The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-12-20
STATE SENATE
STARTS ENQUIRY
Begins With Puchase of Khaki Cloth
BY the State 6oard-No Com
petitive Bids.

Oklahoma City, Dec. lS.-lnquiry
into the purchase by the state board
of public affairs OF khaki cloth for
|penitentiary uniforms, steel filing
cas- S for the clerk of the supreme
court and the manner of placing in
surance on state property occupied
the attention of the investigating COM
mittee of the special session of the
state senate which began it's inyestiga-
ton here today.
The session today had TO do with
the official record of Lon Frame of
Ardmore, chairman of the board whose
confirmation was held in allegiance by
the senate pending investigation. The
first testimony taken by the commit
tee was relative to the purchase of
1000 yards of army khaki cloth. E. B.
Howard, secretary of the board, was
placed under oath and was the first
witness.
In reply to questions from Senator
Mcintosh, the witness stated that the
cloth was purchased without competi.
tive bids through John Mhayne of
Ada, who represented clothing house
which secured the goods from a New
York manufacturing concern. Howard
said the board made no investigation
as to what such goods could be pur-
chased for before allowing the requisi-
ton made by Warden Dick of the pen
Iitentiary and relied wholly on Dicks
judgment, who, with his storekeeper,
had selected the goods they wanted.
The total amount of the bill was 3d.
300.45, but complaint was made by
Warden Dick that the goods were not
up to standard and per cent was cut
from the bill, according to Mr. Howard
Mr. Howard testified that the board
still was not satisfied with the price
and forced further reduction Of
s325.5S after the goods were paid for
which amount was credited to the
state upon another bill.
Asked by member of the commit
ltee If it was customary for the board
to purchase goods without competitive
bids Mr.. Howard stated that it was
not. lie explained that the board
found it practically impossible to
make specifications for certain classes
of goods, such as cloth and hardware
and purchase on competitive bids
without getting inferior goods.
An inquiry was made into the pur.
chase by the board upon requisition OF
w. II. l.. Campbell clerk of the state
supreme court of 500 units of steel
filing cases for the records of the
court. II was developed that the bid
accepted by the board was $11,936
list price, from which according to q
written agreement between the agent
land the board 10 per cent was to be
deducted.
1t developed that the purchase was
made on competitive bids but thai
several of them were lower than the
: one accepted Members OF the boart
of affairs, however, who were place.
: on the stand stated that Clerk Camp
bell refused to accept any of the goods
except those cases wouldn't meet his
requirements
The matter of boiler insurance a
state institutions was investigated anC
it was brought out that all boilers a
six institutions are insured to cove
a maximum liability from explosion 0
100000 at each institution.
An indication of the subject of in
quiry tomorrow was given when Chair
: man Thomas of the probe committee
asked the board to be ready to explain
at the next hearing why certaii
requisition for 4500 pounds OF cofe,
was made at 10 cents a pound and tn,
board finally purchased it at - cent
per pound