Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-31
RETURNS CITATION
REVOKED BY ARMY
w. R. and E. Co. Declares It
Was Unjustly Rebuked by
War Department.
SOLDIERS

President William r. Ham of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company has sent a letter to the War
Department declaring its revocation
of a citation issued the company to
have been unwarranted and unjust.
at was calculated to create in the
public mind the wrongful impress
sion that this company is dealing
unfairly with its employees who left
to serve in the Army and Navy dur
ing the war;" stated the traction
company head.
The letter Of Mr.. Ham was adj
dressed to Maj. William H. Kobbe
made s"'many half-truths and mis-
statements of fact" in his letter to the
company revoking the citation. which
grew OUT OF the refusal of, the Poto-
mac Electric Power Company. sub
sidiary of the traction company, to
reinstate William S. Sheets upon his
return from the war.
Adhered to Its Policy.
"Since the conclusion of the war;"
states Mr.. Ham, 1.-The company has
adhered to the policy which was pre-
employees applying for Unemployment,
know of but three instances in
which, for one reason or another. 1t
was impracticable. We have given
unemployment to 172 employees. in ad-
dition to which we have found en-
ployment for 1876 discharged soldiers
and sailors not previously in our en-
ploy. This record tells its own story
and conclusively proves that we have
carried out the policy Endorsed by the
War Department and with which
we were in full accord. Of dealing lib
orally and fairly with those who left
to serve in the war;"
Explaining why it was not possible
reinstate Mr.. Sheets. Mr.. Ham con-
tinued:
when he left he asked Mr.. Sim
clair whether his position would be
open to him upon his return, and Mr..
Sinclair, in accordance with the es-
tablished policy Of the company, ad-
vised him that no assurance to this
effect could be given him. but that
it would depend entirely upon the
exigencies of. the situation and the
conditions that might exist at the
time of his return. During his alb
sence it had been necessary to fill this
position permanently with q man who
had been in the service of the COM
ices were satisfactory.
Advised Him Of Facts
Upon receiving Maj. Sheets appli-
cation for reinstatement. Mr.. Sinclair
advised him of the above facts, and
that he would not feel justified in
this man for the purpose
of creating a vacancy, and that his
old position could not be offered him
without injustice to the present in
cumbent
In concluding Mr.. Ham said
This rebuke is urjustifled and UNI
warranted by the facts in this case as
hereby disclosed. Your action in re-
vokfng the citation without an init
nation of such proposed action, de-
MED Ssz4 the fundamental right OF q
hearing, and savors OF form OF au--
tocrao4 repugnant to American ideals.
Furthermore, your letter, given to the
pubHcspress before it's receipt by US,
and without opportunity to reply, was
calculated o.create the false impress
sion of unfair dealing toward our
former employees and a failure on our
part to live up to q promise claimed
to have. been made to the government.
I'VE have mo- desire to retain the
citation under such conditions, and
therefore return the same herewith"