The Scandal at Washington Agricultural College
Regents face accusations of corruption and kickbacks regarding construction contracts for the new state college.
A short time after the June meeting of the regents of the Agricultural College, the Olympian stated that 'evidences were not wanting that the hand which had been manipulating his pliant tools, that thrift might follow scheming' was at work. Reports from Pullman suggested the commission was at loggerheads, and scandalous gossip emerged about the letting of a contract for chimneys to a Spokane drug firm at double the wholesale price. Further allegations surfaced regarding frauds in the letting of contracts for the college hall. A.H. Smith, a regent, attempted to deflect questions, claiming everything was progressing satisfactorily, but it was revealed that the board had awarded a contract for the hall to Taylor & Lauder for nearly $6,000 more than the lowest responsible bidder. Following public outcry and Smith's intervention, the commission moved to rescind the contract, but critics believe the damage—and the stench of 'addition, division, and silence'—remains.
“For it has about it the smell of ill-gotten gain, of collusion, of the application of that 'rule of three'—addition, division, silence.”
This 1892 struggle over state college building contracts and regent graft mirrors modern-day concerns regarding public accountability, university spending, and the influence of private interests on state infrastructure projects in Washington.
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