Evening journal., 1914-12-02
No MENTAL TEST
FOR CITY Police
Commission Says Depart
ment Rules Do Not Pro-
vide For II
FOUR MORE MEN
GO ON THE FORCE

the nolice force at the leHuN9' VI
President Bowers. of the commission
the commission was advised yester-
aav NV President Bowers that the po-
lice department had no rules compel
ing applicants to take any mental eN'
aminations. The only mental oualifi-
cation necessary for a man to secure
nosition on the force, Mr.. Bower
contended was that he sign his name
10 the application papers, which no
must be able to read This opinion
was shared by Commissioner Stayton,
General l. Pusey Wickersham oppos-
ed the idea in most vigorous terms.
Following this decision, President
Bowers declared the four men VINO
had failed to pass the tests of the eN'
amining board several days ago. hau
been ordered TO report for duty.
These men are. Ernest J. Lee Fash
ion. No. 517 Delamore Place; Freder-
ick Swarter. No n Cedar street. Nor
man w. Brown, No. $40 East Eighth
street. Charles ] Kane, No. 22O West
Fourth street
The matter was brought before the
commission by President Bowers. who
read the resolution of the commission
passed last week appointing the eight
new men to the force. Mr. Bowers eN-
plained that when the resolution was
passed he was under the impression
that the rules of the commission pro
vlded for a mental examination or
candidates, but he said he was sur
prised 10 learn that there was no such
rule President Bowers said therh
was rule requiring all candidates TO
take a physical examination and this
the men had passed. He. therefore,
ordered the four men who had not
been placed on duty to report, saying
that they had passed all the require
ments Of the departmentllp TO the
present time. Mr. Bowers read tho
law relating to the qualifications of an
applicant for the police force.
Mr. Bowers said he favored a mem
tai test and he intended In the near
future 10 introduce a motion pro-
viding for such a test President
Bowers said also that he favored an
up-to-date system. and sand that the
the up-to-date way is to have a men,
tai examination. This opinion was
not shared by Commissioner Stayton,
however. who declared Il would be
necessary TO lasso men for the Po-
lice Department or else have an ap-
plicant take a college course.
General Wickersham. the minority
member of the commission. opposed
President Bowers ideas relative Z,
the men being required to take
mental test He read the oath o
Office taken by a police commissioner
which. he said, was broad in its pro
visions. General Wickersham said
the question of having mental tests
was decided upon last year when ten
new men We're appointed and Captain
Joseph c. Lawson, of the o. M. d..
had beer selected by the commission
TO conduct the examinations. General
Wickersham also reminded President
Bowers that he, the president had
secured from the late DR.. George w
Twitmyer a series of questions to
submit to the men. General Wicker
sham then explained that IL had been
deemed best by the commission last
week to appoint a permanent boar(
Of examiners, and this had been done
and he contended the commissioner
had not acted beyond their authority
He also said that the mere signing o
ones name to an application blanl
WhN IOl q rMnNAtnl nltMAhA test 10
a place on the force. An aficer, n
explained. should be able to writ
out a report on which the prosecui
ing attorney could present cas-
and he expressed the opinion that a
opinion should be asked from Cit
Solicitor Hastings as 20 whether al
plicants for the position of patro
men should not be required to pa
a mental test General Wickersha
said he did not desire 10 put a har
ship on any one. He then askl
that City Solicitor Hastings be r
quested TO give an opinion on Il
point az once.
Mr.. Bowers read the rule requiri
an officers after one years service
probationers TO be subjected TO a me
tai examination He reiterated his pI
vious statement that he favored a me
tai examination for candidates that su
rule will be included in the depai
ment soon, but there is no such n
there now, and they therefore have
right to put the new men through su
an examination, he claimed. He said
has the advice of two attorneys n
he is right in the stand he has take
that is, that they had no right to <
the new men a mental examination, a
he also stated that they might have h
a lawsuit on their hands If they /
turned down any Of the new men
cause they failed in the mental exai
nation TO which they were subjected
General Wickersham said he rec
nized City Solicitor Hastings as the h,
of the city's legal department, and
was the one to whom they should 10
Mr.. Rowers replied that he had a ri,
to consult another lawyer If he wan
70
1ir. Bowers said that he had opini
from two attorneys; one of them !
expressed desire to defend eli
who had been rejected by the board
the mental test.
Commissioner Stayton said that as
men had been ordered TO report bv
president OF the board he did not
any reason why City Solicitor HI
ings should give an opinion. A
some more discussion the motion to
fer the subject TO Mr.. Hastings was
General Wickersham then asked
members what the Board OF Examir
appointed last week. were for and Pi
dent Bowers replied that he did
know. Mr. Bowers then explained
before the examining board could D,
" appoint. the subject would hav
come before the meeting then in
sion.
President Bowers then made a
tion that Captain ]. c. Lawson,
geant James b. Tucker and Serg