People's voice., 1899-09-28
Rake-Off for Bosses.
Topeka. KANs.. Sept. q

TOPEKA, KANS., Sept. p.
Kansas City Times.
Evidence is not lacking to prove that
W. Eugene Stanley's state board of school
fund commissioners permits its transac-
tions to be directed by favored politicians,
who reap handsome profit by the bust
ness. When the favorite bosses offer for
sale to the state bonds drawing a per
cent they are taken readily. When
bonds drawing 5 per cent are offered
through channels not recognized by the
push the proposition is refused. And
while they are refused the idle surplus of
the permanent school fund, which
amounted to $3.50, ,oS7. "a when the treas
ury closed today, is distributed among
favorite banks and drawing not cent of
interest
Tie school fund commissioners act up
on the theory that they must not seek in
YES ments offered by counties and town.
shil i'll Kansas, but that some "angel"
shoi Id appear and beseech them to
"please buy from me" certain issue of
bonds. If the person making the appeal
is republican boss TIE purchase is made;
if not, it is generally refused The mod
us operandi Of the board can best be
Judged from several recent examples.
The city Of Wellington, in Sumner
county, was desirous ot selling $50, 600 Of
refunding bonds to the best advantage.
The city government was informed by
ANDY Richards, The LEGAL republican boss,
that the school fund would probably ac-
cept the bonds at 4 per cent interest. 1t
was suggested that the county clerk
should make such proposal TO the state
and accompany it with statement of
the eitv's financial condition. This was
objected TO by Richards, who is also a
member of the Wellington city council,
on the ground that such a proposal
would receive no consideration in Topeka
and that in order 10 be received favor
ably the proposal must be made by him.
self in pers, II. Thereupon the city sent
Richards to Topeka and lie sold to the
commissioners of the school fund the ell
tire $4,000 issue of bonds at per cent
This incident should establish the fact
that the state is willing TO buy bonds al
Arer cent, and it would seem that the
same treatment should be extended to ali
municipalities alike. But not so. A few
days ago school district No. 80, in Sum
ner county. registered with the county
clerk series of its bonds payable to tht
state school fund and these bonds bear
per cent interest. Just why school dis
trici No. 20 has to pay these public off
cials 5 per cent when Wellington onl,
paws the same holder 4 per cent interes
IS not clear, except that the school dis
trict did not secure the influence o
Richards at the shrine of the Kansa
board of fund commissioners.
To follow this matter little farther i
is interesting to note that this same mag
unanimous and obliging Richards has en-
tered into contract with the city o
Caldwell, Kan, authorizing him TO sci
10 the Kansas board of school fund com
missioners.S2o, coo of its bonds at 4 pc
cent interest in consideration for whicl
service the city of Caldwell, Kan, agree
to nav Richards the sum Of $500. If tn
hoard desires the Caldwell bonds at al
why can't it deal directly with the mu
nicipality itself? What necessity is ther
for Richards intervention and his receiv
ing from the city of Caldwell the sum O
600 or any other sum?
Falls township, Sumner county, through
It's township clerk, applied within the las
ten days for loan of $4,000 to tn
school commissioners at 4 per cent. Tn
hoard has offered to take the bonds at q 7
ner cent. This is the penalty the town
Shin must pay because it chooses f
transact its own business and not emplo,