The herald., 1897-05-02
Policemen Worked Up
Over q New Order
VISITS TO THE MAYORS OFFICE
WHAT IT Is ALL BELIEVED TO
BE ABOUT
Weekly Meetings Of the Finance and
Sewer Committees-City
Hall Notes

Among the visitors to the mayors OF
fee yesterday were number OF mem
bers Of the police force, who called to IN
terview Mayors Clerk Todd. who is also
clerk Of the police commission, about
matter which Is causing considerable
CONSERVATION in the department. 1t ap-
pears that within the past day or two
orders have been issued that every mem
ber Of the force must write out the form
of the new application for membership
on the force-that is to say, they must
not to fill out the blanks, but write out the
whole business, and to be sure that each
man writes his application himself, this
piece Of clerical work must be performed
in the presence Of the secretary OF the
department, Officer Ray Cottle. Natur-
ally this order set the boys to thinking,
for such thing was never heard of be-
fore, and they don't know what it means.
And what Is more, no one else seems to
know. From remarks made by General
Forman and other members Of the COM
mission, it is believed that the order Is
for the purpose Of testing the efficiency
Of the policemen in penmanship, or
biography, etc., and these specimens will
give the commissioners, to certain ex-
tent, an idea of the general intelligence
of the men. 1t has long been rumored
that some of the written reports turned
in by officers were absolutely unintel-
ligible, unless the officer who did the
writing was present to decipher the
hieroglyphics, while the spelling and
composition was something fearful to
behold. 1t has even been limited that
some officers had difficulty in signing
their names, and 1t Is believed that the
order was given for the purpose Of ascer-
tanning whether these rumors had any
foundation in fact. Commissioner Preuss
has returned from San Francisco, and if
full board is present Tuesday morning,
It is believed there will be some interest
ing developments.
Another peculiar move in this line
came last night when every special Off
Ger on the force, except one, was laid off
by orders of Chief Glass, and without
any explanation. The exception was
officer Phillips, who has for over year
past filled the place of Patrolman Bates.
incapacitated from duty by blindness.
When interrogated as to the nature and
extent Of the order the chief stated that
the specials had been laid off because
there was no work for them to do They
had been employed steadily during the
Fiesta but at present there was no call
for their services. He could assign no
other reason for the order and was un-
able to say whether the men would again
be employed except upon the order of the
,v,,te -
suspended are Of the belief that they
have been dropped for good and that the
axe will fall again on Tuesday on the
necks of some of the regulars.
The men are inclined to lay the blame
for their summary dismissal at the door
Of General Forman who, 1t Is said, has
agitated the necessity for sweeping
changes in the department. Consider
able pressure is being brought upon the
various councilmen and It has even been
limited that request for the resignation
Of General Forman is among the possi-
bilities of Mondays meeting. Certain 1t
Is that the entire police force is in a fer
ment Of anxiety, every man being on the
anxious seat and wondering where the
lightning will strike next.
Another matter which has been worry
ing the officers since this order was given
Is the rumor that for months "star
chamber reports have been fled with
the commission. giving the opinion of
the chief and sergeants ae to the eff
cheney of the various patrolmen. These
reports have been quietly filed, and the
officers have gone ahead, thinking that
they were giving satisfaction, when in
fact evidence was being piled up against
them. This matter will also probably be
ventilated at Tuesdays meeting.