Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-07-02
.S6 BLANKETS
GET GOAT OF
STATE BOARD
1000 Made of Montana
Wool Cause Endless
Trouble to Examiners.
Spectre of Old H. c. L.
Strikes State House,
Forces Compromise.
Special to The Tribune.

Special to The Tribune
Helena, July If anyone wants 70
get fight out of the members of the
state board of examiners Governor
Dixon, Attorney General Rankin and
Secretary of State Stewart. about all
he will have to do will be to say ''blan-
Eets.' And there is good reason.
The word blankets spoken in the
presence of the board is likely to
start CONFEDERATION. One would be
almost as safe were he to wave bright
red blanket in the face of an enthus-
lastic young bull.
The board Of examiners has just
concluded the purchase Of 1900 woolen
blankets at Sc per. They were not
purchased by the board because they
wanted these particular blankets, but
because they had been previously
bought by the heads of state institu-
tions long before the act was passed
authorizing the employment Of a pur-
chasing agent and in fact before Gov
ernor Dixon took office.
coaIey Ordered 1000.
One thousand of the blankets were
purchased by Frank Gonicy last De-
cember while he was still in charge of
the state prison, This fact did not
have the effect of impressing upon
Governor Dixon the idea that the deal
should be gone through with.
Another 1000 Of the blankets was
ordered by ]. NJ. Scanland, superin-
tendent of the state hospital for the
insane. The blankets were ordered
from the Montana Wool Growers as
sociation, to be made up at Chicago
from Montana grown wool, and were
to be delivered at Sc each.
The first shipment of the blankets
did not reach the state prison until
after Mr.. Conley had been replaced by
NJ. W. Potter. The latter decided he
did mot want the blankets, especially
as he had only 400 prisoners, and he
re-boxed the shipment and sent it back
to the railroad station subject to the
orders of the makers.
Approves Then Cancels.
Then the matter was taken up at |
Helena by DR.. Fl. c. Gardner, of Ana
.onda. who had acted as selling agent |
Tor the blankets and who was deeply
interested In seeing the deal 70 |
through.
The board of examiners, after look
ng into the matter and coming to the
conclusion that the state was morally. |
not legally, bound to take the blan-
cts, approved the order.
Later, particularly after the state
eceived an offer from the Oregon
Voolen Mills. to supply an all wool
lanket for 81, the board rescinded its
ction. Then things began to hum and
)r. Gardner, Lieutenant Governor
Story and DR.. Scanland came into
Helena and long conferences were held
Changes Front Again. /
As result the board of examiners
gain changed front and decided there
'as nothing to do but make the best
+ bad job.
Prison Warden Potter said he only
eeded 100 of the 1000 blankets or
cred for the prison. Superintendent
'idal Of the hospital for tuberculosis
aid he could handle $50, while DR..
canland said he needed 1000 for his
lstitution, where there are now 400
mates.
Accordingly 100 were allotted to the
risOn, $50 to the tuberculosis sani-
lrium and $50 to the insane asylum
his disposed of the 1000 lot ordered
' Mr.. Conley but left to be disposed
the 1000 lot ordered by DR.. Scan
nd.
As only 500 Of this order have been
tipped, it was decided to let this
lmber come on and to cancel the or
II coving /e unshipped 500.
When asked as to the great differ
ice in price between his blankets and !,
e Oregon blankets, DR.. Gardner call
attention to the big drop in the
ice of wool since last December,
hen the blankets were ordered.