People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-04-14

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ever, for they were offered 1850
not 10 bid again, and they accepted
it in this way: They got 1852 for
doing the work on sub contract that
they offered to do a week before for
Sc, 1872. The combine got the con-
tract, which it sublet for $4,000, or
s2,S6S more than was bid week
before by the Kansas City firm. The
point raised about advertisement was
a dodge to allow time for jobbery,
and it succeeded admirably so far
as the contracting combine was con-
cerned. Several thousand dollars of
this contract was paid for, while no
work was done and has not been
up to this date.
MORE FRAUD IN CAPITOL JOBS.
On August I, 1895, a contract was
let finishing rooms, the price being
s2l, 900. When the bill was paid,
S5,6SO.3l was put in for extras, and
Sl,725.59 OF this amo INT was paid
out for extras" that were specifically
provided for in detail in the original
contracts, a great deal Of work was
paid for that was never performed,
and some OF which has not been
performed up to this hour.
On August 4, 1895, a contract
was let, to finish some offices, for
Ss,56S. Extras" of the value of
$3.50 were allowed, as well as extras
in the sum of s7SO.69, which were
specifically provided for in the
original contract price. In all con-
tracts about this time it seemed to
b. the proper thing to charge up
about 10 per cent for extras, and the
"bnslness administration" allowed
them, although in every case most Of
what were called extras was provided
for in the contract.
The combine contractors, about
this time, seemingly get short Of
money and failed to pay sub-con,
tractor Sl35. He sued and secured
a judgment. The business admin
istration not only paid the combine
contractor the full amount of the
contract, but actually paid the judg-
ment secured by the sub.contractor.
This subcontractor was Wash Hop
kins, and his affidavit is not
necessary to prove the fact, for it is
a matter of record, not only in the
court, but in the offices of the state
auditor and state treasurer.
The business administration"
not only allowed its favorite CON-
tractors, Fellows & Van Zant,
fabulous sums for contracts and
large appropriations for "extras,"
but actually allowed them S. a day for
experimenting their own Contract
work, according to vouchers in the
state auditors office. There seemed
to be no limit to the resources of the
executive council for finding a
means of disposing Of the money Of
the people.
MADE HAY EVEN TO THE LAST.
The executive council one day
conceived the idea that it was time
10 lay out some drives in the state
house grounds and grade them.
They asked the state architect to
make an estimate of their cost and
he did so, after due delberation. He
figured their cost at $5,l4S. When
the plans had been approved the ex.
ecutive council paid Sl3.270.S7 for
the work. This immense contract
was let without advertising for bids,
and on the very day the contractors
filed their bond, and thus secured
the contract, the executive council
paid them $1,000 without having
done penny's worth Of work.
On November II, 1896, after the
Morrill, administration had been
beaten at the polls, bids we're opened
for the building Of a sidewalk on
Two sides Of the capitol grounds.
The specifications called for
hectagonal cement blocks, laid on
eight inches Of concrete and one and
half inches of cement. The Kansas
City Stone and Sidewalk company
had the lowest bid, 2SH cents a
square foot. Four days afterward
the same company was awarded the
contract for 81 cents square foot,
or sl,992.l9 more than its original
bid. Instead of putting the sidewalk
on an eight and a half inch base Of
concrete, it was put on base oil
cinders, which was very much
cheaper. The executive council
provided in the contract that the
work must be finished before noon
on January IL, 1897, which was their
hour to get out Of Office. The super
intendent of the company protested