Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-10
Nebraska
LUDDEN COURTS The LAW
Secretary of Normal Board with Gov
ernor and Legal Department.
BRINGS RECORDS INTO PLAY
Asks Attorney 10 Include In suit
sums Alleged to Have Been Paid
Secretary Graham and
and the Governor.
lFrom a ststf Correspondent

LINCOLN, May s-tspeclai. )-Luther r.
Ludden, secretary Sof the state Normal
board, whose salary Governor Shallen-
berger has asked the auditor to hold up
temporarily and the legal department Of
the state to take steps to prevent it's pay
ment permanently has written both the
governor and the legal department, court
ing Legal action.
In ad&lion to having the legality Of the
payment of his salary tested, Mr. Ludden
has suggested that the attorney general In
Sude in the suit the following items:
Forty dollars paid to Secretary Graham
OF the defunct board out Of the dormltory
fund by Principal Crabtree OF Peru.
Ten dollars paid to Secretary Graham OF
the defunct board out OF the maintenance
fund by Principal Crsbtree Of Peru.
Forty dollars paid to Secretary Graham
OF the defunct board out of the cash fund
by Principal Thomas Of the Kearney
YnNmal.
Ten dollars paid to Governor Shallen-
berger for expenses out of the cash funds
by Principal Thomas of Kearney, when the
expense was covered in another item.
Secretary n. M. Graham, who, the records
show according to Mr.. Luddcn's letter, was
elected by the boaIS appointed by Gov
ernor Shallenberger when he temporarily
knocked out the present board by leglsla-
tive action
cites Records.
In his letter to the governor Mr.. Ludden
says that he has the records to show that
the sos paid to Mr.. Graham was not paid
FOR railroad fare. as he has receipts from
the railroads showing that $3.50 was spent
by Mr.. Graham for this purpose and
vouchers are on file, he says, with the
receipts.
SRsgsrding the $40 paid Governor Shall
Bbbergor Mr. Ludden said:
while the attorney general is at ii, why
not include this item also, lest it estab-
lsh precedent. Kearney receipt No 232,
reads kearney, Neb., May 26, 1909. Re-
cceived OF principal for expenses for trip
to KeaEpey to deliver commencement ad-
dress, May &c, 1909. 5000, Csigned) A. c.
Shalltnberger. This was paid out of the
cash fund at Kearney. and Mr.. Thomas
paid also for the auto that was sent across
the country some fifty miles in order that
YOU could reach Kearney in time for the
commencement. This is not a time for the
pot to call the kettle back but net the
attorney general put in all these claims and
clear up the record at one stroke
Continuing the letter, the governor said
nation in your letter to the attorney gen
efal that the payment to me is a new
thing. a.
Tho law creating the State Board of Ed
ucation was passed in 1881, and the board
met June IL and Is, 1884, for re-organiza-
ton under the new law and one of the
first motions reads: "on motion of Mi.
spencer, the SECRETARY was allowed $50
for clerical services for the past year
NC. Il. True was the secretary. At the
next meeting the state superintendent be-
came secretary and for five years w. w
W. Jones drew $3.50. He was followed by
George b. Lane. who drew 500. A. Is
Gouoy followed him and he drew 500. II
r. Corbett followed him and he drew 800
w. II. Jackson was the next in line and
lie drew his 5000 During Mr. Jackson;
term the $50 salary claim went up to tn,
legislature as deficiency claim"
Ihe Rock Island railroad has filed will
the secretary of state its contract will
the Bankers Trust company for new equip
ment for its system, to cost So, 10000, TO
the payment of which bonds have beef
! issued.
Governor Shallenbergerhas honored tn,
rcquisition for the return to Chicago o
Antonio Manata, wanted in Chicago 70
murder. Manata is under arrest at Broker
Bow.
The state Board of Assessment has re
ceiVed a letter from the tax agent of tn
St Joseph and Grand Island railroad, ask
ing that he be permitted to appear befor
the board and make argument for
lower assessment The tax agent wrot
that he had been appraised of the actio
OF the board through the newspapers an
expreSSed surprise that railroad repre-
sentNbuVes had not been given an oppor
tunity to be heard this year as formerly
Secretary Seymour, with the approval o
the board, has written the company tina
the board might consider opening the as
sessment for the purpose Of increasing tn
asA tssment of this road, but not for tn
purpose OF decreasing its valuation
The tax agents of all the roads had IN
formation TO the effect that the board in
tended meeting ON the first Monday
May and the board holds il was their dut
TO be OF hnnh an that date IL they ha
Suything to say. However, the
already agreed, alter considering the r,
turns. that there would be no decrease
assessment of any railroad property.