The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-06
IT WAS A TRICK.
How Contracts Are Let at the
State House.
Without Either Justice or Le-
gality.
THE LOWEST BIDDER
Tricked Out of His Right to
the Contract
To Finish the Remaining State
House Rooms.
BY " EXAMINATIONS. -
'EliminatiOns' Merely Another
Name For SwindIing.
Why Is It That Fellows & Van
SAINT Are Always FavOrftes?

There is a story connected with the
letting of the contract for finishing
rooms at the state house early this
week that has never been told. 1t is
story with grave hints of crookedness
and angry state officers; a story in
which a favorite is given a contract to
which another man is entitled. Mayor
c. A. Fellows is the favorite and he re-
ceived the contract.
The executive council, which is COM
posed of Governor Morrill,, State Treas
urer Atherton, Secretary of State Ed
wards, Attorney General Dawes and Au-
ditOr Cole, advertised for bids for finish
ing twenty-four rooms in the new wing
of the state house. Nothing was said
about "eliminations'' in the advertise
nent and there was no reference to
"eliminations'' in the specifications.
However, in the forms for bids there
was a space for ''eliminations The
dninitiated gave this matter little at
tentiOn because they supposed that
since nothing was said about "elimina-
tons in the specifications it was not
likely that any would be made. The
"eliminations' provided in the blanks
for bids were for some work on the arch
work in the main entrance, for some ce-
menting in the hall and for the COM
pletiOn Of the basement windows.
That was the trick by which the low
est bidder was to be headed off, as an
examination of the bids will show.
When the council met to open the bids
Auditor Cole was not present, but the
bids were opened and found to be as
follows:
Fellows & Fansant- 17,418
H. Bennett. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1873
T. H Bowers. Observation-Disclosures. 23, 400
It was evident that the first bid was
Va md nT11X hn-
low the estimate, which was ST, 900. In
ordinary business the contract would
have gone to the lowest bidder, but in
public business at the state house at
present it is different, and these public
servants began at once to trim and
haggle so that the contract might be
awarded to the favOrite.
Attorney General Dawes moved that
''eliminations' be made.
Some one turned to George H. Evans
and asked whether he had a bid in
No" replied Evans, I wanted to see
what was going to be done about the
elimina ton of the main entrance
I don't like the way those elimina-
tions look replied Treasurer Atherton.
IF we did anything with them it might
look as if some one had been bodied"
I don't want any talk of that kind
in my office" replied Secretary of
State Edwards. I do not propose to
stand it"
'''It don't make any difference to me
whether you like it or not replied Mr..
Atherton excitedly- I have Just as
much right here as you have, and in
tend to say what please If were
as poor as you and Dawes, I might take
Doodle, but I don't have to. I had mon
ey enough before I was elected
Mr. Edwards and Mr.. Dawes did
not reply to this OutburSt.
A vote was called on the question of
whether the eliminations should be
made or not The result was tie, Ed
wards and Dawes voting for the elm
nations, and Gov. Morrill, and Treas
urer AthertOn against them. Gov. Nor
rill said he thought the contract should
be awarded to the lowest bidder
The matter was then deferred and
when the executive council met again
everything had been arranged and the
contract was awarded to Fellows &
VanSant.
This was done by making three diff
ferent eliminatiOns. 1t was generally
considered by contractors that the cost
of the work to be done on the main en-
trance would be about $4,000 and Mr.
Clark made provision for an elimination
of $4,000 if that work was left out
Fellows & Vansant, however, made
provision for an elimination of sc, 900
if the work was left out
That was the trick By the elimina-
ton of the main entrance on which Mr.
Fellows had placed an extraordinary
high figure, the contract might still be
left to him even though there were low
er bidders on the entire contract, and
the elimination was accordingly made
and the contract given to Mr.. Fellows
No wonder State Treasurer Atherton
made charges of boOdling- The pro-
ceeding looks very suspicious and the
people with Mr.. AthertOn will wonder
what is the secret of Mayor Fellows
influence with the executive council.
Mr.. Clark, who was euchred out of
the contract after making the only bid
within the estimate of the state arch
itect, is not on to the ropes. He has
not had as much dealing with the state
administration as Mayor Fellows and
he has no political influence.