Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-13
the Net Closer About Arthur
VI. CnNyIp

FRIDAY MORNINGS PROCEEDINGS
Drawing the Net Closer About Arthur
VI. Cowie.
The investigating committee was occu-
pied during yesterdays session in drawing
the net closer about Arthur NJ. Cowie. A
mass of testimony was introduced connect
ing him, as far as circumstantial evidence
could, with the purchase Of venetian blinds
from Dodge & Co. of Chicago. He had al
ready admitted his advocacy Of that firms
proposal, and in the testimony given this
morning by Board Member Charles S. Hay
ward it was attempted to show that Cowie's
preference was due to a financial considera-
ton.
MIR. Hayward, both in his capacity Of a
board member and president of the Com
mercial club, has been active in the un-
e~arthing of the present sensation, and has
gone to exceptional pains to remove the
stigma from the whole board by fixing it
upon the unworthy members.
Mr.. Hayward had visited the firm of
Dodge & Co. during a recent visit to Chi
cago and succeeded in obtaining a copy of
all the correspondence into which that Arm
had entered with A. VI. Cowie, chairman of
the buildings and property committee. A
number of letters and kilograms were in
troduced in evidence, several OF which have
already been published in substance, all
going to show that Cowie had a private
understanding with the firm.
Mr.. Hayward justified the Chicago agents,
Dodge & Co., of any criminal intent of
corrupting a public official. They acknowl-
edged their relationship with Cowie, Hayward
said, but asserted that they only knew him
as a sub-agent, and were ignorant Of his
--H -- 80 Tho n1nrI ~ Ntnot tnr
In this connection Mr.. Hayward read a
letter from Dodge G. Co., addressed to him
self, containing this vindication and putting
the firm entirely at the service of the COM
mittee in the conduct of the Investigation.
Cowie's Percuisites.
The first letter introduced was the formal
proposal of Dodge & Co, addressed to the
secretary of the board. Mr.. Dodge remarked
therein that he had noticed that the three
new school buildings were approaching COM
pletion on the occasion of a recent visit to
this city. He asked that Mr.. Gillian bring
the matter of blinds before the board at the
proper time and said that he had sent on a
sample for inspection. He explained in de-
tail the merits of his particular product and
in closing quoted a price of 10 cents per
square foot.
The firm also gave Mr.. Hayward a copy
or the letter Hdlleu 10 MI. COWle suOI NY
afterward in reply to a request on his part
for prices. With the impression that Cowie
was an agent who had some influence with
the board, which a stranger did not possess,
Mr.. Dodge says he quoted Cowie a price OF
9 cents per square foot with the understand
ing that he was to receive the difference,
amounting to about $500, for his services in
securing the contract. The letter to Cowie
further stated that the price was excep>
tionally low and was only brought about
| through an unhealthy competition that could
not be long continued. The firm reserved
| the right to cancel the price at any moment.
Hayward then described Cowie's method
in working the deal through. He testified
that on tho night the order was placed
Cowie had read the portion of Dodge's letter
to the board giving a price of Is cents, and
then in order to show the urgency of haste
had read portions OF his own letter from the
Chicago firm regarding the unhealthiness OF
the competition and the liability OF the price
being withdrawn. Hayward showed, how
ever, that Cowie had carefully refrained
from the rehearsal of that portion of his own
letter which quoted a price of o cents.
TclI-TnIe TeIegrnms.
{ Several kilograms, the contents of which
have already been published, were made a
part of the records. They were the mes
sages containing the significant clause.
, Looks good. Shall I come to Chicago to-
, night?' signed by Cowie, and the reply of
Dodge G. Co, in which the firm said
l Prices rock bottom; impossible to allow
e any money for expenses
!, A subsequent letter from Dodge g. Co.
was read, in which that firm explained it's
{ refusal to allow Cowie expense money.
e Mr.. Dodge said that he did not wish to
appear small in the matter, but that the
S price quoted @ cents) was so low that there
was not one penny of profit in it, and that
I it was therefore impossible to allow any
! margin for expenses"
g MIR. Hayward concluded his testimony
, with an account of his opposition to the let
D ting of the blind contract at the price-15
$ cents-named by Mr.. Cowie. He pointed
2 out at the time, he said. that the rules of
the board plainly provided that all such
3 material must be bought after bids had
2 been invited. No proposals had been
r sought in the blind purchase, and he there
fore opposed the placing of the order. The
. minority, of which be. was a member, had
. been unable to make any effective stand,
y however, and the purchase was made.
L]ntenser's Hands Are Tied.
= At its afternoon sitting the left
. the main issue and looked into the employ
ment OF Architects Latenser and Mcdonald
for the erection of the three grammar schools
and the new High school. Architect Laten-
ser described on the stand the difficulty OF
= his position in experimenting the erection
a o: the new structures. Several contractors
n he said. particularly j. j. Hanighen, in
: charge of the plumbing, set his will utterly
v at defiance. When he objected to material
because of its alleged inferior quality Mr.
Latenser says the contractor ignored his
= complaint.
The difference was then referred to the
buildings and property committee, Mr.
Latenser said, where he failed to obtain any
satisfaction, as the committee, with the eX-