The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-21
white art,cle,- vas asked Of BOW

man.
Bought Linen IT Excessive Price.
Il don't intend to charge anything.
said that a man told me he could
buy the linen bought by the board at
IS cents at 81 y cents yard. Bow
man replied.
That was another Of Bowman's
J. w. Calhoun, who received the
linen contract, was called and testified
that the linen cost 72 cents yaro.
factory prices.
War Prices ON Rice Contract.
Another Bowman complaint con-
cerned the inferred graft In the pur-
chase Of rice. He had charged that the
board paid $4.e2 a hundred pounds for
rice that could have been bought Tor
1888. That was In the campaign
charge. On the witness stand Bowman
admitted there was rice and rice, just
as there were varied and sundry quail
tiles of overalls, linens and boots ana
shoes.
w. N. Todd. who sold the rice. tes-
tilted that he had expected a profit OF
Is cents a hundred pounds on his rice
contract with the state, but tnat the
price went skyward on account OF the
war and rice prices jumped from u TO
$50 a hundred pounds.
Bowman Argues With Attorneys.
Bowman's explanations and answers
were long and argumentative. Dawson
became impatient.
hour Or two whether Brooks and MY
ers are crooked or straight and whether
Bowman put out these charges for po-
lftical purposes. You can't substitute
your judgment for the judgment OF the
board What We want to know il
whether any law has been violated
That was the little speech which
Dawson made to the commission But
it didn't do a bit of good. Bowman
talked right back to Dawson and the
commission tried to interfere and final
ly gave up in despair.
On Characterization, j. j. Schenck
tried the short cut with Bowman, and
for thirty minutes the lawyer and the
witness exchanged compliments, with
Fred s. Jackson trying to urge protec-
ton for the witness, Dawson trying to
advise the commission as to its rights
and the commission trying to hasten
the inquiry. Chairman Shouse threat
ened to fine all the lawyers in the court
room. including the witness. Even that
didn't help. Bowman went ahead with
his explanations or sidestepped direct
answers and there was apparently no
way to stop MIN.
Sidesfeps Direct Answers.
Wasn't this matter put out to in
jure Governor Hodges and the present
board except yourself?' asked Schenck.
You can draw your own conclu-
sions" said Bowman.
Didn't you tell Charley Sloan these
articles had cost Hodges $4,000 votes %
Bowman wasn't certain. Thought he
didn't say it. He had talked to Sloan
But that was all.
These contracts of which you COM
plain were let when there were two
Republicans and one Democratic men,
Der on the control board?" asked
Schenck
Bowman made a lengthy explanation,
but admitted the truth Of the assertion.
Then why didn't you have the fair
ness and honesty to say you didn't
protest." asked Schenck.
Objection was made to the question
and it was withdrawn.
Adjourn Until Monday.
Concerning letting of contracts with
out competitive bids. records were pro-
duced and identified by Bowman which
showed letting of similar bids Vfdle he
was chairman of the board. In one
instance, the record showed, Bowman
had approved the purchase of $400
worth of furniture for the Osawatomie
hospital by telephone.
At II o'clock Friday night the COM
mission adjourned until 10 O'Clock Mon
day morning. Senator Overfield was
unable to be in Topeka today and nc
Saturday session was held.