Mr. LAMBERT. Miss Dalton was a little slow?

Miss DENNIS. Yes; she was slower than Miss Flynn.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you think that would be detrimental to the Government?

Miss DENNIS. No, sir; I think not.

Mr. LAMBERT. Rather a benefit?

Miss DENNIS. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you know any cause for their removal on account of neglect of duty or inefficiency in the work?

Miss DENNIS. No; I do not.

Mr. LAMBERT. You think they averaged up well with their associ ates?

Miss DENNIS. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you recall any mistakes that were made in the department by either the assistants or Dr. White?

Miss DENNIS. I do not know of any.

Mr. LAMBERT. You do not know of any?

Miss DENNIS. No, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. The department got along nicely?

Miss DENNIS. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. You worked under other chiefs than Dr. White! Miss DENNIS. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Did the department under his management get along as nicely as it did under other chiefs?

Miss DENNIS. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. He seemed to attend to his duty and understood it as well as any other chief?

Miss DENNIS. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Lambert, I wish you would have the witness explain about the train, the killing of the man, so that we can see the relevancy of that testimony.

Mr. LAMBERT. Miss Dennis, please explain that occurrence.
Miss DENNIS. I do not believe I can explain it.

The CHAIRMAN (to Mr. Lambert). Make a statement yourself.

Mr. LAMBERT. I understand that Mr. Bryan was on a special train in the State of Nebraska, making certain points in a prescribed circuit, at which points he made short speeches from the rear of the train. Mr. John P. Irish, in behalf of the Palmer and Buckner ticket, was following on the same circuit, also making short speeches at the points at which Mr. Bryan had spoken. This was the day before the election. Somewhere out beyond Lincoln a freight train was standing on a side track. After the Bryan train had passed some time, this train switched off, I think, so far as the caboose was concerned, on to the main track. While standing there, either through inability to move off or neglect to do so, the Irish train, following, ran into the caboose of the freight train and killed a traveling man.

The CHAIRMAN. The traveling man was riding on the accommodation train?

Mr. LAMBERT. Yes, sir. That is what prompted the remark of Dr. White.

The CHAIRMAN. Very well.

Mr. LAMBERT. Miss Dennis, have you ever talked with any of the persons connected with the department about why these parties were removed or discharged?

Miss DENNIS. We talked, wondering what was the reason why they were discharged.

Mr. LAMBERT. Did anyone state for what reason they were dis charged, other than neglect of duty?

Miss DENNIS. No, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. No one has ever said to you, or in your presence, that it was for political reasons, or that they knew it was for political reasons, that the people were discharged?

Miss DENNIS. No, sir.

TESTIMONY OF MISS MARGARET HOGAN.

Miss MARGARET HOGAN, being duly sworn, testified as follows:

Mr. LAMBERT. I believe you are an assistant microscopist at South Omaha?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. You have been for how long?

Miss HOGAN. I think it is about four years last June.

Mr. LAMBERT. You were an assistant during Dr. White's term?
Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Throughout his term?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Whenever there was any work to do you were there? Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you recall at this time whether Dr. White was absent any morning?

Miss HOGAN. I remember that one morning he was not there. It was early in the morning, and I do not remember whether he came back at the time we were on duty or not; but I know when I came he was not there.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you know who made the assignment and distribution of the specimens to be examined?

Miss HOGAN. I think his son did.

Mr. LAMBERT. His son, Sidney White?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir; he gave out the numbers.

Mr. LAMBERT. You do not recall whether the Doctor was back in time? Miss HOGAN. No, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you know whether or not it interfered with the performance of the work?

Miss HOGAN. I think not.

Mr. LAMBERT. You think you went to work just the same as you always did?

Miss HOGAN. Oh, yes; we always did.

Mr. LAMBERT. His absence did not interfere, so far as going to work was concerned?

Miss HOGAN. No, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you remember whether it interfered because of his not being there to verify specimens?

Miss HOGAN. No; I think he left someone in charge.

Mr. LAMBERT. Who did verify the specimens in his absence? ·

Miss HOGAN. Mrs. Bushnell.

Mr. LAMBERT. You do not remember now whether or not he returned before work began?

Miss HOGAN. I do not remember.

Mr. LAMBERT. Consequently you can not state whether or not there was anyone called on to verify?

Miss HOGAN. No, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you know how long ago this absence of which you speak occurred?

Miss HOGAN. No, sir; I have no idea.

Mr. LAMBERT. Would you say it was a year or two years!

Miss HOGAN. I could not say.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you remember when you went under the civil service?

Miss HOGAN. I do not believe I can remember.

Mr. LAMBERT. You do not, then, know whether this was before or after that time?

Miss HOGAN. No, sir; I do not remember.

Mr. LAMBERT. I will ask you if you remember his being absent during the day at any time?

Miss HOGAN. No; I do not remember any time.

Mr. LAMBERT. If he had been absent you probably would have known it?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. In your position?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you know whether he ever neglected any duty he had to perform in the department?

Miss HOGAN. No; I do not.

Mr. LAMBERT. You never called on him and found him absent or not ready and willing to aid you?

