Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-19
BEEMER GETS THE BALANCE
Is TO Be Allowed the U~nexpended Portion
of $4,000 as Salary.
BOLD STEAL OFFICIALLY c0UNTENANceD
state Board of Public Lands and
buildings Exhibits Unusual Libcr-
atty I'm "Compcnsatina' m IL
legal "Contrnctor."

LINCOLN. Jan. 1s.-(special)-For several
months the Board of Public Lands and Build
fngs has been insisting on its right to
manage" the affairs OF the state peniten-
tiary. A striking Illustration OF Its peculiar
system Of management has Just been devel-
oped. The board refused to permit Warden
Leidigh to draw directly from the state
auditor any OF the appropriation, s102, 200, for
penitentiary purposes. On the contrary, 1t
appointed A. d.. Beemer prison contractor
which appointment has been knocked out
by the supreme court, as Illegal. But pre-
vious to the decision of the court Beemer
succeeded In drawing $1,000 from the state
treasury. To a representative of The Bee
he said he had expended 81 ,647. So of this
sum paying up back salaries, for coal, electric
lights, ETC., leaving a balance on hand
of $352.44. To another reporter for a Lin
coin paper he now says he expended but
$1,000, leaving on hand $500. This latter
he retains as his salary. In ether words, the
scheme of the Board of Public Lands and
buildings in its management Of %peniten-
tiary affairs includes the payment Of 20 per
cent 0f the states appropriation to a third
party. Despite the fact that the supreme
court has declared Beemer's contract with
the board Illegal, the board has settled with
him and allowed him the same amount it
allowed each Of the appraisers Of Dorgan's
plant, $500. Beemer got $500 for handling
81, 900.
Land Commissioner Russell, one of the
members of the Board of Public Lands and
Buildings, was seen by a representative of
Tho Bee and asked IL 1t was true that the
board had settled with Beemer and paid
him $500 for service1 under the contract de-
clared Illegal by the supreme court. Mr..
Russell said:
THE board has not officially notified
Beemer that he can retain $500 from the
$4,000 which he drew, but you can say In
your paper that that Is what will be done at
our next meeting"
"But Mr.. Beemer," it was suggested, Says
that he has expended $ .647. Sc CT the 1000
for penitentiary purposes. VIII he be per-
mitted to draw q warrant for the $147.56
still due him?'
NO"
'Then, from what source will he reimburse
himself for his labors in paying the warden's
bills"
81 don't know. All I know is that he is to
have $500 for his services under the con-
tract. l have not looked over Beemer's con-
tracts, but my deputy, Mr.. Royse, has,"
Governor Holcomb was asked for his opln-
lon regarding the exorbitant price pad
Beemer for his services under the illegal
contract. He said:
1.-THE whole payment is Illegal. But IL the
Board of Public LanGx and Buildings wishes
to pay Beemer for time spent laying around
the state house. waiting on the indefinite
prospects of getting some official position, l
suppose the board will go ahead and do it.
Beemer did nothing at all for this $500 that
Warden Leidigh would not have done for
nothing. The whole deal is a fair sample
OF what would have occurred on a larger
scale had the supreme court declared his
contract binding on the state"
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