The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-11-19
No. Need of
on
Legislature
Republican Members Reply to
Governor Bryan's Plea
for Funds to Pay
Road Bills.
Is Bookkeeping Problem

Republican state legislators in Oma-
ha declare that there is no need for
Governor Bryan to call special ses-
sion Of the legislature to approprite
approximately $420. 900 to meet unset
tied claims of road contractors.
sThe governor stated Saturday that
he Is willing to call a special session
II the contractors and republican leg
islators pay the expenses. and If 'the
republican members will make proper
apology to the people for their actions
during the last session.
There is no need for a special ses-
sion," said Senator ]. w. Cooper last
night. 1.-The sum Is sufficiently large
to warrant the contractors waiting for
1t the short time necessary, and get
the appropriation in the usual man
ner.
1.-The contractors should be paid, of
course, and the suggested course may
be according to the best business prin-
ciples, but 1t takes nerve to ask
legislators, state officials and the con-
tractors to meet the necessary expense
incurred.
The supreme court handed down a
decision Saturday that the contractors
could not be paid out Of the appro-
priation made at the last session for
road construction.
A. w. Elsasser, democrat, takes this
as a vindication of the governors po-
sition. He declared that Governor
McKelvie on leaving office announced
that no deficit existed and he holds
that after an investigation Governor
Bryan discovered deficit in the road
fund.
George F.. Stats, Fremont. leader
in the house. and pioneer in the good
roads movement. stated last night that
he is not in favor of the proposed
special session.
IF Governor Bryan wants a spe-
cial session" he said. "let him call 1t.
Advices from Lincoln state that no
contracts were let by the previous
state administration in excess OF the
amount scheduled from state and fed
eral aid funds.
The federal government Is custom
arlly behind hand in paying its share
s3f road construction costs. However,
it Is declared that enough was forth
coming from the federal treasury for
building Nebraska highways In 1871
to meet all expenditures.
When McKelvie went out OF office
and Bryan came in. difficulties were
created that resulted in the loss OF
some federal aid. The United States
government engineers baked on GER
tain overruns and a dispute over
Cherry county roads left the fund
short of expectations.
The new decision of the supreme
court, which forbade payment Of old
road claims out of new funds, changes
the situation still further. In the past.
the Joint road fund was considered as
a running account. Inasmuch as the
federal program is made for six years,
the state authorities also worked on
the six-year plan. instead of keeping
each two-year period separate. as Gov
ernor Bryan has held they should be.
Question of Bookkeeping.
j. w. Towle, president of the Al
lied Contractors. Inc, stated last
night that he is under the impress
sion there will be no need of an ex-
ira session.
Money to meet all claims ne
said, sis at present in the treasury
of the state. according to inforrna-
ton we have been given. 1t is mere
" a matter of bookkeeping to meet
these bills. We can give no definite
answer until we have read the com
plete decision handed down by the
court. OF course, the claims are
just.
"If the funds should happen not
ITO be in the treasury and 1t is neces.
sary to call a special session, do
not think 1t W ould be just to ask
a certain portion OF the legislature
or the contractors to meet expenses