Evening journal., 1915-01-23
CHILD LABOR COMMISSION
PROBE OPENS BEFORE CROWD
IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
Miss Emily p 8isseH as First Witness Tells LegsIa
tive Committee She Regarded w. J. Gibbons as
Inefficient and That She Withheld Charges That
His Feelings Might Not Be Hurt. Gives Her
Ideas of the Law
DENIES SHE GRAN" COMMISSION;
OUSTED INSPECTOR IS REPRESENTED

BY a legislative committee meeting
in the City Hall chamber, an investi-
cation OF the Delaware Child LABOR
Commission was begun this morning
at 1890 o'clock. The investigating
committee comprises Senator Harvey
Hoffccker and Edward Hart and
Representatives Walter Rash. Samuel
F. Elliott and Frederick Bender.
All of the session this morning and
early this afternoon was devoted to
hearing the testimony. or statement.
of Miss Emily p. Bissell. a member
of the Child Labor Commission,
which was given under oath. Other
members of the commission and Will
liam J. Gibbons, deposed child labor
inspector. will testify later. William
G. Jones, Jr., counsel for the Legisla-
ture. is examiner for the committee.
Daniel o Hastings and r. H. Rich
ards represent Mr.. Gibbons. and
Andrew C. Gray and William S.
Hilles are counsel for the Child
Labor Commission Mr.. Gibbons was
present.
Several hearings will be necessary
before the investigation is finished.
John M. Mendinhall, president Of
the commissiar. is out west and tele-
graphed that he couldn't be present
today. Irenee DUPONT, another mem
her. was away. too. jeremiah Coady,
Andrew Marvel, Benjamin A. Hazel,
Mrs Beniah Watson. Of Dover, and
Mrs Ella Emory, Of Seaford, other
members of the commission, were
present, and will be called to testify,
The great interest manifested in
the investigation was evidenced by
the crowd in the Council Chamber
II was filled to the doors with repre-
sentative mcn and women, the latter
being club women and social work
ers of prominence. The general pub
lie was seated or stood outside thu
Council Chamber.
When the hearing began some o
those in the crowded Council Cham
Der we're: Miss Margaret Hille
Shearman, Miss Elizabeth Sumner
Miss Mary S. Malone Ten Hour Law
Inspector: Mrs Susan Shearman
Mrs. Russell Gilpin, Miss Alice T
Smyth. Miss Jennie NJ Weaver. su
pervisor OF Fairgrounds; Miss Mar
II. A. Mathcr, Mrs. c. l.. Reed, Mis-
Lola Murphin. Miss Josephine Bis
sell. Miss Gertrude Brinckle, Mis-
Edna Danforth, County Superinten
dent of Schools Elmer L. Cross, Su
perintendent of Schools Clifford
Scott. President s. II. Baynard o
the Board of Education. Councilman
w. 4. StOver. Humane Agent Fran
Stout. Harry H. Billany, Speake
Charles H. Grantland, Of the House
Jerome B. Bell. Former Councilma
Hamilton Stewart Former Council
man John j. McGovern, COuncilma
A. n. Williams. Former Representa-
tive Smiley King and others.
The delegation present represent
ing the Central Labor Union include
James OKane. Richard S. Moncl
John c. Saylor. William H. Schaeffe
and Leonard f. Cooper.
Prior to beginning the hearing tn
legislative committee held a confer
ence with William G. Jones. Jr., cour
sci for the Legislature and legal ac
wiser to the committee. in Mayo
Howell's Office. when they discusse
their plan of procedure.
The legislative committee, with Ser
ator Harvey Hoifecker presiding, ss
at desks on the president of Council
platform. Speaker Charles II. Gran
land being seated with the con
mittee.
At the outset Senator Hoffecke
read statement setting forth I'll
purposes of the investigation.
Mr.. Hoffcckcr in his statement, saic
Ladies and gentlemen of the Chi
Labor Commissions: On the twelft
day of January of this year, the Cove
nor approved "A House concurrent rest
luton providing for the appointment Z
committee to investigate the Chi
Labor Commission.
pursuant TO such resolution, con
mittee was appointed, which commi
tee at a meeting held in Dover, electC
me chairman. The resolution und
which this committee is acting. ha
through the concurrent actions of boi
branches of the General Assembly, b
come a law. Under this law. this con
mttee is to make an investigation
the Child Labor Commission, and TO r
port its findings and recommendation
to the General Assembly.
''At this time ! feel that IL is on
proper for me TO make a statement
the purposes of this committee in +
spect to the duties imposed upon it.
"Much newspaper notoriety has be-