Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-12
PRUNING THE FORCE.
Great Transformations Promised
Among Allegheny Policemen.
COPPERS BEGIN TO GROW ANXIOUS.
Mayor Wyman Talks of the Open Secret of
the Present Condition.
CORPULENT OFFICERS IN HOT WATER


ised before, and ended with that. This
time, however, numerous changes will be
made, but that the reformation will be thor
ough no one has yet been found with faith
enough to back up such a belief. Politics
ever has and still does control the police
system in Allegheny. The present pros
poets are that politics will in the future pre-
vent clearing out of the dead wood on the
force. CounciIs-not the Mayor or the
Chief-have been responsible for the existant
condition ofthe force in Allegheny. Political
influence has superadded all other qualifca-
tions in the matter of securing place on
the force. An ability to catch votes was
more of qualification than good sense,
while ability to catch criminals was mat
ter OF too small moment to be considered.
The same condition of affairs exists to-day.
Chief Murphy is hedged in by committee,
and has not the freedom of movement en-
joyed by j. o. Brown, of Pittsburg. Mr.
Murphy is only in Office for two years
term, and to remove the favorites of Coun-
cil1nen means only to cut his own throat
when he comes up for reelection, two years
hence. The present Councils will elect the
chiefs in that time, unless the gift Of those
officers is in the meantime placed in the
hands Of the people.
Mayor Wyman Talks Right Out.
Chief Murphy has at different times ex-
pressed the weakness of his situation, and
Mayor Wvman summed up the whole mat
ter, yesterday afternoon, when in an inter-
view he said: II believe Chief Murphy md
Superintendent Muth intend to reconstruct
the force on better basis, as far as they are
able. l know there are men in the depart
ment who should not be there, but we are
not responsible for that. Councils have
always dictated as to how the force should
be made up. and named the men who should
compose it. Each Councilman tried to take
care of the men who assisted him to office
by putting them on the force They cannot
be put of without incurring the enmity of
their patrons 1t is the same way now, and
but few changes can be made as long as
Councils are in position to dictate. l,
however, propose to join with Mr.. Murphy
in an attempt to remodel the department"
For the present, however, there is every
indication of change Every member of
the force will have to undergo a physical
examination. Dr. Hazard will begin these
tomorrow. The requisite qualities will be
hard to find, in many cases, among the men
whom ex-Chairman William Speer, of the
police committee has at various times de-
scribed as wooden men" people who
would be lost if they had to climb fence,
or would fall down if it was necessary to run
two blocks" Ooesity is to be regarded as
good cause for rejection, and under this
qualification alone number of heads
would be very likely to fall. There are now
men on the force who could make more
money in museums, as fat men-policemen
who wear 50-inch belts and 81 hats.
All the applicants must be at least 8 feet
s inches in height. The minimum weight
is placed at 140 pounds, and although 185
pounds is not placed as the maximum, any
thing beyond that will be regarded as detri-
mental. The minimum circumference of
chest is "a inches.
All Must Have Good Lungs.
The applicants are also to be tested on
respiration, and search will be made for
any disease of the organs of respiration. The
sight and hearing must both be good, and
in the former not only the general condition
of the organs will be ascertained, but weight
will be given to quickness and accuracy in
discriminating colors and distances. The
hearing will be tested, also, as to keenness
and correctness in distinguishing degrees
and kinds of sounds and the direction from
which they come.
This point in particular is creating almost
as much CONSERVATION among the members
of the force as the obesity clause and many
of the officers are making bold attempts at
reading without the aid of their spectacles.
A few of them have even gone so far as to
leave their ear trumpets at home.
The examining physician is also to ascer-
tain whether the applicant has any serious
illness or injury, and what defect, il any, is
perceptible in the heart, lungs, kidneys or
other abdominal organs, or the skin, eyes,
ears, limbs, etc. Predispos1tion to rheuma-
tism is also to be regarded as a defect.
Trouble is also expected from these investi-
tions among the incurables and the manned.
1t also throws cloud over some of the
members who have only been retained be-
cause they were not strong enough to do any
thing else. One officer in particular will
be affected by the examination, as he has a
practically useless lett arm. From paralysis
or some other cause his arm hangs Imply
at his lett side. His enormous size and
weight make movement of any kind q diff
cult matter, but he is still able to put on his
coat without assistance, and can also smoke
pipe.
All Reports Must Be Sworn To.
A report of each examination must ac-
company the application, and the examiner,
Police Surgeon Hazard. will have to make
q sworn statement as to the correctness of his
return. The examination will commence
tomorrow afternoon and will be continued
every afternoon this week. The examina-
tions are expected to be completed by Satur-
day. Then will commence the reorganiza-
tion, if such is to be DONE Super
intendent Of Police Muth says he intends
to make a general clearing up, and, as far
hi fnlI tha
used by Inspector John McAleese, of Pitts
burg. The new superintendent admitted
want Of knowledge in police matters, but he
is bright man, and is heart and soul in
the work. Said he, yesterday:
81 intend to see that the physical qualif-
cations are at least complied with. We
have Just as good men in Allegheny as
there are in Pittsburg, and when we get the
proper men OH the Iorce we will show that
Allegheny's force can be made as good as
the one across the river. The men must
brighten up and be more tidy. L
shall expect each one to 60 on
duty with a clean standing collar,
and a clean-shaven face, provided full
beard is not worn. The officers must be more
soldierly in their appearance, and not go
shuffling along as though they were asleep.
want the men also to understand that they
are paid for patrollIng their beats, and not
to stand on sidewalks or sit in groceries and
gossip. The officers must also keep out of
saloons, and any officer found in one, either
on or off duty, while in uniform, will be
suspended. 1 propose to have good men on
the force, and will see that they do their
work"
Chief Murphy was at Williamsburg yester-
day, but he has frequently put himself on
record in favor of radical reforms, as soon
as it is possible to accomplish them.