The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-02-15
PENlTENTIARY INVESTIGATION,

The Work OF the Committee About Con.
cluded-Warden Smith and Others Tee
tify.
TOPEKA, Kan, Feb. 6-The Penitentiary
Investigating committee did not meet un.
til eight O'Clock last night ]. r. Braid.
wood of the Riverside Coal Company Of
Lcavenworth was the first witness. He
testified that the screens at the peniten-
tiary were two inch screens while the
ones used by his company were one
inch. This gave the 'pen" contractor
better quality Of coal.
II. Ensley Jones, chief clerk Of the peni-
Tertiary, who was on the stand at Lans-
ing, was recalled. He produced contracts
with Barnes in 1885 and 1887, with Lopez
in 1885 and Thomas in 1885, He said he
had forgotten the Barnes contract of 1886.
Witness produced one bid from Barnes
for 80, 0O0 bushels a month, at six cents for
lump and CRATE coal, four cents for nut,
two cents for pea and one cent for slack.
The witness said there were no other bids.
Witness testified that lumber contracts
had always been let to the lowest bidder,
but the contracts for -four for 1885 had
been let to rush & Sprague although j. d.
Bowersock was the lowest bidder. The
reason given was because the Rush &
Sprague flour was Of a better quality.
Director Richter here stated that for the
-four contract Of 1856 Bowersock's sample
for S1.97 was the same quality as that of
Rush & Sprague for $l.SO. and the y 90
sample was accepted. In 1885 a thorough
test had been shown that Rush & Spragae's
sample was the best
The warden's Testimony.
TnprEA Kan Fob THE ioint Poni.
Tertiary Investigation Committee met
yesterday morning. Warden Smith was
sworn and took the stand, and the exam
ination of this witness occupied the
entire meeting.
In answer to inquiries relating to the
meat contract the Warden said that he is
instructed by the board once year to adj
vertise for bids for furnishing the PEN
itentiary lumber, dry goods, fresh
meat and -four, the schedules to
be furnished by the Warden. The pres
ent meat contract is held by 'the
Armour Packing Company" He gave the
figures of the different bidders, given at
the time of letting the last meat contract
The contract was let in 1886 to Volz Bros,
of Leavenworth, at 1870, that being the
lowest bid.
The Warden then requested that the
matter relating to the resembling of the
Lopez contract in 1885 be taken up, and
said that Lopez had disposed Of part of
this contract to Ed A. Church.
Convict Parker said Church had asked
him, as clerk. to cut the weight of coal on
cars from 1000 to 1000 on each car and he
would make it satisfactory.
In relation to the sewer pipe item in his
report for 1885, he said the sewerage sys-
tenn was under contract when he came to
the penitentiary. A contract had been let
to Blackmer & Post for sewer pipe, desig-
mated as best grade, salt glazed pipe.
He emphatically denied the charges re-
lating to furnish ng lumber for the erec-
tion of private houses.
On a question of Senator Hardness. he
said that the Hiatt residence had been
built by request of Director Hiatt, who
desired credit for the amount to be charged
for this until the first of January. He
said nothing of any value had been manu-
featured for the directors and never paid
for. The buggy manufactured by Director
Richter was done on contract by Carriage
Contractor Caldwell, and was paid for.
About Finished.
Topeka, Kan, Feb. S.-When the in.
vestigating committee met yesterday
morning j. d. Bowersock was sworn and
testified that he manufactures flour in
Lawrence and had the contract to furnish
the penitentiary with -four from July 1.
1884, to June 80, 1885. When the contract
was let for the following year he went be-
fore the board personally with his sample.
The contract was let to Rush & Sprague
unfairly, he thought as their bid was
higher than his.
Major Shockly, of the soldiers home,
testified as to the superiority of the -four
furnished by Rush & Sprague.
B. Keller, storekeeper of the peniten-
tiary from May, 1885. to September IA,
1888, was put on the stand, and said he
vas discharged by the Warden a few days
after the Warden and Director Hiatt had
questioned him concerning his connection
with the publication Of damaging
articles concerning the management
of the pentitentiary, relating to
the incorporation of certain
surgical Instruments purchased for
the penitentiaay. He was also asked by
them to explain the report that bacon had
been bought by Cyrus Leland at cents
above market price, and he had replied
that he thought such a report was false.
as Leland's bid was Z cent lower than
any other.
Mr. r. A. Ketner took the stand and
testified that when a member of the firm
of A. j. Angel & Co., and also of the
school board of that district, Director
Hiatt had visited the lumber Office and
asked prices on lumber. He had also asked
the witness to support young friend of
his, afterward his SON. in-law, in obtaining
a position of school teacher in the dis
trict, but learning the young man was in.
competent he had voted against him. Some
time later friends had told him that the
firm had lost the lumber contract because
he had displeased Director Hiatt in voting
as he did against the young man, and he
believed it to be true.
Warden Smith was recalled and ex-
planned the awarding of contracts fo-
lumber.
Senator Richter then went on the stand.
He said he was appointed director Of the
penitentiary by Governor Martin. who
reappointed him last spring. Senator
Richter first touched on the coal contracts
let in 1885. Great trouble was found in
getting good, responsible contractors, and
finally the bids of Barnes for one half and
Lopez for one-half, were accepted, they
being the best and E:ost responsible. He
was asked by Buckley what feeling existed
against his bidding, and witness told him
that it was known he was indebted to the
State and protest had been filed against
him by the previous Warden, so Buckley
did not bid.
Director Hyatt was examined at length.
his testimony being a general denial Of all
the charges of corruption incidental to the
management of the penitentiary.
The constant jar OF walking on
city pavements can be prevented by
i,pifofipr pafuro Tho human heel IL