Evening journal., 1914-02-20

was not held in the open. The question
Of hearing the evidence in a committee
OF the whole or in open session was then
put TO a vote, and Mr.. Haney's sugges-
tion for an open inquiry was lost. Coun-
Gilman Haney then started from the
room. but President White refused to
give him permission 70 leave, and he re-
Inained, but took no part in the hearing.
On motion Of Councilman McGoldrick.
representatives OF the newspapers were
allowed to remain in the room.
President Bowers was then summoned
end he asked permission TO remain in
/ the room and question the several wit
nesses. Several Of the members object
ed but IL was decided that he could re-
main. Mr.. Bowers then affirmed, and
. Solicitor Hastings asked him il he was
! familiar with the letter sent to Coun-
ell b. Mrs. Whiteman. Mr.. Bowers said
/ he had read Il in the newspapers Mr..
: Hastings read the oath OF office taken
! by Mr. Bowers when he became a po-
/ lice commissioner.
Mr. Bowers said that he could not
remember the exact conversation he had
with Mrs. Davis, the matron, but il was
to the effect that Mrs. Davis had ask
/ ed him when he made the appointment
of new matron If he (Afr. Bowers)
could not see that q Protestant was
appointed. as she thought she could get
along better with a woman of her own
religion than with Catholic. Mr..
Bowers said he told her he saw moth
ing wrong with this request and he
promised to try to accommodate her.
Later, Charles Barnes stopped him on
the street, Mr.. Bowers said, and re-
commended Mrs. Whiteman. 81 told
him to send her to me. which he did
and was impressed with her appear.
ance,' said Mr.. Bowers. "At that time
gave her no assurance she would be
I appointed as ] was only one of three
commissioners. and could not appoint
any one myself"
Mr.. Bowers said he asked Mrs. Davis
if che knew Mrs. Whiteman and sh,
replied that she did not. Later Mrs
Davis informed him that Mrs. White
man was a Catholic, he said, and after
wards he met Mr. Barnes on the street
and asked him II Mrs. Whiteman wa:
a Protestant or Catholic. Mr. Barnes
replied she was a Protestant. Mr.. Bow
ers said, and he added that he explained
10 Mr.. Barnes what Mrs. Davis haC
asked him to do.
Mr.. Bowers told the Councilmen h
hardly knew Mr.. Barnes and it woul,
hardly be likely he would talk the way
he was reported 70 have talked. Mr.
Bowers said he was not preiudiceS
against Catholics, and had many goo'
Catholic friends. Mr.. Bowers told o
Mrs Davis saying Mrs. Whiteman wa
! h. frsf
ment OF Mrs. Opdyke as matrOn wal
made Mrs. Whitcman came to his office
Mr.. Bowers continued. and said she wa
Protestant lie said he told her tina
question lid not enter into the case bu
that the case had been settled and Mrs
Opdyke had been appointed. When Mrs
Whitcman heard who had been appoint
ed she became ans,ry and said It wa
funny becsuse her application he'd bee
made before That OF Ms. OpGyke. Mi
Bowers explained. He said he told he
the commission had apiications oi
file for the position for two years Be
fore it received her application.
President Bowers denied that Mrs
Whiteman told him she would no
keep the matter q secret and further
more he said he did not think h'
did anything wrong. as he was mere
ly trying TO please Mrs. Davis. Mrs
Whiteman. he said, was easily mis-
led # she thought he had meant e
appoint her. lie also denied that hi
had seen Mrs. Wniteman at his OF
flee With Mr.. Barnes and he did 10
inquire Of Mr.. Barnes If Mrs. White
man was a Catholic, and did not ga,
that the woman was qualified bu
was a Catholic. Mr.. Bowers alsS
said he did not remember Mrs. White
man asking him what difference j
made what her religion was, but h'
admitted telling her that II the Other
police matron had been a Catholic
he would have appointed one Of tha
faith Mt. Bowers explained tha