The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-03-02
STATE HEALTH
COMMISSIONER
Is NOW ON THE GRlLL-GRAFT
ASSERTED BY FORMER EN-
PLoYE BEFORE COMMITTEE.

homa News:
Efficiency sub committee No. OF
the house struck oil at the first
attempt when 1t took up the state
health department, according to an
unofficial report coming from a
source close to the committee Fri
day.
DR. J. c. Mahr state commission
er of health. hearing of testimony
brought out against him, issued
statement requesting an opportunity
to appear and defend himself and
the department.
Witnesses who were examined
Thursday, charged that DR.. Mahr
used the office force and the county
health officers, his appointees for
political purposes; that he grated
on employees, requiring at least one
for a period of months to give him
from $40 to $50 monthly from his
salary; that he drew $4,000 per
annum salary as medical director
for the Mldcontinent Life Insurance
company while serving as state
health commissioner, ana that he
kept one employe on the road, at
the states expense, for ten days,
rounding up stock proxies just prior
to an election of Midcontinent conf
pany officers.
The principal witness was an en-
poye from 1903 until late in 1912,
and according to his own statement,
cult the department voluntarily, 60
ing to the employ Of another state
office He is not connected with
any state department now.
About Efficiency.
| Questioned on matters affecting the
efficiency of the health department,
this witness said he could not say
that DR.. Mahr should be left at the
head of the office. He said that DR..
Riley, On assistant, was efficient, but
was holding down his position and
attending medical school at the same
time. OF U. S. Russell, the witness
said that the pure food supern-
tendent was competent, but extrava-
CANT. He cited instances in which
orders for printing had been given
and large supplies of unused pam
phlets and the like, thrown away
because superfluous.
The witness was asked whether
DR.. Mahr had ever asked members
of his office force to divide their sal
aries with him, and he replied that
such was DR.. Mahr's custom. Ques-
toned about his own case, the wit
ness said he had given Mahr sew
eral hundred dollars, in amounts Of
from $40 to 500, cash and checks.
The commissioner never mentioned
repaying the amounts given him, the
witness said. Asked why he did
not ask for the money, the witness
said he was an employe and wished
to keep his place, so deemed it best
not to complain.
The committees investigation Of
the health department. was cont
tinued Friday.
What Mahr Says.
Mahr's statement follows:
"Hon. J. Roy Williams, chairman
House Committee on Efficiency, City.
Dear Sir: am informed that
your committee is investigating the
conduct of the state department of
health, and that | am to be sum-
moned as a witness at the conclu-
ployes of the state health depart
ment.
Il am further informed that a
statement eminating from member
OF your committee, has been given
&c the press for publication, which
reflects upon me and another mem
ber of my staff, such statement if
published will have the effect of at
tacking the integrity of myself as
well as others in my employ.
'Inasmuch as ! have, through
members of my staff. repeatedly in
vited your committee, as well as al!
members of the legislature, to visit,
inspect and investigate my depart
ment, and since your committee has
not seen fit to accept this invita-
tion to visit the department, and has
as yet not afforded me any oppor
tunity whatsoever to appear before
you, respectfully ask that be
summoned to appear before your
committee in order to enable ne
TO extend such service as is in my
power to assist you and your CO.
workers to thoroughly investigate all
tnattarc mort q inino to tho ctata do