Evening star., 1941-07-13
Civil Service
Board Defends
Police System
AssuiIs House Group
Intent to Abolish
Promotion Plan

CITIZENS FEDERATION HITS
congressional interference with
police, defends Brown. Page B-1
Taking sharp issue with the House
subcommittee which plans to rec
ommend abolition of the civil Serv-
ice system for promotion Of police
officers here the Civil Service Com
mission last night came to the de-
fense of the system, contending it
was a protection" to the public
and guard against "favoritism"
and influence" in police depart
ment.
The commission took action after
announcement by the District Com
misSioners Friday that they had
agreed to follow the earlier sugges-
ton of subcommittee members for
abolition of the civil service pro-
motion plan.
In formal statement, the Civil
Service Commission charged that
false and misleading statements"
had been made on the subject be-
fore the committee. 1t explained
the nature of the promotion exami-
nations. made public copies of all
questions asked in the 1889 civil
service examination and issued
copies of a letter which was sent
yesterday by the commission to
every member of the House District
Committee, and to the chairman OF
the House Civil Service Committee.
The letter was signed by Lucille
Foster McMillin, acting president o.
the commission, and addressed 10
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee.
Meanwhile the House subcommit-
tee, of which Representative Schultz
of Indiana is chairman, plans to
meet at 10 am. tomorrow to draft
its recommendations for thorough
going shake-up in the Police De-
partment, from top to bottom. "
Among the recommendations, it Is
understood, will be definite pro-
poSal to abolish the civil service
system of promotions.
Citizens Group Protests.
From another quarter, the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations, came
condemnation last night Of what
members felt was interference by
members of Congress and other Fed
eral officials in affairs of the Po-
lice Department. Opposition was
81 Ha c1nal1nl snYIct
ing" of Maj. Ernest w. Brown, su-
perintendent of policee. Acting for
| the Federation. its Executive Board
forwarded 10 recommendation for
improvement of the department TO
Congress. District officials and the
Police Department itself. Harry S.
Wender, one member of the Execu-
tive Board. thought the hearing
should not have closed without Civ
ing opportunity for citizens groups
TO testify.
During the three weeks hearing
by the Police and Fire Subcommit-
tee of the House District Commit
tee, which closed Friday, the sub
ject of civil service examinations
for police promotions had been con-
sidered at some length. There was
much testimony to the effect that
the arrangement for these examina-
tionS between the Civil Service Com
mission and the District Commis-
sioners had been based only on an
agreement. which could be termi-
mated voluntarily by the Commis-
Sioners. Instead, it was declared by
the Civil Service Commission the
promotion system is based on law
and could not be abolished without
new legislation. The examinations
could. however, be modified by
agreement between Civil Service
and District officials.
Chairman Schultz. and Repre-
sentative Hebert of Louisiana, who
inspired the police probe by the
House committee, both seem deter
mined to do away with the civil
service system of police promotion.
They will have before them, when
they meet tomorrow morning. copies
of the Civil Service Commission let
ter in defense of the plan.
Lack of knowledge Charged
Charging that certain statements
made before the committee con-
cerning civil service examinations
mad indicated "a complete lack of
knowledge of these examinations"
Mrs. McMillin believed that the
committee desired. correct infor-
nation" on the subject.
Mrs. McMillin did not specify
what she meant by lack of knowl-
edge," nor did the official statement
from the commission itself explain
(See POLICE, A-4J