The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-22
Declares Chairman Brooks Vic.
lated State Law.
PLACED RELATIVES on PAYROLL
Says Brooks and Myers
~Pooled" State Contracts.
Awarding Them at Higher
Prices to Favorites.

fOli0W1ng year OF 6act1onal trou.
BILE among members Of the board OF
control. charges by H. c. Bowman,
junior member Of the board are be-
ing made concerning the onicial con-
duct OF w. e. Brooks. chairman. ana
Stance Myers. secretary Of the board.
Ihese charges involve the allegod
pooling" Of contractc for state inatt-
tutfons by the two Democratic MEM
bers, the placing by Brooks OF rela-
tives on the pay roll Of the tnstttu-
ttons and making Of direct sales to
state charities by the control board
chairman In direct violation OF tho
state law.
For more than a year the relations
between the two Democratic mem.
bers of the board and the minority
member have been moro or IeGn
strained. Bowman today claims that
he has kept books ON Brooks and
Myers and his Information has been
| released for use in the campaign.
me charges. however, are Of q seri-
Gus nature and IL established would
subject at least the chairman OF the
board eoard to summary removal. In ad-
dftion to his charges that the letter
and spirit Of the state law has been
violated by Chairman Brooks, Bow
i man asserts that he 10 prepared to
cite instances of fragrant mismanaeo-
ment Of tho state institutions.
/
Bowman claims to have in his poo-
session has been withheld from the
public for nearly year. The Re-
publican member of the board ad.
mits that he has furnished data for
articles recently appearing in Kansas
ment OF the board. These state
ments, Bowman declares. he II pre-
pared to substantiate in the courts or
pubic hearing OF record.
l Put Relatives ON Pay Roll.
In at least three instances. Bowman
declares. Chairman Dfo0ks has placed
relatives on the state payreal at the In
!tion and This actasnzsta
tAsserted to be IN dfr6et, sfG &&
state law governing the inaGh 93n1e6
Of the institutions and to subject. .
member to removal.
4 Another act cited by Bowman has to
do with the making of direct sAle6 of
merchandise to state charities by his
wholesale firm in Fort Scott. This ,Ac-
tion would also subject a member to re-
lmoval from office, according to inter-
pretations OF the law.
pooled" State Contracts. :
Against Brooks and Myers. Bowman
has made the charge that they
pooled" contracts at the semi-annual
contract lettings for state institutions
in Topeka. Too many Fort Scott and
the homes Of the two Democrats
members-received contracts from thu
state. according to Bowman's state
i ment.
4 But the fact that the Fort Scott and
Leavenworth wholesalers received biz
contracts does not alone constitute
Bowman's charges against the present
members. Bowman asserts that in sew
eral instances the Fort Scott and Leav-
lenworth firms we're paid more for their
wares than prices quoted by competi-
tive firms He claims that records VIII
show that in more than 80 instances
} the prices paid at the 1913 letting were
! higher than those paid at the 1872 let
) ting.
Paid Big Price for Rice.
'l Insone case. Bowman charges Brook
and Myers arbitrarily rejected q bid d
$3.50 a hundred pounds for rice to giv<
; the contract to a Leavenworth firm q
SIS a hundred pounds.
IT am ready and willing to prov<
these charges and can do it In am
court or hearing of record" said Bow.
. man.
Bowman claims that on one occasiou
he mentioned the actions Of Brooks AM
Myers in juggling contracts and dtD
cussed the matter with, Grant HarrinG
ton. private secretary to the governog
: On another occasion. he says, he spoh
|. to Governor Hodges personally abou
: the placing of relatives on the state p,
: roll by Chairman Brooks. One Q
T(<0nfinued IN Pa9a 70 ---