Evening journal., 1915-01-25
Child Labor Commission Probers End
Investigation After Three Spirited Sessions

what he should do in the evenings and
on Saturday. II thought she would tell
me when ! could go TO bed, also" he
said. He declared that he had refused
to take orders of that nature from Miss
Bissell, believing she had no right to
give them.
Chairman Hoffecker asked Miss
Rose Weston, reporter of the Phila-
delphia North American. where she
had obtained the information that
appeared in an article which she had
written for that paper several days
ago, which stated the Legislature
was connected and influenced by the
interests OF the State
This Is not an investigation of the
North American" was her only re-
ply, but she declared that she had
never seen Miss Bissell previous to
Saturday.
That Mr.. Mendinhall. president OF
the commission, was never present at
a meeting OF the executive commit
tee. was the statement of Commits
sioner J. II. Coady on direct examina-
tion at the hands of william G.
Jones, counsel for the legislative in
vestigating committee. Mr.. Mendin-
hall is a member of the executive
committee Of the child labor body,
together with Miss Bissell and Mr..
Coady.
Mr.. Jones brought out that the wit
ness and Miss Bissell, both members
OF the executive committee, have not
met since last June. and that no rec
ords were kept OF their sessions.
did you consider Mr.. Gibbons ap-
pointment a partisan one?' Mr.. Jones
asked.
q certainly did not" Mr.. Coady re-
piled.
COady For Three Man Body.
Questioned as to the size Of the
commission. Mr. Coady asserted he
believed the best results could he OBJ
tanned by reducing membership oi
the body to three members, all men
He declined to answer the question
as to what his belief is regarding In
creased efficiency of the child labor
inspectors office II the inspector
were placed under the executive de
partment of the State.
Going into details concerning meet
ings OF the executive committee
he said Miss Bissell and he "met b!
telephone" and then consulted eacl
other. He declared he talked owe
matters with her until last June, hu
not afterwards.
Cross-examined by William S
Hilles, counsel for the commission
Mr.. Coady could not remember re
ceiving a notice from Chairman Men
dinhall about attending a session o
the executive committee. He wa
then asked to refresh his memory b
reading in the minute-book OF IN
commission the minutes OF the sal
meeting, at which It was proved n
had been present
''Mr. Coady, haven't your relation
been friendly with Mr.. GibbonsY
Eyes, sir" g.,
aDid You work in Bancrofts wit
him and wasn't he your bossW
1--WE worked together in Bancroft
but he was not my boss"
Mr.. Coady testified he believed II
] efficiency OF the commission was d
l creased bv reason Of the friction b
tween Miss Bissel and Inspector Gi
! bonsr
u Mrs Watson Didn't Know Inspector.
Mrs. Beniah Watson of Dover, W
next sworn. She said she was a memb
of the commission and had voted
oust Inspector Gibbons.
sDid you know Inspector Gibbor
! Mrs. WatsonT
i 81 never saw Mr.. Gibbons until can
5 here today"
5 "Then, why did you vote to oust hi
4 ff vo,t npvor saw him u"
{ "Why, / accepted the reports presen
= ed by Miss Bissell as head of the con
}. mittee"
!. "Mrs. Watson, do you believe q
= commission should be reduced and col
Q sist of all men or all womenp
K Il will not answer that. / am not
{ suffragist, now, but you gentlemen wi
make me one"
I It was brought out that the witne
Q depended on the notes sent TO the men
n bers of the commission from time
time and on the discussions in q
meetings in the matter of voting to on
: Mr.. Gibbons.
= Hazel Draws Applause.
g BENJAMIN A. Hazel was n most II
= portant witness and his testimony fr
o quently called forth outbursts Of a
y plause from the spectators.
y "There was conflict between Nil
Q Bissell and Inspector Gibbons" NJ
|. Hazel said. Miss Bissell did M
n seem to like Mr.. Gibbons. She raise
objection to his religion" Mr.. Gil
T bons is a communicate of the RI
man Catholic Church. Witness sa
Miss Bissell had a young man 81
l. wanted for the Office. ! understoC
she had him down in Baltimore. III
young man was to take the place
ID a sort Of opportunity to study La
a medicine or divinity.
n Were you a member Of the cor
In mission?"
Il was appointed"
ne The witness termed Miss Biss6
"the front, head and mother" of Il
=, Child Labor Law.
"a Mr.. Hazel told Of visiting Mr.. Gl
,s bons I'm company with Mr.. Mendinhi
n and trying TO promote harmony al
foster the work OF the commission.
The witness said he did not attel
ne the meeting at which Mr.. Gi
- bons successor was recommend,
s- as down State members we
ne not invited by New Castle member:
"a Commissioner Andrew NJ. Marvel,
r. Georgetown. followed Mr. Hazel
s. the stand. but his evidence failed
bring TO light new facts which W
be of especial value to the legislatul
lie Mr. Marvel said he did not vote
a. discharge Mr.. Gibbons. although
10 regarded him as inefficient, this Opi
s. ior being based on the notes 50
eI from time to time, the discl
he sicns and the facts turned in by NJ