The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-04-04
Johnson Repeats
His Charges at
Capitol Inquiry
Engineer Says Coodhue Negli-
gent and Incompetent :
Commission Should Take
Blame, Says Head.
BY PAUL GREER.
T Correspondent The Omaha Bee.


Lincoln, April 3.-Bertram G. Good
hue, designer of Nebraska's new state
capitol. was placed on the rack again
today. George E. Johnson. former
state engineer and examiner of the
capitol commission, repeated his
charges of negligence and incompe-
tency before the joint legislative in
yestigating committee. AT tomorrOw's
session Mr.. Goodhue will be given the
opportunity to reply.
Ii is difficult to understand this con-
troversy, and more difficult still 10
explain it. The proceedings outwardly
bear the appearance Of a feud be-
tween the architect and the engineer.
Opinion differs in Lincoln between the
view that Johnson is protecting the
interests OF the people OF the state or
venting some personal spite. On the
one hand there Is 900 reduction in
the cost of stone on the first unit OF
the building that he has saved, with
possibility OF the saving reaching
S45 900 on the three units together.
On the other hand is the intense bit
terness, the hatred and insult which
he shows toward the architect, who
L
is undeniably one of the foremost
men in his line.
May Ruin Goodbue.
Some say that the whole proceeding
is an outrage which may result in the
breakdown OF Goodhue and leave him
unable TO carry out his plaps. Others
ssy that the delay that has been oc- .
casioned by the dispute VIII cost the
state more than can be saved.
Walter W. Head. a member Of the
capitol commission. stated today that
contractors may hesitate 10 bid on
the next two units OF the structure.
IL they feel that they are to be held
up, he said. they will put heavy al
lowanee for such difficulties in their
bids.
Mr.. Head probably summed up the
whole matter when he declared FOR
the witness and that Goodhue is a
better architect than he 10 bust
ness man.
"'rhe state contract with NJ.
Goodhue provides yearly salary nf
s25. 900 until the capitol is completed
Mr. Head stated. while the evil
dence may indicate that the architect
has been wee bit extravagant. 1t Is
not his fault. but the commissions.
We have all made mistakes, diseov-
cred errors and profted by them in
experience. Always we have relied
on Mr.. johnson for advice. There
is never a time that 7 have not voted
/ naccord with Mr.. Johnson's recon-
mendations.
Is Better Architect.
at is not that the architect does
not understand his job. but that lie
, is n better architect than bust.
ness man. In my view. we are not
paying his one cent to advise us on
how 10 get the plumbing or other
contracts. and the commission hns
never allowed It self TO be influenced
against its better judgment. Tho
salary paid the architect il not Tor
advising when or where. or how much
to pay for construction work. but for
carrying out his wonderful plan
Il have absolute confidence in Mr.
Goodhue as an architect. ] think him
great genius. The state and the
4 taxpayers are TO be congratulated
/ that he was chosen.
/ by my lack Of knowledge In CON
struteion work. II has been necessary
for me TO depend ON the advice OF
Mr.. Johnson and others We have
gone throughly into all contracts aud
have endeavored To obtain the best
FOR the least money. All the decisions
Of the capitol commission hove been
made by a unanimous vote have
never heard anyone raise any objec.
tion in our meetings. and MIR. John
son was a member n the changes
IN plans of which he now complains.
were costly to the state. I am one of
the men 10 blame. not the arehi.
tect"
Johnson's Advice Taken.
In response from question by
Mr.. Head, Mr.. Johnson admitted that
the commission had never gone con
trary 10 his advice.
"What | maintain is that MY
supervision should never have been
necessary. "Mr. johnson maintained
'The architect II supposed t6 be the
adviser Of the capitol commission. It
looks TO me like a man drawing the
salary OF Mr.. Coodhue. and with the
expert advice he has hired should
protect the state and not give con.
tractors tho advantage"
Mr.. johnson declared that the com.
mission should cease 70 rely on Mr..
Coorhues advice because Il found
he was not dependable. At this Mr.
Head and W. II. Thompson OF Grand
Islandt another member OF the COM
mission. broke in to say that Mr..
Johnson was not speaking for them.
ut IL not my purpose To cntcr into
any MISUNDERSTANDING between AR.
johnson and MIR, Goodbue,' Mr.. Head
eIudnfo Rage Two, Column n