The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-12
THEY WANT TO KNOW.
The Populist Senate is Holding
aSecret Session,
To Inquire Into the State
Health Boards
CHOLERA FUND GRAB
Before They Confirm the Cover
nor's Appointment
The Senate Practically an In
vestigating Committee.

The state senate has been in executive
session all day.
The stated business of the executive
session is the consideration of appoint
Inents by Governor LeweIling named IN
last nights JOURNAL; but the real busl-
ness is much broader and far-reachlng.
The senate met this morning at O'CLOCK.
S II. Snider was confirmed as 1nsur-
ance comm issioner for the term ending
next July. 5. NJ. Scott was also confirm
ed as a member of the state board OF
public works for the term ending IN
April, 1898.
The matter of confirming the nine ap-
pointees of the governor to the state
board of health bought up discussion
of the whole history of the present board
of health, especially its corruption in the
cholera fund grab, the details of which
are we'll known to JOURNAL readers.
The members of both sides showed
disposition and desire to have light on
this subject For this purpose the SEN
ate resolved itself into an informal court
of investigation, and shortly before the
noon hour it was decided TO have those
most interested in the case brought be-
fore the senate for investigation.
Among those who will be subpRnaed
are DIR Henry w. Roby, Secretary II. A.
Dykes, Joseph G. Waters, who conducted
the successful suit against the grab, and
State Treasurer Biddle, who hired Mr..
Waters. 1t is stated that the action of
the senate in confirming or rejecting the
governors appolntees depends largely
on the result of this investigation. The
Republicans are making strong
fight against the confirmation. They
have the assistance also of Senator
O'Bryan, Democrat, from Sedgwick
county, and several members of the
Populist side who are opposed to cor
ruDtion. From statements made in the
senate chamber this morning it would
appear that Secretary Dykes got $1,000
of the $4,000 which has already been
drawn from the $4,000 cholera fund.
The remaining $500 was divided
among some of the doctors on the gov
ernor's list for confirmation, of whom
DR.. Roby WAS not one.
The statement came from the Populist
side that the lawyers who conducted the
suit for injunction TO prevent the cholera
grab offered to drop the case for 81 900.
This will also be the subject for investi-
CATION by the senate.
1t is hardly expected that the senate
will be able to complete its Investigations
this afternoon, and the adjournment will
probably be taken until Monday instead
of TUE sdAy, as the house did. Or a
meeting may be held tonight.
The Republicans have more than
merely moral reasons for wishing to pre-
vent the confirmation of the board of
health. If the confirmation is made the
Popullsts are given control of the board
for two years 10 come, at least The Re-
publicans say the right thing for the
senate to do is to withhold its contirma-
tion of this board until the supreme
court decides the question involved in
the injunction and uutll an investigation
can be made as to the legality os the ex-
penditure of the $4,000 of this fund
The appointees of Governor Lewelling
to the state board of health, over whom
the investigation is held, are as follows
For the term ending March, 1895, H. w.
Roby, Topeka; E. Swartz, Wyandotte,
and A. J. Anderson, Douglas erms
ending in March, 1896, Thomas Kirk
Jewell; P. Dougherty. Geary: J. r Ii
Dykes, Stafford. Terms ending in March
1897, J. w. Jenney, Saline; r. E. Jones,
Wilson, and ]. P. Stewart, Clay.
Afternoon.
The senate reconvened in executive
session this afternoon. 1t was decided
tia before continuing with the board o
he~4tn investigation an opportunity
should be given TO Mr.. Hinshaw. nomi
nee for place on the state board o
charities who was not confirmed las
o'SuAuRs al opportunity 10 D0 nedfU
The chairman of the judiciary com
m!ttee, senator Dennison, was selec. &c
to conduct the examination OF Mr.. Hin
shaw, after which the members are a
liberty to ask any questions desired MI
Hlnshaw took the stand in his own be
half at o'clock
At 2:3O this afternoon Gov. Lewellin,
sent a confidential message to the senat
oy Private Secretary Close. The senat
declined to receive the message in secre
session and its acceptance from the sec
retary was deferred The nature of tn
message Is kept asecret at the governor
office, but it is supposed to be more az
pOintments.
Mrs. Lease is making vigorous pro
test and uses some very plain languag
IN scoring several of the appointees.
Drs. Furber and Hamilton of the lee
lslative committee from the State Ele6
tic Medical association are opposing tn
conformation of several of the nomin;
Ilons made on the state board of health