Evening star., 1914-04-12
MANY ARE HOPING
FOR HIGHER RANK
impending Changes Stirs the
Friends of Police Officials
to Action.
ONE PRESENT VACANCY
AND TWO IN PROSPECT
Activity of Eigibles Due to Death
of Capt. Hollinberger and Pos
sible Retirements.

Members Uf The police fuI,r " no are
expecting promotion to the vacancy
caused 10y the death of Capt. Holm
berger and the places Of Capts. Johr
G. Daley and Michael Byrnes who are
said to be slated for retirement, are
apparently somewhat impatient over
The delay on the part of the Commits
eioners and Mai. sylvester in announc-
ing the changes.
IL was thought that the vacancy in
rhe first police precinct would be filled
soon after the funeral of Capt. Holm
berger. but 1T was reported yesterday
that the Commissioners probably will
uelay announcement of the several
promotions for a week or two.
Much influence is being brought to
bear by the numerous candidates Tor
advancement and when the promotions
are announced it is evident many per-
sons will be sorely disappointed
1Iardly a day passes, II is stated. that
9he Commissioners and Maj. Sylvester
bre not importuned by personal friends
or by persons in official life in behalf
Of candidates.
Endorsements Easily Obtained.
Tt is an easy matter to get letters
of Endorsement from members of Con-
Eress." remarked one of the interested
ones to a star reporter. but very few
Of the hundreds of recommendations
obtained by the candidates should
carry anv weight with the Commission
ers.
ANYBODY can get such letters. he
added. TO get them requires Attie
effort and the average writer OF them
gives them merely as matter Oh a., az
commodation. or to please some CON
Stituent or admirer. II the promotions
are made as reward of merit, nothing
contained in such letters can serve 10
.curaint Mai sylvester with the merits
of the particular candidates. ana lndls-
criminate Endorsements can only serve
as an annoyance to those w1o are
charged with the duty of selecting ef-
fiCient men for promo tion.
Maj. Sylvester has gone over the rec
ords of the heutenants, and, it is stated
he is prepared to submit his slate to
the Commissioners. 1t is feared by
service that political pressure brought
TO bear will be so strong that efficiency
may not be rewarded when the advance
mentS are made.
Members of the police force who par
ticipated in a discussion of the candi-
dates suggested that one lieutenant who
is said to have strong political backing
at the White House expects to land
one of the positions.
Some of the Eligibles.
1t is believed in police circles that if
Mai. Sylvester makes the selections
Lieut. Flather will he given promo
tion. He has been on the force many
years. and has filed positions in all
branches of the service. and. it is
:, "a ed, his record shows his connection
With "a large number of important cases
Lieut.. Anthony Shilling of the seventh
precinct is the senior lieutenant, but
he has been jumped several times when
promotions were made, it is stated and
his name may not be considered this
time.
Lieut.. Hartley. night chief of detectives
whose years of experience at police head
quarters and in the first precinct thor
oughly acquainted him with all phases of
police duty. is mentioned by his fellow
if the merit system is applied.
In the first precinct the candidacy of
Lieut. Harrison is being boosted. while
in the sixth precinct Lieut.. Duvall is
mentioned in the class with Lieut.. Harri-
son, both filling positions in important
precincts covering the business section
Lieut.. Hodges in the second and Lieut..
keefe in the third precinct also are men,
toned. The former was a member of
the first precinct command for d num-
ber of years. while the latter did duty
in the third precinct at a time when a
policeman received many hard knocks in
the performance of his duties.
candidate who formerly did duty in
the business section is Lieut.. Sprinkle OF
the fifth precinct. lie served under Capt
Hollinberger for a number of years and
his friends have asked the Commissioners
to promote him.