Evening star., 1925-02-04
FEW SEEKING Jobs
ON POLICE FORCE
House Members Object to In
crease Plan Because Men
Are Unavailable.

At the meeting of the House Dis
trfct committee today several mem
bers emphasized that in their judg-
ment 1t was foolish to put into the
| proposed new traffic law a provision
for 300 to 500 new policemen, be
cause you can't get them" The same
contention is going to be made
against the proposed increase in the
number of privates, provided for in
the District appropriation bill. which
Is expected to be called up in the
House late TODAY.
In explanation of this charge that
1t is not possible to hire a large
number of additional policemen, the
United States Civil Service Commits
sion has written a letter to Repre-
sentative F. n. Zihlman, Republican,
of Maryland, as acting chairman of
the House District committee show
Ing what steps are being taken to
obtain policemen.
This letter shows that the princi-
pal reason why so much difficulty is
experienced in recruiting policemen
IN washington is that the Capital
CITY is unique in many respects
among the cities of the United States
and the class of men desired is not
available here in sufficient numbers.
1t Is believed that a similar situation
does not exist in any other American
city. the Civil Service Commission
states.
Advertising for Men.
The commission is making a strong
effort to fill these positions through
the appointment of local men before
resorting TO what may be the neces-
sary expedient of bringing men in
from other partS of the country. 1t
ha
local men would be in the best inter-
ests of the District. Latern slides
advertising the need for policemen
nave been sent to all moving picture
theaters in the city. The cooperation
or local merchants has been enlisted
In placing in store windows and in
other conspicuous places large plac-
ards outlining this need.
Letters asking assistance in the
EFFORT to obtain qualified men and thus
keep the Police Department main
tanned at the highest degree of eff:
cheney have been sent TO the Chamber
or Commerce, the Board of Trade. the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation, the Rotary, Kiwanis. Civitan
and alf similar clubs; to the various
citizens associations in the District
OF Columbia and TO the local lodges of
fraternal organizations. Notice of the
need for policemen has been published
in the Washington papers and an
nouncement has been broadcast by
radio
Seeks Army md Navy Aid.
"As outlined above, an eXtraordi-
nary effort is being made TO inter
est local men in these positions. In
anticipation of failure to fill the full
quota locally, however the commits
sion has sought the cooperation of
the War Department, the Navy De-
partment and the Marine Corps in
bringing the opportunities for en-
ployment as policemen in the Dis
trict of Columbia to the attention
of enlisted men at the time of their
discharge. 1t is thought that a large
percentage of men of this type could
qualify for police duty. No reply has
! as yet been made to the commission's s
letters.
In case of necessity the commits
sion Is also prepared to extend it's
campaign into nearby States. on
previous occasions recruiting for po-
licemen has been carried on with
some degree of success in the States
of, Maryland, Virginia, West Vir-
gfnia and North Carolina. No efforts
are being spared in the endeavor to
supply the present need. The exam
nations are being held as frequently
as the number of applicants war
rants. Results of the commission's s
intensive drive are already apparent.
More than 100 persons interested in
the position of policemen called at
the office of the commission this
morning. During the last six days
64 applications for policemen have
been received"
The letter was signed by John T.
Doyle, secretary of the commission.