Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-02
THE POLICE FORCE.
How II NJ ~ be Affected by the Decisien In
the Hutton Case.

the Hutton Case.
TIE PRESENT REQUIREMENTS OF APPLICANTS
COMMISSIONER ROSS THINKS TIE pEcIsroS
GOOD oNE-vrEws OF PoLrcE OFFICIALS
GRAND ARMY MEN SATISFIED.
The decision rendered yesterday by the Court
In General Term In the case Of Policeman Hut
ton. as published in yesterdays STAR, gives
general satisfaction TO the police officials, as
well as to many of the officers.
The decision will operate in many directions.
although no dismissals ON its account are an
ticipated As citizens can now be appointed
members Of the force without an army or navy
record 1t will not be necessary in the future for
residents of this city to enter the army or navy
in order to get an appointment, nor will it be
necessary to almost break up the third ar
tillery in an effort to get the requisite number
of eligibles.
have been examined. but more than two-thirds
OF them failed to pass the examination, making
the list Of eligibles a small one.
REQUIREMENTS OF APPLICANTS.
The rules adopted by the Commissioners re-
| quire:
/. Be able to read and write the English
language.
2. Be citizen Of the United States.
3. Have been resident of the District for
two years next preceding his appointment
4. Never have been indicted and convicted Of
crime.
5. Be at least five feet eight inches In height.
8. Be between twenty-five and thirty-eight
years Of age.
7. OF physical health and vigor.
8. OF good moral character.
9. of unquestioned energy and courteous
| manners.
10. Must have been honorably discharged
| from the army or navy.
The last rule will probably be repealed if the
action Of the court has not already repealed it.
ENDORSEMENT OF CITIZENS.
| In addition to the foregoing rules five citi-
Gems are required to sign the following and one
OF them has to make oath to it:
We, the undersigned. individually, and each
for himself, states and represents to the Com
missioners, DC. that he has known the applicant
well for the last two years, and Is qualified to
speak intelligently in relation to his character
and habits. and states that, in his opinion, he
| is a man of good moral character, correct and
orderly In his department, and not in any re-
spect violator Of law or good order; that he
is man Of sober, temperate and industrious
habits; that he is not addicted TO the habitual
use of Intoxicating drinks, or other hurtful ex-
cesses. The undersigned, each for himself
| further represents that he has not known him
to drink intoxicating liquor, or known of his
| having been drunk, nor Of his having been
| guilty of, or arrested tor, any criminal dis
| orderly conduct or act; and we further repre-
| sent that We believe him to lie man of truth
and integrity, Of sound mind, good under
standing and manners, of sufficient education,
and that he is fit for policeman.
NUMEROUS APPLICATIONS EXPECTED.
There are a number of civilians who have
been waiting many years for such decision,
and tho applications are now expected to pour
in by the dozen.
| There are to be two detectives appointed the
LIST Of July and there will no doubt be many
| applicants, es there are already several per-
sons who have been making every effort to
secure a position, and the usual number of
chronic office seekers will also appear. The
rule requiring appointees to have been resi-
dents of the District the two years preceding
their appointment is the one in which the
officials are most interested. That rule has
been violated at will in the past, but probably
because Its violation was necessary in order to
secure patrolmen from the army or navy.
CONGRESSIONAL INFLUENCE FEARED.
What is probably most feared by the police
officials is the influence that will be brought to
bear by member of Congress for the appoint
ment Of their constituents and if that infiu-
| ence proves effective the citizens of the Dis
| trict will have less show for appointment than
| when service In the army or navy Was noces-
sary.
WHAT COMMISSIONER ROSS THINKS
Speaking of the recent decision in the Hut.
ton case, affecting the powers of the Commits.
sioners in the appointment of policemen,
Commissioner Ross this morning said: 1.-The
old law, which required the Commissioners to
appoint only men who had served in the army
and navy as policemen on the metropolitan po-
lice force, was q good one and served the pur-
pose for which 1t was intended admirably but
it outlived its usefulness. l am glad the courts
have decided the test Of Hutton against
the District, for now the Commissioners. I'M
hampered by any obsolete law are in a posi-
ton to select the very best men for the i'm
portant positions OF policemen and the ulti-
mate result must be the very best police force
in the world"
''Do you think the controller will abide by
'Of course cannot predict what he will do.
Mr.. Matthews is a very broad minded man,
and am sure will appreciate the situation and
do all in his power"
Hereafter, then, will all appointments.be
made from citizens OF the District"
las yet the board has not considered the
question at all" replied Mr.. Ross to the re-
porters inquiry. II, for one, am in favor of
getting the best available men. Men who. both
physically and morally, are best suited for
the places. l should like to see the police force
composed Of District men,
CAPT. AUSTIN PLEASED.
81 am very we'll pleased with the decision, ~
said Capt. Austin of the police department, .'as
now the army and navy will not have to be
depended upon for officers"
Capt. Austin did not think that the decision
would have any effect on the present force
The same rules, lie thought, would still ap-
ply to the workings of the force. He sees no
reason for any deviation from the rules except
the one as to the appointments. The officers,
he said, will still be given trial. so that they
can defend any charges brought against them.
This talk about wholesale dismissals don !,
believe has any foundation added the cap.
tain, .at least l don't anticipate any such
| move"
| INSPECTOR swINDELLs' VIEWS.
Inspector Swindells of the detective corps
said he was glad the decision was as it was, be-
cause it would give the young men of the Dis
trict a chance to get on the force The depart
ment can be recruited from these young men.
The department will also be benefited, as an
| opportunity will be given to learn something
of the character and standing of the applicant,
something that cannot often be done now be-
cause the applicants for the most part are
strangers here. 1t will result in keeping bad
men of and avoid a large amount of trouble.
| DETECTIVE BLOCK.
Detective Block said that the inspector had
| voiced his sentimenta He added that 70 tho