The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-27

HYPOTHETICAL POLICE QUERIES.
While we admit we are not suthorita-
tive informed as to the exact questions
of the written examination which eleven
patrolmen took the other day and which
is said to have counted for 30 per cent
their records as public servants count
ing for the other so per cent.-in their
competition for promotion by his re- orm
honor, the Mayor, TO a sergeaDtcy, we
may perhaps be permitted TO form an
opinion of what kind OF questions might
have been listed in the examination as
being pertinent and important in judging
qualification.
For instance:
Question l--Under a reform administration,
supposing you are instructed to suppress
gambling in your district. You discover
roulette joint run by a heinous criminal
known TO have voted fhe Republican ticket.
and n policy shop directed by gentleman
who is a leading spirit in Democratic ward
politics. What is your plain duty in the
premisesf
Note-As this question will not be made
public IL 10 suggested that you need havo no
hesitation IN answering IL strictly in accord
ance with your past observation and ,xpari'
encs. Candidates wYl indulge In flubdIb ut
their peril.
Question 2-In how many and what respects
that You can readily write down did Napoleon
Bonaparts- resemble Chief Of Police REUBEN
X. BAKER2
Note-Caudidates are expected to answer
this seriously.
Question B-Supposing. being a sergeant.
You discover on your rounds "a patrolman
leaning over back fence discussing the
weather with o cham bermaid. what il your
first duty in the prenises-(a) II there Is a
patrol box at the next corner; (b) If there is
no means available for communication with
| headquarters; (c) IL the patrolman swears
the chambermaid is his cousin; (d) IL he
doesn't?
Question s-As a sergeant you are on your
rounds. You hear rap for assistance from
Turks Head and hasten thence Thes patrol
man tells you that he has just found one
store door unlocked. that there is a mysteri-
GUS light in tho postofiice, that there IA a
drunken man asleep in front OF the Industrial
Trust Company building. four college hoys
singing carols somewhere on Westminster
| street. crowd collecting in Mcneil lane
| and somebody has taken the lantern away
| from pile OF lumber in front OF the BAsI-
GAN building. What is your first duty in the
promises-(s) II His Honor. the Mayor. IS at
home and abed (b) il he isn't. but is in
town: tc) AZ he is cut Of town and storm
| has destroyed the telegraph lines?
| a
mand an officer on hent, and are undecided as
| to- whether his politics Republican or
Democratic. what steps should you take be-.
fore administering such reprimand9
Question Gin event you by this exam
| inatioD selected ono of the three candid ates
from whom His Honor ihe Mayer,-Yill
| select a sergeant. and he does not select you,
what course would .xpr pursue in the mex {
| municipal election ~
| Note-Candidates will be held to strict &C.
oountability for their answer to tins question.
Question 7--From your experience name
the best Chief of Polics tha: this town ever
hsdf
Question 8what is your opinion of civil
service reform. anyway
Note-fhe answer to this question counts
for ss1s per cent.
The examinations for every civil service
office, federal or State, anywhere In the
country, of which we have knowledge, as
we'll as the examinations givea in every
school or college in the land are avail
able to the public, with the exception OF
the examination for police sergeantcy in
| the city of Providence Which Is why
We are unable to guarantee that the
| foregoing list contains the real questions
OF the examination given to the eleven
| policemen last week.