The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-03-29
Affairs Board is.ues Statement An.
swcrino Charges Brought by
Committee; Says Aeeu.
sations unfoundcd
LOWEST BIDDERS GOT
CONTRACTS, DECLARES
Probe Committee Didn't Ask Help,
Statement Says: Answers
Charge Of Failure Ad.
vertisc for Bids

Oklahoma CITY, Mar. 2o.-Rcplylng
to the housc investigating commit.
tees charges against the State Board
Of Public Affairs today. members
OF the board In n printed report. de-
clafed that "a careful consideration
OF the testimony attached by the IN.
vestlgating committee 10 It's findings
does not sustain the record and its
conclusions
After dealing with all the charges
In detail and presenting evidence
TO disprove each specific charge
against the board, the report says:
In practically every instance tho
testimony OF individuals who were
swayed by alleged grievances or
prejudice has been presented as the
basis OF condemnation The official
files of the various departments OF
state do not sustain any of the al.
legations made.
"The State Board of Public Az
fairs has at all times offered It's
cooperation TO the investigating com;
mittee and even asked and demand
cd an opportunity to extend Its aid.
Not all OF the testimony Of witnesses
appearing before the investigating
committee has been presented to the
house OF representatives. This r.
gretable fact resulted In an incom-
plete report on tic various transac-
tions mentioned in the findings"
Answering the charge that favor
itlsm was shown to two firms in
letting contracts for public buildings.
the board says, "We beg to advise
that the records in our office show
that without single exception the
awards were made TO the lowest
bidder; further that notice to con-
tractors was published in some news
paper having general circulation In
the state.'
In regard IL the charge that A.,
W. Cassidy, who had contract for
beautifying the grounds Of the In
dustral school for Girls at Okla
homa City, the board presents
complete statement with affidavits
showing that Cassidy was not over.
paid and that the contractor lost
money on the job.
In connection with the purchase
Of coffee for the state penitentlary
and the state hospital at Norman,
the board also offers documentary
evidence and says.
"This transaction involves the de-
sire Of the Board of Public Affairs
10 supply the unfortunates in in
sane asylums and prisons with
palatable coffee.
ut is admitted that certain gro.
GERS bid nine and So cents per
pound on grade Of coffee when
Is the lowest quality permitted TO
enter the United States by custom
officials-a quality too inferior TO be
presented to the inmates of our
State institutions.
"The opposition to the coffee Sc
lected came from certain wholesale
grocers who have trade war on the
particular brand selected because 1t
is not sold to jobbers by the manu-
facturers. The entire transaction,
involving an Insignificant amount OF
money, hinges on the Judgment o.
this Board In its effort to furnish
tho charges of State institutions with
coffee worthy of the name.'
The matter of coal purchases IS
dealt with in detail in the report
concluding; This board re-asserts
. as ,t did before the committee, that
. during the past year more coal was
purchased and delivered to state in
stitutions for less money than during
. any like period since statehood
. This positive statement is based up
, on records available. 1t shows that
| fCont;nvod On nara thraal