Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-07
DISTRICT AFFAIRS
Many Applicants for, Position Of Police
Surgeon.
Notes of Interest to Taxpayers From
the Center of Local Govern
ment Told Briefly.

The competitive examination for the pO-
sition of police surgeon is attracting wide
spread interest, especially among the
younger physicians, of the city. This ex-
animation will be open to all who have
applications on file, and will be conducted
at the Commissioners office on the 14th in
slant
The examination will be conducted by the
medical board representing the regular
school of medicine, and will consist of
both written and oral questions. This
board, it will be recalled, is composed Of
Drs. G. Wythe Cooke, George C. Ober j.
s. McLain H. A. Keinschmidt and C. B..
Purvis. These gentlemen will divide the
subjects among them, and submit the
questions for written examination. They
will also individually examine each appli-
cant in the several branches. There is con-
siderable dissatisfaction among some of the
applicants for the position to this method
of examination. This objection comes prin-
cipally from the older members of the pro-
fession who have been in regular practice
for years. They realize that they would
stand no show whatever with young
graduate, who is full Of the technical uues-
items an examining board would be likely
to ask.
The Commissioners decline to state upon
what terms the appointment will be made
That is. whether or not they will appoint
the one who attaips the highest mark 1t
is generally understood that a good deal of
common sense will be used In the appoint
n ent of the physician, and it is not certain
that the highest marked one will receive
the appointment. 1t is believed that other
considerations will have a lot to do with
the matter. For instance, If an applicant
attains high average, or, better STILL If
he passes the mark set by the board and
gets placed on the list of availables and
has pull, the only question Is how strong Is
the pull? This was the way several physi-
q n Ia tod gNt-
as far as rank was concerned, was not fol-
lowed.
Already the Commissioners have received
a large number of applications, and it is
safe to say at least hundred physicia ns
will submit to the examination.
NaDhthn Burners.
The Commissioners some time ago I'M
Willingly became parties to a monopoly
and as soon az they discovered it corrected
their mistake. 1t concerned street lighting
Indirectly. and directly pertained to the
style OF burner used on the naptha lamps
In the speciijcati tons for naphtha lishtIna
the wellington" burner was designated as
the one to be used. This burner it is de-
veloped Is controlled by the Pennsylvania
Globe Company, the present contractor fol-
this character of lighting. and this year II
was the highest bidder for the work. its bid
being the limit allowed by law, namely 81,
per lamp per annum. The other bidders
who were lower than this firm, protes ted
against the specifications, which barred
them from competing. The lowest bidder
when asked what plant he had to do the
work stated that it was impossible for him
| to get the particular burner required, and
| he would be unable, to accept the contract
The Commissioners, seeing their mistake
| Immediately threw cut aIl bids for napht ha
| lighting, and decided to readvertise for pro
posals under new specifications which woult
| leave the matter of burner open.
Ordered Removed.
| Unless the tracks, of the lexington rail
| road on street are used the Commission
| ers have ordered that. the same must be
removed, and have SO notified President
Newbold Of the company.
To Continue Work.
The Commissioners today decided that Il
would be better to continue the work of re-
surfacing the north side of H street be.
tween 14th and 18th. than to suspend the
| work. as was recommended. This morning
Contractor Crawford appeared before the
Commissioners and explained that II stree
was the only piece of work he had open
and to close it at this time would cause
great hardship upon over 100 poor laborers
The south side of the street had been fin
ished, and the work on the north SIDE
| would not interfere with the convenience
| of visitors in the city. So the Commission
ers decided to continue the work