The evening world., 1891-12-19
Police Board President Declares
1t Is Urgent.
Mayor Grant Still Blocks the FiIIinu
OF Vacancies.
Dead DIR. Damainville's District Dl.
vidcd Among Hard Worked
Survivors.

with the Civl-ScrviCc Board to prevent the
examination OF applicants for positions as po-
| lice surgeons. Onlcial courtesy for which he
Is great s,icklcr, prevents him from critics.
Ing the Mayors extraordinary action, but the
| freedom with which he discusses the Police
Commissioners side OF the question infers
severe criticism.
! The Police Commissioners made rcOuiSition
in the Civil-Servce Board for certlfcation
from the eligible list for the appointment OF
| three Police surgeons Nov. - last. Secrc-
| tary Lee Phillips announced an examination
OF candidates for Dec. X, sending out the no.
ticcs to applicants for examination Dec. l.
Mr.. Phillips had not consulted with Mayor
Grant, who was then in Ireland lie knew
that the Police Department was sorely In
need OF surgeons, and FASTENED In the per.
iormancc Of his duty the prelIminaries to
provide for their appointment.
| Commissioner OF Public Works Gilroy knew
Mayor Grants wishes, however, and II Is
said demanded OF secretary Phillips that
they be met by postponement OF the cxami-
nation.
This Mr.. Phillips reluctantly consented to
do for week. as he would meanwhile have
an opportunity to see Mayor Grant, who was
|
! Mr.. Phillips did see Mayor Grant when he
got home. and as a result handed In his
resignation, which has been ever since mys-
teriousy hung up.
A second conference, Dec IA, the day pre-
ceding that set for the examination, was
| followed by the announcement II second
postponement thereof this time for an In
definite period.
! Since then Secretary and chic; Examiner
. Philips has promised speedy examination
OF applicants, which promise, thus far, 1t
seems hey ond his power to fuln This Is al
legged TO be because OF the Mayors hostility to
such action.
The Mayors attitude, It has been strongly
suggested, Is IN the interest OF a friend who
already holds II, 900 county appointment,
but VINO would be police surgeon II he can't
be Health Oncer OF the Port, and who asks
that the examination Ior the alternative posi-
tion he seeks be postponed until 1t Is defi-
nitely determined that lie cannot get the
better office.
"I think that the vacancies on the medical
stan OF the Department should be filled, and
that as speedily as possible" to-day said
President Charles +. MacLean, OF the Police
department. "I have long held that opinion.
"As to the question Of the police surgeons
being overworked," continued President Mac
Lean, "my Information has been that there
are times when they have to do much more
than at others
There certainly Is necessity for more sur.
geons or would not have voted to NIL the
vacancies or TO provide salaries for the addl-
tional members It was proposed To appoint.
found In the apportionment OF districts.
"It is quite as much the duty OF the police
surgeon to see that well policemen are on
duty ana earning their salaries as to heal
them when they are Ill. For this reason he
should be readily accessible In the hour OF
need. As II is, a day may elapse before he
can see policeman who complains OF Illness
and lays OF on that account.
"The complaining officer may not be III,
but takes that method OF getting a short va-
cation and cheating the city out OF his SER
vices.
"SUch tricks would be vain II the stan was
suficiently large and districts so apportioned
that the physicians would not have to travel
such long distances TO see their patients
I'VE should appoint to MI all the vacancies
as soon AS possible, for the additional sur.
gcons are needed
Mr. MncLean said that he knew nothing OF
the position OF the Mayor IN the matter, or II
the city's executive was interfering with the
administration Of the Ciyil Service Boards to
prevent the speedy appointment OF surgeons
which he declared TO be a matter OF such
moment while the epidemic OF grip is immi-
nent.
4 q ipnb MI
OF Mayor Grant, was not Inclined To give the
needs OF the Department In the matter Of an
increase OF the medical stan 50 much promi-
nencc as he did when he voted for the resolu-
on to nj the vacancies and to ask the Board
OF AppOrtionnCnt 10 make provision for the
salaries OF the new doctors asked Tor.
Mayor Grant had been accused, infer
entially, OF improper interference 10 prevent
the examination Of would-bc police surgeons
and Commissioner McClave, who owes his
position to the Mayor, seemingly did not wish
TO citiciSe that action.
When he participated with the other men,
brrs OF the Police Board In the action which
declared the necessity for more surgeons to
he urgent he did not know that the man who
Appointed him Commissioner had an axe to
grind on that grindstOnc.
When he was questioned by an EVENING
WORLD reporter he had learned that there
was suspicion IN the minds OF some people
that the Mayor was specially Interested, and
h. declared that lie "didnt think" the sur
geonS are suffering because the vacancies are
not filled Immediately.
"Why," said he, "thrre are four or fvc II
the police surgeons on during the vacation
months, and those remaining have an ar
rungcmcnt hy which the extra work is di-
viicd betScen them. There are only four
vacancies now"
But during the vacation season the police
force Is reduced In proportion by Officers TAX
ing their vacation at the same time with the
doctors, Is & noti" the Commissioner was
asked.
Mr.. McClayr admitted tnat that was the
fAtt, md lhnI hest les The heAlth OF The forNn