Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-12
Wilkinson WIS SORE
Secretary Of the state Board Of
Control Fired BY Unanimous
Consent.
Then Proceeds to Attack the Honor
and Business Integrity Of the
Board.
Wri<a. = ranr+hw I5n&%a~ NoLinr.
Writes . Lengthy Letter Making
Charges, Which Are Given
Little Crsdence.

Little Credence.
Des Moines, Sept. FL. A. Wilkinson
was removed from the office of secretary
OF the state board Of control on Sept. 3
by that body, which at once elected F..
s. Treat to the vacancy and advanced
A. B. McCown to the position Of chief
accountant, formerly held by Mr.. Treat.
The vote for Mr.. Wllkinson's discharge
was unanimous. He was notified that
he would be given until Sept. 80 to ter
inmate the relations and would be per-
mitted to resign" instead Of having the
record show that he was dismissed. The
board declined on Tuesday to say Why
he was discharged, simply saying that
his work was not satisfactory.
Taking advantage Of the kindness of
the board in allowing him to resign"
Mr.. Wilkinson on Tuesday evening de-
.livered to the board, after it had ap-
peared in local newspaper, a commu-
nication from himself. making many Ri
diculous and childish charges against
certain members Of the board. The COM
munication was really scurrilous.
Among the charges was one that
bidders by member Of the board, so
that Geographic changes In bids might
be made to the favored ones advantage.
Some time ago Mr.. Wilkinson charged
to the board that one of the other em-
.lo,, 4.
tips" investigation revealed that the
tip had been furnished by the bidder,
himself. innocently, to his competitor.
Mr.. Wilkinson also says that the board
Illegally allowed changesin the bids. AS
a matteraof fact it is known to all busi-
ness men that the board has always
permitted changes in bids and With
Edrawal Of bids UP to the very me that
the award has been made. This.las been
the practice, and is fair to all, as rec
ognized by the bidders. There has been
no complaint from the business men,
and none up to the time Of his dis
charge, or at any time on any subject
heretofore. from Mr. Wilkinson. It is
also charged that the bids are kept se-
icret. Mr.. Wilkinson knows. as every
bidder knows, that the board was com
PEELED to keep the prices from the pub
lie, for the bidders declined to bid IL the
prices were to be made public.
Other ridiculous charges were made
by Mr. Wilkinson against the board, fol
lowing his discharge by that body, in hi:
communication, which follows:
"Des Moines. Sept. Ito the Hon. !.
G. Kline, Chairman Of the State Boart
of Control-Dear Sir: In June. 1897, un
der the employment OF the investigatin
committee of the twenty-sixth genera
ASSEMBLY, began the service OF tn
state in connection with the education
al, penal and charitable institutions O
the state. During the work of such in
INVESTIGATING committee which made it
report to the twenty-seventh genera
assembly. made examination OF tn
books records, vouchers and method
Of business of the officers of the stat
| institutions and took part in pointing
out to such committee wherein sucl
methods of conducting the business o
| the institutions and its records shoul
4 be changed. The report of that commit
tee based its nearly entire criticism
on the fact of there being misuse o
moneys Appropriated; that moneys ap
propriated for one purpose were used 70
another: that improper methods wer
1 followed in the purchase and use Q
| supplies, and fayoritism and unwar
ranted expenditures on the pay rolls o
certain institutions.
The law had also provided for Wis
Lifting committee to the hospitals for tn
insane, one of which committee was
woman, and the legislature in abolish
ing such a committee for the protectio
4 OF the helpless and unfortunate wome
in the insane hopsitals provided tina
this board might appoint a woman Wis
itor to the hospitals. No such woma
has ever been appointed.
with strong endorsement of tn
report Of the investigating committe,
the twenty seventh general assembl
sIenacted into law chapter l1s,. providin
for the creation of this board. and
method Of conducting the business {
4 the state ga far as relates to certain in
situations. was iE entire accord an
4 what is known as the board of contrt
4 law and became connected with tn
board on the date Of its torganizatio ton
April, 1895. asaccountant, in October a
secretary in complete harmony with tn
4 purposes Of the law. Early after tn
Organization OF the board diacovere
i that a part of the board either thru ig
4 norance of the causes that led up. to til
act of the legislature or for motives {
advancement Of personal interests an
in disregard Of the law, vas not carr
estly endeavoring to carry out the sptr
and provision of the law.
The law provides, section 40, chapte
i 11S. twenty-seyenth general assembly
al to the manner OF the purchase of sur
4 plies by the management Of the institl
ton upon the authority given by til
board Of control in the approval OF es
4 Inmates submitted by the superintend
ent of the institution monthly; tha
4 these purchases shall be made by tn
j superintendent, warden, clerk or stew
4 ard and shall be at prices not TO excee
those named in the approved estimate
\ and not otherwise. Section As OF Rai
acts reads: The stewards of the hos
pitfalls for the insane, the clerks OF tn
4 prisons and the proper officers of tn
i other institutions who shall be destg
mated by the board ehall have charge (
and be accountable for all supplies an
4 stores Of such institutions and shall b
charged Herewith at their invoic
value, and shall in conjunction with III
chief executive officer OF each institutio
make or direct all purchases as may
ordered by the board under the est
4 mates as heretofore provided.
TIC any one acquainted with this leg
|islation. what defense can be presente
Il to a board that shall take upon itSe