Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-12-20
PROBE INTO THB
KHAKI PURCHASE
WARDEN DICK DECLARES BOARD
or AFFAIRS THE RESPOS-
SiBLE PARTY.
ALL BLAME A STOREKEEPER
Board OF \nairs and the Warden
Sccl, to shin All Res
possibility

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla Dec. -.
Warden Robert W. Dick, Of the
state penittenuary, told the senatorial
committee investigating the state
board Of affairs Thursday what he
thought Of the transaction whereby
the state paid 35 cents per yard for
khaki cloth. which the United states
government. according to the senate's
information, buys for 10 and % cents.
The state first agreed to pay 40 cents
per yard, wednesday the board said
they had accepted Dicks price as set
forth in his requislton A. cents and
placed the responsibility on the war;
den. Thursday Dick said the requlsi-
tion was only advisory and the boards
duty was to see that the price was
reasonable and the quality of tho
goods correct. Finally, the board and
warden agreed In placing the respon-
sibility upon the penitentiary store-
keeper who is not attending the hear
ing.
the requisltlon he relied on the judg-
ment Of his storekeeper, who had
talked with John Whayne, salesagent
for the Falls City Clothing Co., tho
jobblng house that sold the khaki. lie
said he made no inquiry into price or
quality observing that was what tho
board Of affairs was there for" He
a eta To
bad bargain and called It mistake
number one" He said the bargain
was so bad that no more goods would
be bought of the Falls City Co.
Discussing the controversy In
which the board, the warden and the
clothing company engaged In before
the price was reduced nine and one
half cents n yard Dick said opinions
varied as to what the price should
be some placing 1t as low as 10 cents.
He admitted that he had been "lost in
the shuttle" and didn't know khaki
from broadcloth."
Questioned as to the clothing COM
panys assertion that the cloth cost
them 20 cents, Mt the mills, Dick said
he thought the concern was u pretty
poor buyer"
Il. b. Howard, secretary Of tho
board, questioned Dick as to the quail
lficatlons of the storekeeper and later
sought his opinion on the general
proposition Of competitive bidding.
The warden declared that the plan OF
buying supplies by competitive bids
was farce lie was sure the pur-
chase of sample would be economic
cal for the state.
There has been a rumor since tho
senate recessed last week. that evil
dence was brought out in executive
session, that the United States govern
ment bought the same class Of cloth
as purchased for the penltentiary al
10 and p cents per yard. Senator
Franklin and Chairman J. Elmer
Thomas, questioned both Dick and
Howard as to their information on
this point.
Howard said that certain en-
ploye" had wired through Bird Me-
CURE to the government at Wash
ington for information regarding tho
cost Of khaki to the United States. He
said the eX-cmploye had personal rea-
sons for seeking the information and
added that the board had not been
in the habit Of entrustlng the search
for Information to the person in ques-
uon.
"Who Is this ex-employe,' asked
Chairman Thomas
He IS Or. 7. c. Beeler," replied
Howard.
Asked what Information Beeler had
secured from the war department.
Howard said Like everything else.
that was entrusted to the employe, Il
disappeared with him" Howard ex-
pressed the belief that the government
should be able to buy khaki at
price 90 per cent lower than the state
Of oklahoma could purchase It,
The board offered as an exhibit.
letter from the Falls City Clothing
CO.. received Thursday. offering depo-
sltions from It's officials and vouch-
sailing the belief that the senate in
vestlgation Of this particular transact
tlon was inspired hy some disgruntled
wholesaler who hadn't got desired
contracts.