Miss HOGAN. No, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you know of anyone else calling on him and not receiving his assistance?

Miss HOGAN. No, sir; I do not.

Mr. LAMBERT. He was always there except the one morning of which you have spoken?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir; as far as I remember.

Mr. LAMBERT. You left him there in discharge of the further work of the department when you went home!

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Were you requested to make a statement before Mr. Shelden when he was here?

Miss HOGAN. No, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Did anyone ever talk to you about his being here! Miss HOGAN. No, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Did you know of his being here at the time?

Miss HOGAN. No; I did not know until several days after that he had been here.

Mr. LAMBERT. Are you acquainted with Miss Flynn and with Miss Dalton?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. You have worked with them, and they were your associates?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you know anything about their competency and efficiency?

Miss HOGAN. As far as I know, judging from their appearance, I think they did their work well. Of course I could not tell whether they did their work; I could not tell whether anybody did his or her work, because it would be necessary for one to reexamine after them; but judging from their appearance-and they did the same amount that we all did I should say they were good workers.

Mr. LAMBERT. Dr. White usually made the reexamination in your presence and openly criticised anyone failing?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Did you hear him criticise Miss Flynn or Miss Dalton

any more than he did anyone else in the department?

Miss HOGAN. No, sir; not that I remember.

Mr. LAMBERT. If he had done so, you would have heard it?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Miss Dalton was a little slow?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. But she was always through on time?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. You girls talked politics there in the last campaign? Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir; we did.

Mr. LAMBERT. Considerably?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. And were there Bryan and McKinley pictures in the

windows?

Miss HOGAN. Some of the young ladies did put up such pictures, but not all of them.

Mr. LAMBERT. The political feeling there got rather intense toward the close of the campaign?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, and caused some coolness.

Mr. LAMBERT. That, you think, tended to create enmity, more or less, among the girls?

Miss HOGAN. It seemed to cause a little coolness among the girls. Mr. LAMBERT. They divided off into cliques and gangs, as we call

them?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. And remained, during the campaign at least, in those gangs!

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Did you ever hear anyone of the assistants threaten to tell anything on any of her associates-any political matters, I

mean?

Miss HOGAN. No; I never did.

Mr. LAMBERT. Did Miss Flynn and Miss Dalton talk politics more than any of the other girls?

Miss HOGAN. NO; I do not think they did.

Mr. LAMBERT. Although you knew what their politics was, did you

not?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. And anyone up there could tell without trouble?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. As well as they could tell what the politics of all the

others was?

Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you recall that they ever neglected their duty; that they were late or tardy in the discharge of their duties? Miss HOGAN. No, sir; I do not.

Mr. LAMBERT. Then you know of no reason, from what you could observe, for their being discharged on account of neglect of duty?

Miss HOGAN. No, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Did you hear the remark made by Dr. White to Mrs. Bushnell and her retort-on the day of the election, I think it was? Miss HOGAN. Yes, sir; I did.

Mr. LAMBERT. State to the committee, as nearly as you can, what Dr. White said, and also what Mrs. Bushnell said in return.

Miss HOGAN. I do not remember the exact words used, but I think Dr. White said he wondered how those people felt after killing that man; and Mrs. Bushnell said, "Dr. White, I will not forget that remark. My brother was on that train." I think those were the words. I can not just remember them.

Mr. LAMBERT. Refreshing your memory, I will ask you if this statement was made by Mrs. Bushnell: "I will remember you for it."

Miss HOGAN. "I will not forget it; " I think those were the words she used.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you know whether or not Mrs. Bushnell or any other person in the department ever carried news or information below as to what was going on upstairs in the department?

Miss HOGAN. No, sir; I do not.

Mr. LAMBERT. Dr. Ayer did not visit the department very often! Miss HOGAN. No, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. As a matter of fact he was not in a position to know whether you were doing good or bad work?

Miss HOGAN. No, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Unless someone told him whether you were doing good or bad work he would not be in a position to know? Miss HOGAN. No, sir.

TESTIMONY OF MISS MAGGIE FAHEY.

Miss MAGGIE FAHEY, being duly sworn, testified as follows:

Mr. LAMBERT. You are an assistant microscopist at the South Omaha station of the Bureau of Animal Industry?

Miss FAHEY. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. How long have you been there?

Miss FAHEY. Nearly three years.

Mr. LAMBERT. During all or most of Dr. White's charge there?

Miss FAHEY. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you at this time recall Dr. White being absent at any time at the opening of the morning work?

Miss FAHEY. Just one morning.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you know how long ago it was?

Miss FAHEY. No; I do not remember just how long ago it was.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you remember who was in charge?

Miss FAHEY. Yes, sir; his son was taking down the numbers that morning.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you remember whether the doctor returned before the work began by the assistants?

Miss FAHEY. No; I do not remember.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you recall at this time how long he was absent! Miss FAHEY. No, sir; I can not remember how long he was absent. We were working when he came back.

Mr. LAMBERT. He might have returned before or after the work began?

Miss FAHEY. Yes, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Did his absence interfere with the work that morning! Miss FAHEY. No, sir.

Mr. LAMBERT. Do you recall whether Dr. White was absent during the day at any time?