Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-09-01
WANT LAW PLACING
POLICE AVID F|REME|V
UNDER CIVIL SERVICE
Legislature Will Be Asked to Per.
init Introduction of
System
OFFICIALS TO MEET HERE SOON
Committee Will Be Appointed to
Present Matter Before
the House

Cities of the third class in Pennsyl-
vania will ask the next Legislature to
enact law permitting the placing of
police and fire departments under
civil service rules. A bill has been
outlined by M. ]. Young, chief of po-
lice Of Newcastle, and copies have
been sent to captains of police in all
third class cities for their approval
Suggestions will be offered and
ichanges made, and as soon as the pro-
posed bill has been completed, a meet
ing of captains of police of third class
cities wilr be held in Harrisburg and
ARRANGEMENTS will then be made to
place the bill before the next Legis-
lature. A committee will be appoint
ed to look after the legislation. Cap
tain Joseph P. Thompson received
copy of the bill yesterday afternoon.
| Until such bill is passed third class
cities cannot have civil service. The
title of the proposed bill will be as
| follows:
! AN act relating to the appointment
! OF persons to the police and fire de-
partments in cities of the third class;
constituting civil service board in
, relation thereto; providing for and
regulating examinations; the manner
of appointments, and the manner and
power of removal of employees of said
! departments; and providing a method
for fixing the compensation of ex-
aminers"
Civil Service Board Makeup
The civil service board will include
the Superintendent of the Department
! OF Public Affairs, who shall be presi-
dent; the superintendent of the Dc
partment of Accounts and Finance.
and Superintendent of the Department
| OF Public Safety. No salary shall be
n fIan 1.
This board, as soon as organized.
will adopt rules to cover the selection
and appointment of all persons to be
employed or appointed in either the
police or fire departments The ex-
aminations shall be as to physical fit
ness, habits, reputation. standing, eX-
perience and education, including a
knowledge of any subjects determined
by the examining board.
Exams Will BE Free to All
The proposed act says:
These examinations shall be free to
any citizen of such city of the third
class, between the ages of 25 and As
years, and shall be practical in their
character, and shall relate to those
matters which fairly test the relative
capacity of the candidates to dis
charge the duties of the position to
which they apply, or to which they
seek to be appointed, and may include
strength. The board must control all
examinations, but may designate such
persons as they see fit to conduct such
examinations"
The board is also given power to
appoint a chief examiner, who will be
subject to removal at any time. His
compensation, hours of service, etc,
will be arranged by the board. In ad-
| dition to the examinations all appli-
cants Will have to pass physical ex-
animation conducted by a city physi-
clan, and must come up to the same
standard as required of applicants in
the United States Army and Navy.
appointment of Men
Councils will have the power to
pass an ordinance specifying the num-
ber of men for the police and fire
departments, and to name a sublist.
Appointments can be made from the
sublist when vacancies occur after
ninety days service as a sub. When
appointment is to be made, three ap-
plicants shall be recommended by the
examining board for each position
Council shall select one man from the
three. The two rejected applicants
will be assigned to the sublist and rec
commended in their turn when vacan-
cies occur.
Rules governing the two depart
ments will be made blythe Superin-
tendent of Public Safety. These rules
must be enforced at all times. Penal
ties for violations shall be fixed and
no employe of either the police or
fire department shall be removed for
political reasons.
Captain of Police Joseph P. Thomp-
son stated to-day that the outline of
the bill sent to him was rather in
complete, and that a number of
adoption.
Decide on Reinstatement
The police committee, consisting of
Councilman Nelly, Henderson and
Sellers, voted to reinstate Jones and
ordered Borough Secretary C. p. Feidt
to write letter to each patrolman no
tifying them that hereafter they must
obey every order of the burgess.
Burgess Wigfeld this morning made
the following statement:
II have done my, duty as l saw it.
/ warned Jones repeatedly about
drinking and neglecting duty. When
he came out to work after a long lay
off, under the influence of liquor, II
dismissed him. / acted for what 1
thought was the best interest of the
public. The responsibility for rein
stating the man does not rest on my
shoulders. Here is the ordinance upon
which l acted. 1t speaks for itself"
He then quoted part of the ordi-
mace regulating the police force. 1T
says:
Section 24.-Any one of the fol-
lowing offenses must be reported to
the burgess and by him to the town
council without delay: Receiving
money or other valuable things from
persons under arrest: any degree of
intoXication at any time on duty; Wis
iting barrooms, drinking saloons or
bawdy houses unless it be in the dis
charge of duty; sleeping on beat dur
ing term of service; immoral conduct
of every nature; insubordination, neg
lect of duty, absence without leave
habitual profanity, untruthfulness
violation of orders or breach of dis
cipline; any of which offenses will
subject the policeman found guilty
thereof to suspension or dismissal
from the service"
TRIES TO PULL MAN OFF ROOF
Charles Shoemaker wanted to clean
up the entire police department this
morning when arrested for trying to
pull a man off the roof at 643 South
River avenue.
Several workmen were tearing down