Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-08
BAD ODOR FROM THE NORMAL
Charges Salaries Are Paid to Those Who
Have Little or No Work to Do
TO Be CALLED TO sHELDoN's ATTENTION
Biennial Report of Auditor shows n
Reduction of Ss4d,78O.s1 in state
Debt, Largely Through the
sheldon Bill,
CFrom a Stan CORRESPONDENT

LINCOLN, Dec. 7.-(special. )-Charges OF
such a serious nature have been made
against the management Of the Kearney
Normal school. duplicating some members
of the Normal board, that a legislative in
Vestigation seems imperative. to be de-
manded either by the management or by
those who have made the charges The
matter will be laid before Governor-elect
Sheldon upon his return home and he will
be asked TO make a personal investigation
OF the affairs OF the school.
1t Is charged. and the charge is made in
writing that persons in large numbers have
been employed at fat salaries at the
Normal school merely for political purp ses.
II Is charged that engineers and firemen
were employed during the summer months
and paid good salaries merely to attend po-
utieRl caucuses and to help carry out Sup
srintendent Thomas reported statement
that he intended TO run the politics OF Buff
falO county. One man, II IL charged, who
was employed to work around the Normal
school campus during the summer did moth
ing at all but water the trees occasionally
and attend political meetings, yet drew a
good salary. 1t is charged many persons
were employed whose names do not appear
on the vouchers, but who we're paid out OF
what Is known as the dormitory fund.
So far as the records at the stltehouse
are concerned no itemized statement is on
hle as TO how much money has been col
lected at the school. The money iE merely
sent to the state treasurer and dep1s ted
An a lump as a dormltoTy OF cash fund
Whether the items are previously checked
up and audited By the board an investiga-
ton probably viii show.
Another matter concerning this school
which viii be looked into and TO which Mr.
sheldons attention viii be called. is the
oontraot for the Normal school building
Architect Berllnghof reported unfavorab-y
upon accepting the building. holding It DID
not conform to the specifications in the
contract but the motion TO accept Il aad
10 pay the last installment OF the contract
price was carried by a maJoriy vote OF
those present, but without a majority vote
pf the entire board.
Il was publicly stated at that meeting by
Treasurer Mortensen that at least Mem
Der Gregg Of the State Normal beard owned
stock in the cement company which mad,
the blocks Of which the school was con
structed Another report is that Gregg solo
his stock. or pretended 70 sell a. upon be
ing appointed a member OF the board. ThI
company was organized by Kearney mel
and IL was stated at the board meetinl
that the company lost about TOOo on thl
deal owing partially to Berlinghors gooS
work In trying TO make the work come ~
90 the contract specifications. Gregg's con
nection with a hardware hrm which haS
q contract 10 furnish supplies in this line 4
the school will also some In for an airing
BOARD Members Out,O City.
Both Treasurer Mortense9 and supern
aenaept RfcBrien. members OF the board
ars out Of The city ana no informad9I