The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-04
Governor Charges Combination
of Road Supply Men.
Kansas Is Gouged in Purchas-
\ ing Brick and Cement.
COMMISSIONERS NOT TO BLAME
Recent Legislature Passed Bill
To Protect Purchasers.
High Prices Are ArOusing
Many Road Boosters.

Blame for exorbitant road build
ing prices should be placed on ma
terial men and not on state and
county officials, according to a state
ment today by. Gov. Henry ]. Allen.
In discussing complaints from several
counties to the effect that county
commissioners were unable to secure
bids within the estimates of the state
highway engineer, Governor Allen as
serted that material men are in a
combine.
The recent legislative session passed
the Montee- Barrier bill which was
aimed at brick and paving concerns
| which sought to control prices in this
state. This act extended to the at
| torney general the power of inquisi-
| ton in trust cases. No prosecutions
| of road building and material con-
| Germs have been brought by the at
| torney general, altho the bill is said
to have been urged by that office and
was passed as an administration
\ measure.
| Combinations Are Blamed.
Trouble in letting highway con-
| tracts" said Governor Allen, "is not
in the estimates. but in the combina-
| tions and agreements of the men who
| furnish supplies. Kansas pays higher
| prices for brick and cement than are
paid in neighboring states. We have
! managed to beat the prices down
| from a minimum of $4,000 to about
sss. 900, but when the supply men will
not come within the estimates of the
| highway engineer, the trouble is in
their bids. They figure maximum
| expenses on everything and contracts
cannot be let when they are in agree
| ment as to prices
The statement was made by Cover
nor Allen when his attention was
called to complaints from severa
counties. In practically every in
stance, it has been asserted. county
commissioners have been forced to le
contra cts at prices above the estimat,
or to readvertise for bids. This stu
alton has forced the county commits
sioners to shoulder all blame for higl
prices. In several instances it ha
been asserted that the state estimate
were too low.
.---=.-- State Laws Violated. 49,
Governor Aliens statement today i
a reiteratfon of his former charge
that brick and cement manufacturer
are violating the state anti trust law
The recent law was enacted by tn
legislature to meet just the situation
of which Governor Allen today com
planned. All of the machinery wa
placed in the hands of the attorne
general who now has power to sum
mon witnesses and to take testimon
| in a manner similar to that secured il
liquor inquisitions.
In Douglas county last Saturday tn
contract for connecting link of TIL
fort to fort highway, which woul
connect the Shawnee county road, wa
, held up. The commissioners we're un
able to secure bids within the esti
, mate of the state highway engineer
; 1t was stated at the meeting of tn
commissioners that the estimate wa
too low. Governor Allen asserts tn
} material men were too high and tina
, a combination existed.
Now the road is being held up. Ne7
, bidds must be secured and delays wi
Z be encountered in completing tn
work. Shawnee county is now &
. | work on its road