The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-08
PURE CASE OF A GRAFT
Kansas City, ks., School Board
Reap a Harvest.

Kansas City, Kan. Oct. S-"Mr Camp
bell of the board of education came to
me in July, after the flood, and asked
me if l didn't want the contract for
cleaning the mud out of the basement
of the zAImouFdale school building 1t
was a big job and l agreed to take it
if l could get favorable terms. Campbell
then told me he had a patent valve for
sale. 1 told him l didn't have the mon
ey to pay him for it. He told me that
could be easily arranged if ! would take
the contract for cleaning the school
building. 1 told him l couldn't afford to
buy the valve without the contract
could be made profitable.
Tile then told me that he would guar
antee that the job would last 80 days,
and that l would get $50 day for my
work and outfit. 1t was then agreed
that l allow him SIS a day of the $50
a day which I was to receive from The
board in consideration of his transfer
ring to me his patent in the valve.
The contract was made on the basis
that if it required only one day to clean
the building he would get only SIS for
his valve. but if it required the full 80
days then he was to receive $3.50, which
he asked in the first place In other
words, he was to receive SIS a day for
the time required to clean the build
ings.'
The foregoing statement was made to
reporter by d. E. Gilhaus, proprietor
of the Gilhaus Manufacturing company,
WHICH ndQ the COHIFdCl LOT ClCd tiiS
basement of the Armourdale school af-
ter the June food.
Mr. Gilhaus was asked if he required
Campbell to guarantee him 80 days
work.
Il had to have such guarantee re-
piled Gilhaus IF I was expected to pay
him SIS a day for the valve. and J.
couldn't have gotten the contract any
other Wav,
F, Gilhaus was then asked if the work
loo,4ld haze heeu done in less time than
thirty days.
1T might have been done in less
time.'' replied Gilhaus. but Campbell
had guaranteed the work to last thirty
days and was under no obliga ton to
finish il sooner.
/ Mr.. CHhaus said he had done some
work of the same kind with the same
pumping machinery and men for SO an
hour, which, counting an eight-hour
day. would amount to S24. Eight hours
/ a day was the time usually put in on
the york. At this rate the board of
! educa tio=. paid s11 a day more for its
work than private individuals had to
pay. Mr. cslhaus further said he had
never tested or seen the valve work
before he purchased it from Campbell.
! He said he had heard of it, but even
or made a test of IT. He says he keeps
( il at his .por-e
Frank Campbell. member of the board
! of education in Kansas City. Kan. was
/ charged by member of the board at
! its meeting Monday night with acting
+ in such a way as to cast reflections on
the whole board in accepting and cash.
I ing check from the Gflhaus Manufac-
turing company of ArmourdaIe, which
had just been paid $3.50 for cleaning the
1 basement of the Armourdaie school
About August S the board OF etfuca-
ton paid to Cilhaus 1890 for cleaning the
+ basement OF the Armourdale school, On
/ the same day Gilhaus deposited tns
voucher in the Home State bank in
/ Armourdale and two hours later Frank
| Campbell the member of the board OF
education from the Arnourdale ward