The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-06

But so long as the temptation offered to
induce them to stray from the straight
line of duty is not too great, and the CUES
tions they may be called to solve are not
too profound, Chicago may rest secure
that no discredit will be reflected upon it
by the brass buttened officials AS for
bravery, the Haymarket riot, still fresh in
everybody's memory, is a sufficient guar
antee that the force is well able to cope
with any outbreak short Of well organ
lied revolution that may arise.
The accusation that the police depart
ment Of Chicago is a political machine,
run at equal speed by whichever party
may be in power, is frequently made. To
obtain position on the force, unless the
application is indorsed by some influential
politician, or a sgdden increase is made
necessary by the arising of some unlocked
for contingency, is said to be absolutely
impossible.
Frank O'Neill, an attache Of police head
quarters, and whose term of service ex.
tends over sixteen years, when asked by
the writer recently what chance an appli-
cant lacking political influence stood for
getting an appointment, replied:
"The same chance he stands for getting
struck by lightning"
''No better?"
mot bit.'
During your long service how many ap
plicants without such influence have been
been appointed TO the force?"
Not a single one"
GAS man of experience what detriment
to the personnel of the department do you
think is had through such a mode of ap-
pointment2"
"No more than through any other
method. Physically the men could not be
better, and morally-well, black sheep
dwell ia avery fold"
''Once in the fierce, what are an officer g
chances for remaining
sit depends entirely on the man himself.
If he has taken to heart WoIsey's advice to
fling away ambition and will not try to
violate that injunction ne may, if he keep
sober and attend to his business, remain
until he serves his twenty years and is re-
tired on pension at halt pay.
"But let him be ambitious to rise, and If
he does not have political influence strong
enough to buoy him up, mis- official days
are numbered; for every other club swinger
possessing a little more influence and who
is striving for promotion will, through the
crush a possible though less powerful ri
val. The best plan young patrolman can
follow, ii he is satisfied with his 81, 900 a
year, is to drop all thoughts of promotion
and keep as far away from the calcium
light glare Of the city hall and headquar-
ters as he possibly can"
The force is headed by general superin-
tendent, who is usually referred to as
chief, and who draws a salary of $50 a
year, a comfortable amount were it not
for the fact that the tenure Of the Office is
as uncertain as that of the administration.
The present incun1 bent, a gentleman in
every sense of the word, most approachable
and of unquesti0ned integrity, but who,
until his appointment a few months ago,
could only boast of such police experience
as one term II tho eIace OF United States
marshal for the mort hern district Of Hi
noiS gave him, supplanted Chief Hubbard,
also an aPproachable gentleman Of strict
integrity, who had at the time of his ap-
pointment TO the general uperIntendency
an active and communal police experience
Of sixteen years.
The next in grade to the general super
intendent are the speCt9rs, OF whom thera
are five, each having charge Of one Of the
five districts of the city and drawing a sal
ary of 8, 500. They are the chiefs Of their
districts, and are held accountable to the
general superintendent for every thing that
occurs therein. Their immediate interiors
are thirteen captains, who are paid e, go
each; then forty-eigAt heuteBants at &, 800
each, forty-eight patrol sergeaHts at 1890
each, seventy-four desk sergsznts at sl,-
l02.50 each, $50 patrotmen for duty at
bridges, crossings and depots these $50 are