The San Francisco call., 1899-09-10

equal division of the spoils was made
it is more than likely that he is telling
the truth in this instance.
No money was paid to Gedge until
after the contract was awarded. The
agent apparently knew that a man who
would sell himself and betray his con-
Stituents for such a comparatively
paltry sum could not be trusted to de-
liver the goods after he had his fingers
on the bribe. But when the contracts
were signed the. representative of the
firm waited on the doctor and handed
him $4,000 in $50 gold pieces. Later $500
was paid by Gedge to Conlon. The
basis upon which the division was
made is a secret that is said to be
! locked in the bosom of Gedge.
Some time after this Kemp heard the
rumors that money had passed without
any Of it sticking to his palms. He
went on still hunt for information
and found enough to make his heart
sick. To use his own language, he felt
like being kicked" He learned Of Sc
cret committee meetings where he had
not been invited; it dawned on him
suddenly why he had been requested
to remain away from the meeting when
the contracts were awarded He aWoke
to the horrible revelation that he had
been a real good thing for some one
without receiving a single twenty
Then Mr.. Kemp did some talking.
On the highways and byways he COM
planned of his treatment at the hands
of the supply committee, of which he
was a member TTe got real mad at one
time, but it did not do him any good.
| Gedge and Conlon had the coin and
they evinced no disposition to part with
any of it AS a solaee to his wounded
/ feelings and his aching pocket he i'm
bibed freely; he found some comfort in
the cup that cheers, and in this condi-
tion words gurgled from his mouth like
the liquor from the little brown jug,
and to all who would listen he poured
out his tale of Woe
Mr.. Kemp was seen last evening by
a representative of The Call. When
the $1,000 deal was mentioned to him he
feigned surprise, but he could not con-
troll his interest in the subject.
The very thing that 1 have been
trying to find out-the very thing" said
he and then to himself: Kemp Kemp,
where have you been? Two thousand
dollars floating around and you did not
this would think that 1 came from the
country; wouldn't they?" The reporter
acquiesced. why 1 ought to be kicked,
1 ought-no, no. L don't exactly mean
it that way 1 would not take a cent
if it were offered to mel wouldn't.
But then when a fellow hears about
$40 pieces flying through the air his
mouth waters little. 1t is natural
81
even among us strictly honest people.
No use talking, Kemp deserves kicking.
"Gedge and Conlon might have ar
ranged this matter at secret meetings
where 1 was not invited 1 will not say
that 1 know of such meetings. l can
not call to mind that 1 have heard of
any such nor will l say that L have not
| know Phil Crimmins very we'll and
frequently talk with him about school
matters in general, just as l would talk
with any one else. He might have asked
me to stay away from the meeting
when the contracts were awarded, but
1 don't just remember whether he did
or not
L favored the bid of Brown & Pow
ers because it was the lowest and the
class of goods offered was fully up to
the standard. If any crooked work was
done it was done by the firm that bid
on the same articles that they did.
They bid on the ink, paper and stuff
of that kind. 1 believe the contract for
that was awarded to Cunningham, Cur
tbs & Welch. My men would have got
it had / been at the meeting. l would
have raised howl, you bet"
Then you admit that you did stay
away?" was asked.
mo. mol did not mean exactly that
= was there Let me think-well, L
really do not know whether 1 was
there or not
Did you receive any compensation
| for staying away"
mot a cent" and the look of sadness
on Kemp's countenance spoke louder
than anything he could have said
Kemp, where did you come from? You
deserve to be kicked. Twenty dollar
pieces floating about and you did not
get one Of them. That is just my
Aluck."