The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-21
NEARLY OVER.
Investigation of Agricultural
College Regents Near an End.
Populist Members Will I'm
dOubtedly Be DepOsed.
I'll A i II SPLITTING.
The Trial Reads Like School
Boy Play.
Other News From the Political
Center of the State.
I'll A i II SPLITTING.

It is expected that the investigation
OF the regents of the agricultural col
lege by the legislative committee will
be completed today. During the ses-
sion of the committee in the court room
at Manhattan last night Senator Lamb,
chairman of the committee, called Law
yer Hessin down for devoting too much
time to the study of the Industrialist,
which he was perusing for his edifica-
ton. Lamb stated that the committee
was receiving the magnificent sum of So
per day each and they would like to
get through. Hessin retorted that the
attorney for the state expected to get
$3.50 a day.
The first witness called by the state
was Miss Minnie A. Stoner, professor
of the domestic science department and
dean of the women's department. Her
examination developed that she had oc-
cupied such position since September,
1895, and that the dining hall was es-
tablished before she came, and that it
was under the direct management OF
Mrs M. l.. Hanson. At this point jeff
Hudson admitted, on the part of the
defense, that J. N. Limbocker had re-
ceived SIS per month for his service as
purchasing agent for the dining hail,
and that he had drawn such salary
since September, 1898, until suspended,
with the exception of two weeks of va
cation. Miss Stoner further stated that
she had approved a bill due j. N. Linn
booker for wood furnished the college.
Senator Hessin called the attention of
the committee to section 400 of the gen
eral statutes of 1897, which provides
that it is a direct violation of the law
for officers appointed or elected in the
state to furnish, for the use of any in
stitution, ffrewood, etc.
Mrs. NJ. L. Hanson was called on the
part of the state and testified more par
ticularly in the matter of the purchase
of wood of Limbocker, and flour in one
half ton lots from c. B. Hoffman, but
that no flour had been purchased from
G. B. Hoffman since last September.
The next witness was Miss LOrena
ClemmonS, acting secretary of the inSti-
tuition. Her testimony substantiated
more fully the evidence already given
in the matter of the furnishing of wood
and potatoes by Limbocker, and flour
by c. B. Hoffman.
The whole afternoon was taken up in
| esta blishing charges four and six. J.
n. LimbOcker testified that the eleventh
biennial report was authorized by the
board. 1t was shown that the report did
| not correctly represent the salaries paid
out during the fiscal year ending June
| 80, 1898. Several professors were called
upon at this point, among whom We're
Profs. Nichols, Hitchcock, Willard
| Walters Bemis and President Will, all
| of whom testified that they had received
more money during that year than the
Jumper law allowed them. 1t was de-
| VelOped that Prof. Walters received a
| donation from the board of $240 for su-
perintending and making specifications
of the domestic science hall, in addition
to his regular salary. 1t was admitted
by VIII c. Lee, private secretary to
President WILL that he had aided in
the distribution of Populist campaign
literature, part of which was distributed
at the college, and obtained through J.
N. Linn blocker, with the exception of
some that he prepared himself.
At the evening session VIII c. Lee,
private secretary to President WILL was
recalled and testified that, since the
| charges were preferred against Linn
booker and Hoffman, all of the records
| of the minutes of the board had been
filed in the book in typewriter form.
| Such typewriter records had not been
passed upon by the board. He also tes-
| titled that these records covered the
period between June so, 1897, and March
| 30, 1899, and that all the minutes of
every meeting of the board between
! those dates had been so rewritten and
| posted in the records. Ex-Regent
Daughters substantiated the charge
| that illegal meetings of the board were
! held at the Hotel HiSinbotham without
| a quorum present. The room was
! crowded with students and citizens.