The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-25
is NOT TOO BRASH
CHALLINOR CHANGES HIS INVES.
TIGATING TACTICS SOME

Instead Of Poking His Nose Among the
Republicans, this Time He Takes a
| whirl at the Board of Public Works
| Ledgers were Kept in a Loose and Care
less Manner, Many Important Contracts
Having Been Entirely Omitted-Some OF
| the State Institutions were Diserimi-
/ mated Asainst-Instances of This.
Topeka, Kan, Oct. 24@State Ac-
countant Challinor has permitted peace
TO reign among state officials as far as
the matter is in his control since his
recent and celebrated attack on the
state university, but he issued another
report yesterday, relating TO the ac-
counts of the board of public works.
which, while emitting to score the pres
errt board, placed the appointees of Gov
ernor Lewelling in an unprepossessing
| light He especially mentions the avid
| ity exhibited by the late board in
| claiming mileage for impossible distan-
ces and for journeys, no record Of which
were made. The report in full is as fol-
| lows:
1.-THE records for the first year OF the
term of Messrs. Kepley, Scott and
Wykes, have been fairly kept but the
second year of their term shows the
records to have been kept in a loose
and careless manner, and from trans
actions known to have occurred many
meetings have never been recorded.
These records are the basis on which
the ledger entries are made, and in
their absence the vouchers. If one or
the other were complete it would be
possible to report for what specific
purpose the expenditures for building
and repairing the several state in5t1-
buttons had been incurred, but, as both
vouchers and records are incomplete
it is an irnpossibility to discover the
expenditures on each institution with
out resource to the ledger of the state
auditor which, however, gives only
amounts and no details.
1.-The following are examples of oInis-
sions: May 1894, a proposal was re-
ceived from B. q. StUrtevant Co, Chi
cago, for heating and ventilating the
physics and electrical building at Law
renee for tahe sum of S5.03S, but no
approval of proposal is on the minutes.
The first notice of amy arrangement
with this firm is when payment on
account is made.
December "a, 1894, voucher was is
sued to H. Hedderman for $1,000 for
labor and construction on cottage at
Beloit. No records on minutes.
January Is, 1895, voucher issued to
II. Deddernan for $1,000, labor and
construction on cottage at Beloit. No
record ON minutes.
III Hedderman and E. P. Kepley
appear to have been favored with most
of the minor contracts at all state in
situations.
THE expenses of the state architect
allowed by the board are dispropor-
tomato, and vouchers show expenses
incurred on one institution charged
to another, the BeloiIt reform school
for girls and university building being
particularly Disseminated against. The
appropriation and architects expenses
for the state institutions are as fol-
lows:
Building Architects
Approp ton. EXp'n'S
Normal college, Emporia. $50, 900 $50. AZ
University, Lawrence. $4,000 3,66S.91
Agricultural college, Man
haitian ............-.... $4,000 ,S6I.92
Agricultural college, Man
nautan .......-......... ll,OoV 9SSoo
Deaf and Dumb institute $4,000 1887
Reform school, Beloit.... 22,7S6 3.12S.64
I'm addition to the secretary'S rec
ord a book purporting TO be the ledger
has been turned over to the present
board, but as this is also incomplete il
is worthless. The vouchers show that
the board paid am expert accountant,
Mr.. A. p. Shreve of the state auditors
Office, SAYS for this ledger, which, how
ever, is only a transcript of the expen-
ditureS on the different institutions
'sThe personal vouchers of the mem
bsrS of the board are eXhorbitant and
show mileage of from 1000 to 1000 miles
per month each. The records do not
confirm this excessive travel. Hotel
and hack expenses have been included
in vouchers for which no provision was
contemplated in the appropriation for
boards expenses.
1.-The records of the former board be-
ing in such a chaotic state, the clerk of
the present board has had to open new
ledger from April /. 1895. using the old
boards records and vouchers and in
the absence of both, using the figures
shown in the state auditors ledger.
Taking not I'M consideration the absence
Of details, the ledger now contains as
nearly as possible itemized expendi-
lures on buildings and, since the new
board took possession represents all eX-
penditures fully itemized.
The records are full and complete,
containing all proposals and accept
anceS of contracts, and a record of each
voucher is kept and entered on min
utes; also duplicate voucher is kept and
Systematically filed. The personal
vouchers Of the board represents actual
travelling expenses. and range from 500
to 900 miles per month. No hotel ex-
penses or hack hire is charged"