The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-10-17

Henshaw. Said letter protested against
the reappoin.ment OF Burgheim and |
Henshaw, claiming that former action |
by the police commissioners OF Gin
cinnati had been detrimental to old
soldiers, and thereupon caused an in
vestigati0n to be made Of the things
about which they complained.
Upon such investigation It appear
ed that at the time the board was ap-
pointed. in 1886, a rule was adopted
which provided that no citizen should
be appointed police oficer who had
passed the age Of a6 years. It further
appeared, however, that members OF
the then existing force who had served
in the wor Of the Rebellion we're ex-
embted from this age limit, the only
requisite for such applications being
that they should be in good physical
condition. Many old soldiers were ac-
cepted who had reached the age Of 80
years, and so far as patrolmen are
concerned, no old soldier has been re-
jected by the present board. nor by
any former board. II any have been
refused employment. II has been by
their physical condition was not such
az the law required. Prior to the first
Of April. 1900. there had been accepted
by this board as patrolmen, So old SOL
diers. Fifteen died while in the ser
vice, six resigned. % we're dismissed
for gross dereliction of duty. six were
then on the pension list, one died while
on the pension list. and 36 we're still
doing duty as patrolmen.
"There were at that time but II pa
trolmen receiving pensions. Out Of
this number. six were old soldiers"
"Did Mr.. Barnes make any other
complaint in his letter to your" the re-
porter inquired.
"Yes," replied the governor, 'he also
criticised the police broad for maxi
ing a rule providing that no person
ever the age Of 40 years should be ap-
pointed station keeper. MIR. Barnes
assumed that physically disabled
man would make an efficient station
house keeper. This ONCE has much re-
sponsibility attached. These keepers
are often left in charge entirely Of the
station house. they come in contact
with prisoners who are violent and
dificult to control and for whose safe
keeping they are held responsible;
they are expected to clean the station
house, walls and windows, and per-
form many other duties, which old
men find beyond their strength. When
this rule was adopted the board found
itself overburdened with old station.
house keepers and were forced by
their incompetency to formulate some
rule to prevent their increase. and
which would gradually restore thi.
branch Of the police force to some de.
gree Of efficiency There were in Gin.
cinnati on the first day of April, 1900
21 station-house keepers. OF these, =.
were old soldiers. or this number
seven were practically useless, ant
will be placed on the pension roll a
soon as the law will permit
From the investigation thus made
was satisfied that the rules made b.
the police board were practical ant
necessary. Colonel Ewing, who wa
suggested by Mr.. Barnes as one Of tn
, police commissioners, was already II
, the employ Of the board, receiving tn
same salary he would receive II ap
pointed police commissioner.
. "When | considered the best inter
, ests of the public in Cincinnati, an
the fact that the present police fore
= was very efficient and useful, con
cluded that would do an absolut
wrong II I disturbed the present board
and therefore reappointed Messr.
Henshaw and Burgheim. felt tina
In so doing I was in no wise violatin
the spirit or letter Of the Clark law.