Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-11-24
MANDERSON MUCH BETTER
Hopes TO Be Able Soon to Make Argu.
ment Before Interior Department.
CASE OVER IRRIGATION CONTRACT
Washington Paper, Edited by Friend
of Bryan, Hopes Purchase of Texas
Land Indicates Removal to
that state.
fFrom a staff Correspondent)

gram. )-General Manderson was consider
ably improved today, his lumbago yielding
to the efforts of his physicians and In
consequence many OF the time friends
of the ex-senator called to pay their re-
spects Admiral w. S. Schey spending a
considerable time with the venerable
gentleman" as he lsughingly called Mr..
Manderson.
General Mandcrson said to The Bee rep
resentative today that he hoped to present
TO the secretary of the interior several
matters of considerable importance which
brought him to Washington, notably a
brief in the matter of the annulled con-
tracts with Callahan, Katz. Phelan &
Shirley, under the reclamation service
on the Huntley project in Montana and
with the same persons on the Fort Buford
project. Mr. Manderson will ask that these
contractors be relieved from any liability
to the government for the non-performance
of the contracts that were entered into
under an entire misapprehension of what
was demanded when the work was con-
tracted for and was entered upon. It Is
urged In Mr.. Manderson's brief that the
misunderstanding grew out of the "undis-
puted language and the proposal Of the
government official having charge and d.
rection of the work contracted for"
It appears that the Galatians and others
were awarded contracts on the irrigation
projects above referred to for digging the
necessary ditches; that the engineer Of
ficer had informed them that steam ma
chinery could be used and bids were
made accordingly. but later on manual
labor and animals were ordered to be put
on the work and the contractors threw
up the contract because of the increased
cost of such labor. which at that time
could not be had for "love or money"
The government let the contract to other
parties at an increase of 900 over the
Callahan bid and is now threatening to
bring suit against the contractors for nom
performance. which necessarily involves
the bondsmen General Manderson hopes
to secure the exoneration of the Galatians
understanding It was on the part of the
project engineer.
Burkett L. Confident.
! : Senator Burkett returned from hasty
visit to Nebraska last evening, where he
went to fill several lecture engagements.
| Asked II there was any change In the
| senatorial situation in his home state
Burkett remarked that IL there was he
had not noticed It. He saw no good rea-
son why the republicans two years from
now should not overturn the democratic
majority in the legislature resulting from
4 the election this fall.
! Mr.. Burkett said he had not discov-
cred whether Mr.. Bryan would be in the
| senatorial race. He called attention to
the fact that the defeated candidate of
the democratic party for the presidency
was spending the winter in Mexico and
Texas, (which probably means" added
Burkett, that any announcement OF
Bryan's intentions with respect to the
senatorial campaign will not be made
SOON"
Hint of Bryan's Future.
In view of the fact that Bryan has pur-
chased tract of land in Texas for d
Bulletin, which is published by Brysn's
staunchest friend In the District OF
Columbia. w. ]. Dwyer. is significant:
William Jennings Bryan has purchased
twenty acres of land at Corpus Christi
Tex, and will build a summer homo
thereon. We hope that 1t will be his per
manent home so that the Lone Star STATE
can send to the senate the creates
statesman this country has produced
since the days of Lincoln. AS the sue
cessor of Joseph w, Bailey. the natioI
and what little there is left of the dem
ocratic party would be the gamer. Ne
brsska is no place for the Commoner an'
never was"
Minor Matters at Capital.
First Lieutenant James S. Kennedy
medical reserve corps, is detailed as
member of the army retiring board a
Omaha. vice Captain James w Van
dusen. medical corps, relieved.
Postmasters appointed: Iowa, Valeris
, Jasper county, ]. B. Hessenius, vice F
Anderson, resigned. Wyoming. HillsdalC
Laramie county Amanda B. Coates vic