The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-14
SPECIAL EXAM
FOR ITALIANS
Civil Service Board to Hold
One for Them Only to Get
Police Eligibility
List.
ONE PASSED LAST TEST
Legality of Holding Examination for
One Nationality Questioned
Many Passed Recent
Trials.

Although one of the Italians VINO
took the recent examination for super
numerary Of the police department sue
ceeded in passing and so qualifying to
take the physical examination which IS
also part Of the test and so stands a
very good chance of getting on the ell
gibe list for appointment to the force
to ill the position of Italian detective
which the recent examination was
primary held for, another examination
at which only Italians will he eligible
to take the test Is TO be given in the
near future by the board Of civil SER
vice commissioners The board finished
the papers Of all the candidates-there
were 50 IN all--at session held yester-
day afternoon, but as the physical test
Is stll to he held those who passed the
mental were not announced because
they are not ready for the eligible list.
1t Is known, however, that only one Of
the three Italians who took tho exam
nation passed. It is understood that he
stood quite we'll From the remaining
candidates an eligible list that will last
for some time will probably result, for
about thrce-quarters of the entire num-
Der passed. or between 65 and 10.
just what the reason for another ex-
animation for the italians Is was not
made plain Chief Cowles stated, how
ever, that 1t was felt advisable to have
larger number Of names on the ellgi-
BILE list to choose from than would he
tho result Of the examination just held,
President Reed of the board did not
wish to discuss the matter last night,
stating that he did not want to talk
about the examinations until the result
of the present ono was complete The
vote to hold the examination for Ital-
Ians only was passed, however, at yes
terday's meeting,
This examination for Italians only
raises question which may become "A
serious one is II legal one? This, it
appears, Is the first time that any at
Itempt has been made to discriminate
between natlonalities at an examina-
tion for the police department and the
question is raised as to whether the
civil service board can under the char
ter do this. 1t is held by lawyers who
have been asked about the matter that
the board has no power to hold an eX-
animation for Italian supernumerares
alone but that when 1t holds an exam
nation for position it Is open to all
persons regardless Of nationality who
wish to try It, The last examination
was open to ali and only three Italians
tried, though those in touch with the
situation knew that an Italian was
likely to be appointed and that the ex-
animation was to be held for the posi-
/ ton
Chief CoWles when asked about the
legality of the matter last night, differ
ed from the legal opinions that had
been expressed, He stated that he had
/ read the charter and that under that
/ the civil service board had a fun right
! to make such rules as 1t might desire
to make and that under that clause
! this action was in his opinion entirely
/ legal The date for the examination has
/ not yet been set, but the chief stated
/ that it would probably be held quite
soon.
Those present at the meeting yester.
day were President Reed, chief Cowlos
and Chief Fancher