Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-09
Bic RUSH FOR Jobs |
ON POLICE FORCE
Pay Rise Lures 700 Seeking
Appointment as Patrolmen.
42o Pass Physical Test
MANY TYPES OF MEN APPLY

EK- service men. former guards at
munition plants or shipyards. clean
looking youths. who cast their first vote
last month. some former floor walkers,
and men Of the laboring class lined up
together today to take the examination
for patrolmen of Philadelphia.
There were 420 of the more than 700
applicants who passed the physical test
and took the other examinations today.
This, the largest number since 1912, Is
believed to be due to the increase In
salaries for police. The presence OF SO
many husky looking men of many ma
tionalities about City Hall caused much
comment. One woman passerby won
dered IL there were to be another war,
But her fears were dispelled when
tall youth remarked:
'Oh, man. This policeman exam
Is worse than the army. Any fellow
who gets past the physical test here
could lick the kaiser
While physical fitness is the most i'm
portant point in the eligibility of man
as patrolman, there are other tests in
which he may be ruled out His per.
soual fitness is essential. If he Just
wants to get on the police force in order
to play in the band, as one applicant
did he doesn't stand a very good chance
of getting on. Three examiners take
the men singly and orally question them
to determine their personal fitness. The
applicants attitude toward the work
toward crime. and toward humanity,
and their own characteristics and man
ner count largely. Training and per.
soual experience are counted also. The
man who has been overseas, for in
stance, il given preference to a man who
has been clerk for fifteen years.
Strict Observation Test
Then there is the observation test.
For one minute the applicants, five of
them at Il time, are allowed to view a
disordered room then told to write a
report of what they have seen. II they
fail to see the whisky bottles behind the
typwriter or don't notice certain papers
on much disturbed desk, and fail to
observe other key articles, the! won't
pass as Philadelphia policemen. At each
examination this observation test Is of
different character, just as the ques-
tions are different in the examination.
1T is part Of n poiceman's duty,
said Chief Examiner Charles s.
Shaughnessy, ''to observe details. In
cases Of crime he has to turn in a writ
place. so this part Of the examination is
essential. 1t is sim ly a psychological
test and one In which results are most
interesting. People invariably see the
things they are most interested in. The
judges have list Of key articles in the
room and they read the reports and
judge accordingly"
What trolley routes carry folk tC
League Island, or the Athletic base
ball park, names of hospitals in certain
districts and such local questions, as
we'll as simple arithmetic problems, are
included in the written examination o
applicants. Because the law requires
that police shall be able to read ant
write. Penmanship also is considered
in the grading of these papers.
"In the civil service examination,
said Clinic. Rogers Woodruff. chair
man of the Civil Service Commission
I'VE try to protect our city by obtain
ing the very best men for patrolmen.
Men Passing Today to Fill Normal Need
Men taking the examination today ant
passing will fill the normal needs on th
police force. We shall have TO hav'
other examinations right away II thu
Mayors wish for 25O additional men OF
the force is approved by Councils. W.
really are giving examinati ions for pa
trolmen most of the time. because witt
a force of 4500 there are always l
certain number Of normal designations
deaths and suspensions. This. however
is the largest number to take the ex
animation since 1912. 1t is undoubt
edly due to the increase in salary.
Every policeman, according TO pres
ent regulations, must be between tn
ages Of twenty one and thirty eight
unless he has previously served on th'
force, then the age limit is extended
He must weigh at least 1875 pounds ant
be at least five feet seven inches tall.