The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-22

Considerable stir has been created in the
police department within the past week
by the refusal of the civil service commits
sion to permit Sergt Irving Ward to take
the examination for promotion to the post
tion Of captain, the further refusal Of the
commission to permit Patrlman Osborn and
Jailer Corning TO take the examination for
sergeant, and a threatened refusal to per-
NIT Sergt. Laubscher to take the exam
ination for promotion to captain.
The civil service rules provide that every
February examinations for promotions may
be held IL there are any applicants. Con-
sequently appllcat tons were filed this year
by Sergts. Ward and Laubscher and by
Acting Capt. ID. r. Willard whose civil
service rank Is that of sergeant to take
the examination for captain. and by Corn
Ing, Osborn and Detective Mike Powers for
sergeant. At meeting of the civil service
commission last week the applications OF
Ward Corning and Osborn were turned
down, that OF Laubscher was postponed for
further action. and those of Willard and
Powers were accepted The examination
was originally set for February 90 but as
postponed. The time for filing applications.
however, has expired, and consequently
Willard and Powers stand alone in the con-
test for the position they desire to I'll.
Secretary Grout. of the civil service COM
mission. stated yesterday that various
questions pertaining to the eligibility and
fitness of the candidates for promotion had
been submitted TO Chief OF Police Reed
that the commission had considered those
questions. and had then refused Wards
application, and postponed action on that
of Laubscher. Corning and Osborn were
also refused. Mr., Grout declined to ex-
hibit the report of Chief Reed on the fitness
OF the men.
Chief Reed said: 81 don't know anything
that I said that would result in the refusal
of the commission to allow Ward and
Iaubscher to take the examination.
think they should be permitted to take Il,
as should Coming and Osborn"
Civil Service Commissioner r. r RAN
dolph said: THE report OF Chief Reed had
nothing to do with the matter We have
inquired into the qualifications OF all these
men. and while there is nothing against
their integrity I can only say that YOU
can't always make a general out OF a
private. His temperament won't allow OF
1t. II a man isn't fitted for a position,
there Is no need OF him taking the exam
ination when we wouldn't certify him."
The matter has been brought to the at
tention of Mayor Humes, and he stated
yesterday that he had requested the civil
service commission TO make a fuller In
vestigation of the matter. II want those
men to take the examination" he said.
There isn't any use OF saying they are not
Mt to hold the positions until they have
been examined The examination will show
whether they are ~ or not"
Capt Willard has held his present posi-
tion since September 7. 1897 He was pro-
NOTED TO the position OF captain to sue
coed George W. Hogle at that time The
records of the civil service commission
show that at the time Willard was np-
pointed captain he had not taken the ciViI
service examination for that position, and
that j, L. Barck. at present a patrolman
in the department, was eligible for IT, When
Chief Reed was asked why Barck had not
been appointed at that time he replied that
he had no recollection of the circumstance
Secretary Grout said his recollection was
that Barck was not in the department at
the time, and that IL was thought Il would
be an injustice 10 take an outsider and
place him over the heads Of men In the de-
partment He stated, however. that there
was no question as to Barck's eligibility
at the time Willard was appointed During
the two years and more that have expired
since Wizards appointment as captain he
has not applied to take the examinatio
for that position until now.