The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-11-19
"SP0|LS" SYSTEM
NOW ELIMINATED
IN IOWA CAPITAL
Continued From Page One.)

Stipp, who had much to do with the
final form of the Dies Moines Charter,
and who insisted en- the civil service
rules being Incorporated in the Des
Moines Plan. believes that there
should be required registration of the
unskilled employees. The employees
would then be selected in the order of
their application, thus making the
building up of a personal machine
still harder on the part of the Des
Mo1nes cOuncflmen. This provision
is already in force in the state of Wis
consin.
Civil Service and the Police.
The increased efficiency of the police
department has teen very noticeable
since the introduction of the civil SER
vice examinations. It has removed
pull" and has impressed on the police
officers the necessity of knowing their
duties and having thorough knowl-
edge of the city. Beside the physical
fitness for the position, writing, SPELL
ing and arithmetic, another examina-
ton as to the duties of policemen is
required. Here is an example of the
questions asked
Police Examinations.
knowledge of City
l. How would you direct a stranger
to go from the union station to the
Home for the aged? (b) From the
union station to the capitol? (c) From
Northwestern station to Methodist hos
pital? Id From Fifth and Walnut to
Iowa Sanitarium: (el From West
Seventh and Walnut to West high
school,
Tin answering above questions, desig-
nate what street car stranger shall
take, at what street to alight from car,
and what direction then to go.)
,. Give the names and locations of
six hotels.
3. Describe shortest route from city
hall to 1895 2Sth street.
4. How often do cars run over fol-
lowing car lines: University, Scott, In
gersoll Highland Park, East Sixth and
Ninth?
5. If standing in front of the court
house, how would you direct a person
to each of the following places, assum-
ing that the stranger is not familiar
with the names of the streets: la ST.
Ambrose church: tb) Majestic theater:
{c) Salvation Army barracks; ID New
Y. w. c. A. building; (c) New Colise-
UNI SITE
Duties
1. Before what judicial officer are
prisoners arraigned?
,. May officers demand assistance
from citizens in making arrests?
g. Are policemen entitled to any
fees. in addition to their salaries, al
compensation in making arrests?
4. State in full what you consider
the duties of police officer
5. State under what conditions, If
any. you would disobey the orders of 4
superior officer.
6. State whether or not you con-
slider the occasional use of liquor by
a policeman while off duty is harmful.
Give your reasons.
Z. State five reasons why you be-
lieve yourself qualified to take a posi-
ton in the Des Mcines police depart
ment
8. Judged from your observations as
a citizen, what do you consider the
main purposes of maintaining a police
department?
In addition there is an oral exami
nation which determines those things
which can not be brought out by a |
written examination-this settles the
objection so often made against civil
service examinations. that the personal
fitness of candidates can not be ascer-
tanned
But the man can always be quickly
dismissed for cause
The Personal Element.
IF this were not so,' said Mr.. Nc
Vicar. whom / hav, already mention
ed as a Des Moines Councilman and
secretary of the League of American
municipalities, I'VE might. indeed, have
difficulty. Two men passed the ex-
animation for grading foremen-one of
them passed a much better technical
examination than the other. and the
superintendent hired him. But the
position Of grading foreman requires
more than the mere technical knowl-
edge of the candidate In order to be
efficient the man must be able to han
die men. After a trial, in which the
man was constantly having trouble |
with his men. the superintendent filed
that charge against him and the man
was dismissed
This is an objection which might |
he raised against the civil service |
examination. But the plan works |
and works well in Dies Moines.
Approval of Citizens