Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-24
Negro Alderman, Thompson
Supporter, Tries to Stop
One of Investigations.
Committee CONFUSED
Welfare Department En-
ployes Deny Having Do
mated Part of Salaries.

Chicago, Feb. 24.-Uproar and con-
fusion marked the opening session to-
day of the city council committee in
vestigating the split salary charges
made by Mrs Page Waller Eaton, re-
signed superintendent Of social sur
veys, against her former superior,
Mrs. Louise Osborne Rowe, commits
sioner of the department Of public
welfare.
Mrs. Eaton's testimony was delayed
by the action of Oscar Depriest, negro
alderman and one of Mayor Thomp-
sons supporters In the council, who
challenged the legality Of the investt-
CATION and moved that Mrs. Eaton be
not permitted to testify. Hts motion
prevailed until Alderman Buck, COM
mittee member and council opponent
of Mayor Thompson, arrived. Depriest
continued to argue against the inves-
tigation. Other committee members
Joined in the clamor and personal en-
counters for time seemed likely.
Meanwhile the civil service commits
sion had called Mrs. Eaton. Her coun-
sell, Seymour Stedman, explained she
would gladly appear before the COM
mission later. The commissioners then
listened to testimony from various en-
ployes Of the public welfare depart
ment, who declared they had never
been asked to contribute any funds
by their superiors.
The council committee has asked
the following to appear: Mayor and
Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Margaret En-
Mivelaz, sister of Mrs. Thompson and
alleged recipient of the graft money;
Mrs. Rowe, Mrs. Eaton, Alderman W.
E. Rodriguez, who made the original
charges before the council and who
is said to have been witness to pay
ment of money to Mrs. Rowe, and Full
ton Gardner, also said to have wit
messed the payment Of money. Mayor
and Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Mivelaz
will not appear, and 1t is thought that
, Mrs. Rowe will also decline the in
vitation.
| Many Summoned.
| Those for whom subpoenas were is
sued by the civil service commission
include:
Mrs. Eaton, Mrs. Rowe, Alderman
! Rodriguez, Seymour Stedman. coun-
sci for Mrs. Eaton; Fulton Gardner
and Edward ]. Brundage. Twenty
one employees of the department OF
public welfare were also summoned.
/ Pending the outcome of the invest-
CATION by the commission all salaries
in the department of public welfare
will be held up, it was announced.
Mayor and Mrs. Thompson have also
been summoned to appear before the
commission, it is said, and will be
present.
The law prohibits the soliciting OF
political contributions from a civil
service employee and also prohibits the
payment of money by civil service
employe for appointment. 1t was
pointed out, therefore, that both Mrs
Eaton and Mrs. Rowe would be held
liable if the charges are substantial
ed. The act provides penalty OF $5t
to $1,000 or Imprisonment, or both.
Doesn't Need Graft Money.
Mrs Margaret E. Mivelaz, sister-in
law of Mayor Thompson. who Mrs
Eaton charged was to be the benefic
larry of her divided salary payments
is the widow of John Mivelaz, VIII
l. was a well-to-do restaurant keeper Il
Louisville, Ky.
l Dispatches from Louisville toda
: said that Mivelaz left on estate val
6 ued at $4,000 Mrs. Mivelaz has de
!, MED that she was in financial strait
and her friends assert she does nc
q require assistance.
b Among other angles to be discusse
in the investigation is statement tina
Una Foster, junior stenographer In tn
department of public welfare, wa
n compelled to falsify public records
crediting the department with secul
e ing employment for needy person
h when it had not done so.
II The council committee convened b,
0 fore the civil service investigation b.
? gan. Mrs. Eaton began her testimon