The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-22

spent at Fort Leavenworth sight-see-
! ing, etc. Monday morning about nine
! o'clock he came to my office and for
several hours we discussed the needs
OF the plant again In the afternoon
We went over the plant together, and
Informed him of number of improve
ments I wanted to make in the plant.
About 4 O'Clock he packed up and we
came to Leavenworth to catch a train
but. missed it, and We went to the Elks
| club and played pool until the next
train, about s O'Clock p. m.
{" Before he left the home he picked
1 a bottle of coal from the pile in front
| OF the boilers, and / noticed he was
Tery anxious to select only the worst
I samples.
&c During all his conversation his
! idea seemed to be to recommend that
the board expend about 100000 on the
| plant, as he said he wanted to make
| 5000 out of the job. I insisted that
| the improvements actually necessary
| could be done for one-quarter of the
| amount he proposed to recommend.
He appeared to be very much displeas-
| ed at my remark and said I ought to
get all L could.
| When his report was made there
was not one recommendation except
| those that had made to him.
| In his report he intimated that the
| plant could not consume the amount of
| coal purchased. This was investigated
| by the inspector general and every ton
OF coal accounted for.
| He claimed to have tested the coal,
1 and his report gave the heat units con-
| siderable less than other government
tests; in fact, his aim seemed to be to
| condemn Leavenworth coal, and make
$1,000 out of the job of preparing plans
! Tor improving the plant. In his CONVEX
| satlon with me he said he considered
was doing extraordinary we'll with
such an old plant
| This expert charged the home $50
Gay Tor 10 days. and the only thing
| in his report that I had not already
reported to the local officers was his
coal. 49,
There was nothing done in this
matter for about six months, when the
| plan of. using oil as fuel was taken up
and its use finally adopted
Then Mann Gets In.
neheve," continued Mr.. Anthony,
there are ample grounds for this Demo-
cratic house taking action and limiting
TINS paragraph in the appropriation SO
s shaI me cheapest fuel to the government
snaI pc used in the Leavenworth institu-
tlon. hope the house will stand for its
record Tor economy by putting that limita-
ton on the BILL
Mr.. Mann arose He said. est sbo,,Id COW
tnat that statement as read by Mr. An
thony bears upon its face the imprint of
a liar. Is the gentleman who made the
statement now in the employ Of the GOV
eminent or has he been discharged?"
ne gentleman is now in the employ
thony, ''or he undoubtedly would not
make the statement. The gentleman (NIr
MANN of Illinois is entirely unwarranted
in imputing the word liar 10 anv man
mentioned in debate, on the floor of the
house 1t is entirely unbecoming his
leadership of the minority of this body to
stand here and make use of that word"
Answering, Mr.. Mann said: II think
the statement bears on its face the imprint
OF exactly what I said. My friend from
kansas has repeatedly, upon the floor
OF the house, in reference to the soldiers
nome at Leavenworth, assaulted the board
of managers. Whether or not there are
any personal feelings involved I do not
know, and whether or not his charges are
true I do not know
The Debaters Warm Up.
What do you mean by the word
ASA ulted % inquired Mr.. Anthony
Exactly what 1 say retorted Mr.
Mann.
rs it the business of member to
ISM" insisted Mr.. Anthony.
Mann. Il do not believe the assaults
made by the gentleman from Kansas on
the board of managers have been justi-
fled. Usually these things come from
some personal feeling"
Mr.. Anthony asked: Does not a para
graph in this bill seek to remove a large
part of the board of managers by cutting
down the board membership? Does not
that afford ample ground for the assump-
tion?''
mo. it does not afford ample assump-
ton, " said Mr.. Mann. THE paragraph in
the bill is for the purpose of reducing the
number of managers as vacancies occur,
not on the ground of incompetent man
agement.''
He Produces s'the Goods"
Let me say" quickly retorted Mr.. An
thony, that ample ground exists, and if
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Mann)
wants the ground here, I give him the
real reason for the reduction in the num-
Der of the board of managers
Produce the goods said Mann.
81 should like to ask" replied Mr.. An
thony, IF it is not true that one of the
motives which actuated the committee
on appropriations in reducing the mem
bership of the board was the misconduct
of some of the members of that board?'
Mr.. Mann said that he did not know
that that was the motive of the committee,
and thereupon the colloquy ended by TAX
ing of the vote on the amendment pertain
ing to the fuel question at the Leaven-
worth home. Mr.. Anthony'S amendment
was rejected. L. w. THAVIS.
DIMDI 70 DFnAN tn