The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-23
BOWMAN Went
TO MOVIE SHOW

III mUvIt ShUW
CONTINUED from Page one.1
test against any of the prices paid by
the board for supplies. did not appeal
to the attorney generals ONCE. or ask
that the vouchers and warrants be held
up in the state auditors office. Neither
did Bowman go to the governor with
protest. His charges were withheld un-
til ten days before the election when
newspapers by the minority member of
the board.
Increase in Cost.
There is not the slightest question
but that the prices paid for certain
commodities show alarming increases.
In fact the Bowman figures show in
creases in prices in 20 dry goods and
AZ grocery items against decreases in
rs dry goods and 40 grocery items. This
situation Is explained by Brooks and
Myers, who contend that market val
ues increased during the year and that
the quality of goods bought in 1913 was
superior to goods purchased the pre-
viOus year.
Bowman has complained that the
price paid for overalls in 1913 was $11
q dozen against price of $3.50 in 1912.
Unbleached table linen jumped from
70H cents a yard to Is cents in 1913 and
Bowman quotes a Topeka merchant as
authority for the statement that the
contract left a margin Of % cents a
yard for the successful bidder. An
other item had to do with jumpers for
which the state paid $1O.75 in 1913 as
against $4.48 in 1912. Still another item
concerns the price Of rice. Three rice
contracts were let, the price ranging
from 1898 per hundred pounds to $4.62
Der hundred hounds
Asked II he had protested against the
granting Of the contracts by the board
OF which he is member. Bowman said
he had not.
Didn't Protest.
IT didn't loaf around there much"
said Bowman. There didn't seem to
be much for me to do. In fact, I
think I went to a picture show"
Neither Brooks nor Myers deny the
increases in the prices paid for mer-
chandise by the board. They merely
assert that they bought better goods
than those formerly purchased for
the institutions. Chairman Brooks
travagance by pointing to a saving in
sugar prices for the state institutions.
Sugar. says Brooks. was passed by the
board because the prices quoted were
not satisfactory. Later the board pur-
chased its sugar supply at the follow
ing prices: $4,000 pounds for Osa-
watomie. $4.15; 10000 pounds for To-
peka, $4.16; $4,000 pounds for Fort
Dodge. $4.35; 10000 pounds for Par
sons, $3.50. The sugar was pur-
chased on the open market.
Many of the Bowman charges were
reprinted in the Capper publications
and are being used as campaign ma
teriaL When Chairman Brooks of the
board Of control this week sent q
statement to these papers. stating his
side of the controversy. these papers
refused to give space to his side OF
the case.
Relative an Irrigation Expert.
In his statement, Brooks declares
that E. H. Lyon. his brother-in-law
was appointed as superintendent of
irrigation because of his especial fit
ness as an irrigation expert.
Mr.. Bowman evidently overlooks
the fact that some of the Republican
state officials in the state house have
relatives on the state payroll who do
not SO much as make a pretense OF
earning the salaries paid them," re-
taliates Brooks in his answer to the
Bowman charge of employing rela-
tives.
Further than the fact that the DEM
ocratic members employed relatives to
work in state institutions, Bowman
criticises the administration members
for the alleged misuse Of funds in the
Larned hospital is Chairman Brooks
especial pride and joy and he answers
his fellow members charge in rather
harsh terms. Brooks not only de-
clares that every dollar invested at
Larned has been well spent, but he
points to improvements in other state
charities and deplorable conditions ex-
listing when changes were made in the
management OF some of these institu-
tons ions: , -
apd dairy barn, erected a waterworks
pant with tower and tank, built q pow
er and electric plant. put in an irriga-
ton plant. one Of the best in the state,
planted forest trees. constructed splendid
sewer systems, built brick and REIN
forced concrete cottage that is fire proof
the patients there today That is Brooks
defense of the Larned. asylum. Then he
adds: IAN has been in compliance with
man, who persistently insists on playing
peanut politics in the management of
the state institutions. He is tho only
continually acts as an obstructionist on
every Improvement. suggested for the BET
torment of the institutions under control
Of any board in the state
Best Articles Submitted.
Concerning the increased price for
Jumpers purchased by the board, Brooks
said: The contract was awarded to the
firm for the reason that they had the
$3.50 per dozen for overalls and $1O.5O for
jumpers. Some Of the superintendent Of
the different institutions complained that
the ones purchased by the prior board
were of inferior quality. A comparison of
the different samples will convince the
most skeptical that our selection was the
wise one.''
Charges that he made sales to state
charities In violation Of law, are an
swered by Chairman Brooks a. follows:
I'm May. 1914. voucher 613, against the
Topeka state hospital. In favor of the
Brooks Wholesale company for seed corn .
at 2.S5 per bushel. Mr.. Bowman fails to
say that the amount purchased was five
bushels. This corn was advertised at
Sass a bushel and our only regret Is
that we did not have enough to supply
demands"
Brooks explains that the seed corn WAS