Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-13
FRAUDIN MEAT
Iowa Board of Control secre-
tary the Accuser.
MISREPRESENTATION
In Resignation Filled He Makes spe.
ciffc Accusation of Favoritism Being
Shown to Chicago Packer-cownie
Denies Allegations.

Des Moines, Sept. 12.-L. A. Wilkin-
son yesterday resigned his position
as secretary of the state board of con-
troll, and in the communication set out
his reasons therefor, which are of
most startling character. He says
that the business methods of the
board have been contrary to law, and
makes the specific charge that thru
the unfair practice of one member of
the board information has been given
to bidders for meats and other sup
plies by which certain firms could Sc
cure awards.
The meat supplies, which amount to
about $4,000 year, have according
to the statement filed by Mr.. Wilkin-
son, been purchased of large meat
concerns of Chicago and Kansas City
thru manipulation which effectually
shut out Iowa competition. Mr.. Will
kinson charges that after bids for
meat have been received one firm is
by some secret means informed of the
lowest bid, and that firm Immediately
telegraphs special offer a fraction
under it.
He asserts that one Chicago firm
has been privileged to its bids on some
of the best contracts, and that the
frequency with which this firm tele-
graphed new prices within a few hours
after the bids were opened but not
acted upon, and the further fact that
the prices named were always just
tEiiie below the lowest bidder, caused
him to take the matter before the
chairman of the board.
Charge Made BY Wilkinson.
The part of the secretary's charges
bearing upon meat contracts is as fol-
| lows:
Nearly year ago I became con-
WINGED that thru the unfair practice Of
one member of the board information
was given to bidders for meats and
other supplies by which such bidders
could reduce their bids after the clos
ing of bids. This gave an unfair adj
4 vantage to such bidders, and this OPP
| portunity was not afforded to all bid
ders alike. 1t cannot be contended
that such practice is justifiable be-
| cause the state derives the benefit of a
| lower price, for who can say that no
one else would have desired a like
privilege?
Any thinking man must know that
such procedure would drive away bid
ders and injure the states interests as
| soon as it became known. Can it be
supposed for moment that the Cuda-
| by Packing company or Swift & Co.,
4 or 7. NJ Sinclair & Co., or Libby, Nc
Neill & Libby, or John Morrell & Co.
would have entered into competition
| for the states trade if they had
known that a competitor was given
| tips as to bids made and allowed to
change it's bids after filing and after
closing the bids?
Says There Are Other offenses.
This is only one instance. There
are others. Soon after the awards in
June last l reported my discovry to
the chairman of this board, who has
| shown at all times a desire to comply
with the law so far as he could with
out an open rupture in the board. The
marked change in those who are the
successful bidders in the month of
September on the meat contracts fully
| justified the assertion that certain bid
ders were afforded an undue advan-
| tage. Having thus laid before the
board, thru it's chairman, the fact of
improper practice in receiving bids,
instead of receiving the support of the
board in correcting abuses | became
| the object of a constant attempt to Of
fend to the point of resigning my po-
sition as secretary of this board.
'This was done, as believe, to the
end that some one may be appointed
in harmony with the practices of the
1 board. / am unwilling to be a party
| to what l deem to be a violation of
| law, not only in the matter of bids for
/ supplies but in other respects as we'll.
| | herewith offer you my resignation as
secretary of the board, and ask that it
be accepted at once"
From the fact that Mr.. Wilkinson
exonerates Judge Kline, the chair
man of the board, and from the fur
Their lact that Judge Robinson. another
member, was appointed but a few
months ago, it is plain that Wilkin-
sons attacks are directed at John
Cownie, the only remaining member.
Denial of John cownie.
MrCownie was seen and asked for a
statement regarding the charges. He
said:
"The secretary is bitter because the
board some time ago asked him to
resign. There is absolutely no truth
in his charges. On the 4th of Sep
TENDER the board, by unanimous
vote, decided to discharge MIN. Out
of charity for the man we agreed that
he should be permitted to resign.
Judge Kline was authorized to inform
the secretary that he must file his res
ignation before the end of September,
and this duty he performed, giving
Mr.. Wilkinson some of the reasons for
his removal, and which were of so Sc
rious character that do not feel
called upon to make them public at
this time. may say that on the 4th
of September we elected his successor
/ in the person of Forest Trent.
4 CAS- to the charges that Armour &
leo. received tips as to bids, my fellow