The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-04-06

Testifies
on Cars ) |
;
Former - :. .hd State
Ensin eesp ~ is for Years,
Clash y .rply al Legisla-
tive Probe.
N u m b e r of Surprises
BY PAUL GREER.
Special Dispatch To The Omaha Bee.


Lincoln. April 5.-Old friendships
were broken in the capitol investiga-
ton today. While the architect, Ber-
tram G.. Goodhue, sat in the witness
stand, former Governor McKelvie and
w. II. Thompson of Grand Island
clashed repeatedly with George L.
johnson, who has brought charges of
incompetency against the architect.
All three had been friends of long
standing and had served in complete
agreement on the capitol commission.
Mr.. McKelvie declared that the
Johnson charges were really against
the capitol commission and not
against the architect. who could not
take any action without the board $
approval.
He pointed out that not only had
Mr.. Johnson been a member of the
commission but also its technical ad.
wiser, and that no decision had ever
been made that was not unanimous.
Toward the end of the day the for
mer governor himself took the wit
ness chair
Formation OF Commission.
He began by explaining the formal
ton Of the capitol commissions which
the construction OF tho new state
house. Its members were Walter W.
Head, president of the Omaha Nation
al bank: ". r Hardy. n furniture
merchant of Lincoln; ". H. Thomp-
son, an attorney of Grand Island and
former democratic national commit
teeman; himself as governor. and Mr.
johnson as state engineer.
Next 10 myself. I regarded Mr..
Johnson as having the greatest re-
sponsibility,' he declared. This was
because of his training as an engineer
| did not Know at that time that en-
gineers and architects are entirely
different breeds of cat and dog There
was never a moment that l did not
commission relied upon him for ex-
pert counsel
Mr.. Johnson's contention il that
the architect should have caught all
errors and that It was not his own
duty to check every action. lie called
the attentiop Of the governor TO the
numerous tasks of the state engineer.
which Includes road and bridge
building. drainage, irrigation and
many others.
Never Asked Help.
Gould | be expected, with all my
other duties. to become responsible
for work for which the state was
paying an architect $4,000 a year.
and with so expert advisers?. Mr..
Johnson asked.
IF you had ever indicated that
your work was too heavy, other ar
rangements could have been made,
was the answer.
Each gave the other a direct con-
tradction on every topic from stone
TO building costs. Goaded. finally. by
cross examination. Mr. Mekelxie
made a final statement directly re.
ferring 10 the man who served
throughout his administration as sec.
retary Of the department Of public
works. and whom he had always de.
tended against every attack.
Gentlemen. lIe said with his
voice shaking with emotion. Il. have
never worked with man who gave
more satisfactory service. worked
longer hours or in whom | had more
confidence than Mr.. johnson. In
this present situation which he has
brought about. I confess am utterly
at loss I cannot understand it. md
[ differ with him diametrieally /
believe him positively wrong
The meeting adjourned without
further testimony to meet tomorrow
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