action
and get back both his job and salary
Tor the time he lost
About half the Federal employees
nave Veterans Preference, including
,075,000 men and $4,000 women.
1t is 20 secret that there will be a
irive to strip top jobs Of Veterans
Preference and to modify its arplica-
ion to all other Federal Jobs. Wheth-
er such drive will make the grade
n Congress is another matter. And
even if Congress agrees, the legality
# the new Act would be tested in
Court. AS a former member Of Mon
ana's Supreme Court, l believe such
IN Act could be thrown out on the
grounds that the President and Con
gress cannot take away Civil Service
and Veterans Preference from per- |
sons who now have one or the other
II both. Any such law could apply /
)nly to future appointees.
AS you know, Republicans are call /
ng for widespread shakeups within Il
civil Service ranks. II
Senator Taft praised the Presi-
ient's announcement but said it did II
1T go far enough. "I'm not even II
promising to maintain the Civil Ser
nee system intact" he said. II
Earlier, Representatives Hoffman II
# Michigan called for cleaning out Il
federal Security Agency employees H
from top to bottom" regardless of II
civil Service and Veterans Prefer H
nee. "Pd leave only the charwomen i
md janitors," he said. H
This Immediately brought word H
# warning from Democratic Sena- II
or Humphrey of Minnesota who said H
Once the Republicans start picking H
way at the top jobs in Civil Service, II
hey soon will get down to where they II
want to go-the local postmasters H
nd rank-and-file patronage plums." II
Senator Humphreys words were II
arely in print before it was an H
ounced that the President would H
nrow away the eligibility lists for H
annOintOpnts nraparod III