The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-08-03


Roy T. Swanson. who traced the
history Of the police radio chapter
Of the Eastwood-civil service feud.
Talked With Board
THE story goes back to last
January" Swanson said. when
Eastwood came over to confer
with the three members of the
board and told MS he was going
to put on three radio operators.
He requested among the re-
quirements for applicants that the
men. before taking the examine
ton, possess either first or sec
ond class radio telephone opera
tors licenses as issued by the fed
eral communication commission.
He told US he wanted to get the
best available men for these posi-
tons. The members of the COM
mission agreed and told him it was
our intention to include such
requirement.
Made Trips 70 seattle
1T made several trips to the
district FEC office at Seattle to
get as much information as pos
sible regarding the type of exami-
nation to be held and advice on
who would be competent to pre-
pare such an examination.
ION the recommendation of the
FEC office. l had Prof. A. 3.
Eastman. professor of electrical
engineering at the u. OF w. pre-
pare the technical questions and
had a set OF questions for the 10
test prepared by Prof, Smith Of
the department Of psychology. l
personally prepared the 10 exam
nation questions by selections
from those submitted by Prof.
Smith. The license requirement
urged by Commissioner Eastwood
was included.
says ne was Blamed
Then reports began coming to
me from various sources of dissst-
isfsction on the part of two oper-
stors then on duty who had only
third class licenses. and ! was
blamed for making the requirement
of first and second class licenses.
Apparently they didn't know that
Eastwood had first suggested 1t
himself. felt the criticism unjust
and told Chairman Davis l was
tired of It,
Davis then called Eastwood.
who said he hoped the require
ment would be 30 changed that he
could keep the boys then working.
The board discussed the request,
vacated the first applications which
by then had been filed. notified all
applicants and others that third
class FEC licenses would be con-
sidered. giving the men then work.
ing 4 chance to take the examina-
ton.
we had Is young men In this
room to take the examination
April ~ At lilo that day East
wood came into the room. ignored
our greetings. walked directly up
to the table where I had the exam
nation papers stacked and de-
msnded q copy Of them. l refused
to let him have them. told him
they were just completed and
asked him why he wanted them.
''4e said he wanted to see them.
he wanted to know what kind of
an examination we had given as
long A. the men were 10 work in
his department and that he should
have something To say about their
qualifications
Had Cocperatcd
Il told him I thought we had
cooperated in every way. that we
had always received his sugges-
tions and given them considera-
ton. He didn't agree and became
angry.
Il remarked that he'd get three
very good operators from the
bunch Of boys here that morning.
".Your damn right I'll have
three good men. III have the same
three men I've got over there now
Eastwood replied. Those were his
exact words Sherrod. Psncic and
sEd) Olson were the three then on
the Jobs none al that time having
any civil service rating. In the
examinations Sherrod was the only