New-York tribune., 1919-03-14
Lack of Funds
TO Shut Down
Job Bureau
Congress- Neglect Will Cause
Closing Of All but 2 of 27
Offices in New York
Soldiers May Go JobIess
DR.. kirchwey Fears That
Curtailment May Aid the
Spread of Bolshevism

Inc united States Employment Ser
wee, which was organized to find iob
lor discharged soldiers. sailors ant
war workes, will virtually suspend il
activities OH Saturday, March 22.
Orders were received from Washing
ton yesterday that, because of the fail
ure OF tho last Congress to appropriat,
$bSoo'ooo for maintenance until Jul,
J. the service must be reduced to
skeleton basis" John B. Densn,ore
Director General of the service n,
washington, tclegraphcd to DR.. George
w. Kirchwey, the Federal dirccto,
mere, that practically all the banch of.
r'lces must be closed and almost all
the employees dismissed within the newt
eight days.
After that time soldiers RETURNING
from Europe will have TO institute
the'r own search for work. The clos
ing down of the agency makes uncer-
TAIN the finding of jobs for 5000 men
OF the 9th Division and for $500 men
or the 18th Division. 1t is estimated
that IN addition fully 100000 men are
stlli IN Europe who will return to New
YORK and face unemployment.
Will Keep Office Open
Or. klrchwey said last night that
he will stick to the ship" and will
endeavor to maintain a nominal orpan-
lzatlon, in the hope that the next Con-
gress will appropriate the $4,000 ooo
which, 1t is estimated, will be neces-
sary to revive the employment service
and carry it through the next fiscal
year.
DR.. Kirchwey blames the last Con-
gress for not being sufficiently patr
otlc to provide for the welfare of the
country's Homecoming fighters. He pict-
ured the returning soldiers as "tramp-
ing tie streets in search of jobs which
are almost impossible to find !"
The results Of the curtailment order
are that
Out OF the twenty seven branch Of
ilces In Greater New York only two will
remain open. besides the headouarters
at 469 Fifth Avenue. The ones remain
ing open will be in the Hall of Rec
ords and at 1884 Broadway. where The
rent is free.
Of the 430 paid employees in tho
c'ey all but twenty-five will be dis
missed The latter will have the aid
OF seventy 81 year workers and
members of various welfare orsaniza.
tions. The receiving of applications
1or JOBS and the canvassing to induce
employers to take on more men will
be reduced TO minimum
Finds 800 Jobs Weekly
since It's organization u year ago
The service has expanded so that lis
present weekly record Is 900 joba for
soldiers and entiors. 5000 Jobs for
civilian males. and 2.l0O jobs for won.
Ell, or total Of 0l0O weekly. About
100000 persons have been placed IN
jobs II the last two months, accord
ing TO DR.. Klrchwey.
''"''"'"'J, the FciVlce reports that
last year it found jobs for 2,400 900
persons at cost of $l.33 each.
IN the state, outside OF this citv,
twenty-five Of the twenty-seven Offices
w'Il be closed, and 131 Of the 40
employees will be discharged. Branch
offices viii be maintained at Syracuse
and Buffalo. In addition, the s,ate
bureaus, which are under supervision
OF the Federal service, will be kent
open in Brooklyn, Albany, Syracuse.
Rochester and Buffalo.
Hope of extending the service ito
avert a serious unemployment c~sis
following the war" was abandoned
when the last Congress failed to an.
proprIatc deficiency fund to carry
on on the work until July ]. The S5,O00'-
0oO appropriated last year was cx
hausted some time ago. When Con
gress failed to act it was expected
That President Wilson would appro-
pirate the money out Of a special emer-
gency fund at his disposal. Findino
mat this money was not forthcoming.
Director Dcnsmore issued his curtai1,
ment order.
Text Of Closing Order
Mr.. Densmore's order, after specify
ing the branch Offices to be closed,
said:
The failure of Congress to pass the
dehclency bill carrying $1,000 900 TO
continue this service until June 30
necessltates an immediate reduction
TO skeleton organization. No funds
available from other sources. Con.
sideration must be given to continuing
potn mons and women's work. Camp
work to continue as at present pending
further Instructions
Give employees laid off longest nos
sibie notice, making sure that their
designations or recommendations for
discontlnuance are forwarded imme-
dIately, effective March % at the
latest: In effecting reductions in ner-
sonnet, seniority in service must be
1oliowed and civil service EMPLOYEES
given preference.
urge state and municipal authori
tles, welfare organizations, chambers
OF commerce. labor organizations and
others to take over and finance. ms
far as possible, all offices eliminated
by this order until Congress makes nm
appropriation. No office placing sol.
diers should be permitted by tho com on'
munlty to close. Highly probable
congress VIII act promptly after meet
ing. consequently use every possible
sendeavor to secure such assistance.
Every branch Of work which can bo
continued through voluntary assistance
should continue"