The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-24
DEMo-MrssouR1 ISLANDER.

A correspondent of the Kansas City
Times, presumably inspired by the
spirit of unfairness which has ever
characterized that sheet in its attitude
towards Republican officials, in let
ter from Topeka charges the present
board of directors of the state peniten-
tiary with crookedness in their letting
of coal contracts and in their awards
for supplies. In this instance it hap
pens that one of the directors, Mr.. L.
W. Eckert, is the editor of a paper him.
self and is in a position to talk back.
Mr.. Eckert through the Arkansas City
Traveller, takes up the charges in their
order and not only explodes them so
far as the charges of crookedness are
concerned, but shows that the board
has served the interests and the people
of Kansas rather than those of Mis-
souri,, which latter policy no doubt is
TO be found the animus of the Times
kick. So far as the charge of the
Times that there was favoritism shown
in the letting Of the coal contracts. Mr..
Eckert shows by the record that the
Missouri sheet simply lied. AS for the
award Of the convict labor, Mr.. G. Z.
Duff of Arkansas City submitted the
most advantageous bid, for which rea-
son solely it was accepted, which bid
Of 30 cents per day for 150 men was
not only the best in the estimation Of
the board of directors but it was so ap-
1kr- Il nd oil off
ciais of the institution. Mr. Eckert con-
cludes his answer in the following
manly and straightforward statemet:
If the Times charge implies that we
have been active in securing competi-
tive bidders for the products of the
penitelltiary and for the supplies used
in the institution, we plead guilty, but
offer no apologies. The present men,
bers Of the board of directors have rec
ognized tie fact that the penitentiary
is a state institution, supported by
taxes cxacted from residents of every
county and school district in the state,
and that il is their privilege to enter
the competitive field with LeayenWortb
to frrl;s.. supplies, or to Day the pro-
ducts of the prison. During the present
administration merchants in Topeka,
Lawrence. Atchison, Wichita and
Kansas City, Kansas, have submitted
SAMPLES of their wares with sealed pro-
posals and have received only the con-
sideration that honorable competitors
and taxpayers were entitled to receive,
aud Notwithstanding the rights OF cut
s:ders" were recognized the vouchers
on file in he Office Of the state a.id.!or
viii. show that Leavenworth has re-
ceiyed the lions share of the trade OF
that institution, either by contract or
purchased in the open market.
That Leavenworth would be pleased |
to furnish all Of the supplies, employ |
ell of the convict labor and fill all of |
the offices without competition, is quite |
natural, and we have no fault to find |
with them, but would it be just for the |
directors TO disregard the rights of the |
and contractors in other POT
tons Of the state?
We are pleased to know that the |
of Atchison, Wichita, |
Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City, |
Kansas, have spoken kindly of the di-
rectors for giving their merchants an |
to bid on supplies for the |
This being true, it is |
matter of some surprise that the To
peka correspondent of the Kansas City
Times should criticise the board for
permitting his neighbors to enter The
field to furnish supplies for
the state institutions, though a son of
ole of the directors is an employe OF
Ole of the bidders. The directors are
ready, and court any investigation that
NAV be desired.