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

the treasury was made on the first
day OF the official career of the
administration. The sum of 1925
Was drawn and paid out to clerks
already under salary, for checking
up the money and books of the trea
sury. Twenty-Five dollars of this was
given to janltor who could neither
read nor write. Immediately after
this, Governor Morrill, drew on the
treasury for $l65.65, to pay Sec.
rotary Brlstow of the Republican
committee what purported to be a
months salary as private secretary
before he was inaugurated or had
any claims on the money of the state.
For services performed during the
month previous to his Inauguration
he also paid out of the treasury SS3
to Charles Hull for writing letters
for him; 500 to o. C. Hill and S65
Tor office rent, telegraphing and
other things. The services
rendered by these men had no con.
nection whatever with the business
OF the state, and yet they were paid
out OF the state treasury after Mr..
Morrill, became governor.
When this attempt to raid the
treasury for such illegitimate pur-
poses became known, such a CRY
went up against it from the honest
men OF the state that Bristow, Hull
and Hill reimbursed the state treas.
dry by not drawing their salary for
the following April. The s65 for
the rent Of Mr.. Morrill's political
headquarters, and for the telegraph.
ing OF his partisan messages, was
never paid back, however, and all
though he is reputed to be one Of
the wealthiest men in Kansas, he
still owes it to the state, and it is
outIawed and can not be collected.
George Cole, who was then state
auditor, and VINO is also candidate
for the same position this year, hid
the vouchers that were evidence of
the illegal drafts on the treasury and
refused to let anybody see them un-
I'll a prominent member of his own
party demanded, as a citizen of Kan.
sas, to see them.
FUNDS STOLEN BY EXTRAS"
On May %, the state architect in
preparing to do the first job of work
in the building, submitted an estimate
amounting to S9,775. The council
authorized him to have the work per.
formed by days labor, but he hired
two contractors to do it and the con.
tract which he said could be done
for s3,775 cost the state $6,4sS, and
the executive council ordered i,
paid without a question being asked,
so far as it appears in the records.
This contract provided for an
immense amount of work that was
paid for but never performed. In
this contract also there was $3.50
paid for removing the scaftoldine
from the dome Of the capitol, bui
the scafolding has stood there from
that day until this. Eleven hundred
dollars was also paid out to day Ia.
borers for removing rubbish thai
should have been, according tc
agreement, paid for by the con
| tIdCtOIS.
When the executive council wa.
ready to let the contract for plaster
ing and putting in windows in tn,
north and south wings of the capito
it advertised for bids, although al
advertisement was not required, anc
Kansas City firm, Kelly & Hani
han, put in bid to do the worl
for s6,l32. A member of the com
bine called Kelly out of the room
and offered him 500 if he would
withdraw the bid. Immediately :
member Of the executive council
raised the point that the contract
could not be let, as the advertise
ment was irregular, and thus tht
Kansas City people were knocked
tout. They we're treated well, how.