New-York tribune., 1919-01-31
".Jobs for Soldiers.
Is Hvlan's Cry, bul
CITY Refuses Them
While Mayor l. Demanding
Reinstatement of Eight
crs. Police Are Denying
Places To Old Employees

Mayor uylan roceusy issued a
statement that his COMMITTEES OF Wei
come would investigate those employ
ers who would NOT roinstate men 20
thcir former positions. The state
ment read:
There IS report current that in
many cases where our soldiers, after
,hey have been mustered out O. scrv-
zee and on making application for
their former positions, have found that
in many instances they are held 10y
aliens and have been informed by
.heir former employers that there was
no need TOR their services at present.
Il would suggest thNt in all such
cases our soldier boys report this
fact immediately TO the Employment
Bureau Of the Mayors Committee on
Welcome 10 Homecoming Troops, 616
Hall OF Records. Chamber Street, New
York. 50 that an immediate investI-
cation may be made and that the en-
poyer who refuses 70 take back the
returning soldier who so willingly OF
cred himself to his coUntry's cause
be given an opportunity TO explain his
reasons Tor SO refusing.
Old job Refused Policeman
About three weeks ago Lieutenant
James A. Knapp. formerly a detective
sergeant Of the New y orb police made
application for reinstatement in the
Police Department by letter while he
was in France. and in October, when
he had returned, was notified by John
c. Hacket; secretary Of the Police
Department. that at is against the pol
icy Of Mayor Hylan and Police Com
missioner Richard I. Enrght to re
inState men at this time, as they have
made inroads IN the workings Of the
department.
Asked at that tine to comment on
this particular case. Commissioner
Fnright said; Il feel the city is en-
tlrely within its rights when it denies
him his Job back. a great many men
in the department OF draft age re-
quested leaves Of absence soon after
America 20. into the war so they could
take other Jobs. When denied leaves
they res gned and went to work a po-
si,lons which paid high wages in mu-
nitiOns factories, driving trucks and
other war work.
Not Patriotism, He Says
Il don't think that was patriotism,
when the Police Department. needed
them most tacn case OF man Sc X
ing his JOB back viii have to be handled
individually. and unless the city makes
provision for the men they Will have
10 wait their turn to get back in the
department.
Lieutenant Knapp, however, said
Yesterday that while he conceded
that the Mayor and Commissioner In
right were within their rights in de
nyirg him reinstatement, the fact was
that he rad engaged in no munitions
work which paid nigh wages. and had
entered the service because he thought
he was OF more use 10 the United
States than TO the Police Department.
since he had originally entered the
Police Department from the army.
II is also d TACT" said Knapp, that
men who made application for leave
OF absence in the department after |
had been refused obtained leave and
have since been discharged from the
service and have been reinstated'
Asked whether he would report his
former employers. Mayor Hyian and
Commissioner Knright. to the Mayor
Committee o Welcome for invesciga-
ton, Knapp answered with q smile that
he rad q job at present and felt sure
,aa- he eventually would be reinstated.