The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-01-09
Chief Says
u. S. Paying
State Sums
Federal Engineer Declares Ne
braska Has Over 100000
to Draw from to Settle
Claims.
Cherry Deficit Is Denied

Lincoln, dan. S.-Goyernor Bryan
handling of the road situation in Ne
braska. at the hearing of the senate
compttee investigating road claims
this afternoon.
The commission called upon Cliff
ford Shoemaker. senior highway en-
gineer of the federal bureau of roads,
who said he had been informed by
the government at Washington that
Nebraska had dithdrawn s5.ls6,041
from the federal aid fund. which left
balance approximating s3.500000.
THE department is paying out an
other s25.671 today" he said. land
that practically takes care OF any
thing filed by Nebraska TO date
Over 100000 for Claims.
THE governor has stated that
$4,000 is available from the federal
government to apply on the claims.
Is that correct?" asked J. E. Raft.
attorney for the Western Bridge and
Construction company.
"On work done up to January 1
1924, s115s, ,6s1 can be used by the
state. l would estimate that more
than 100000 was available June 80.
1928. TO pay on claims contracted for
during the last biennium.
On questioning by Raft. Shoemaker
said that payments made by the
government do not apply on speci-
fled projects. but can be turned into
state fund that is being used 10
reimburse contractors.
Will Probe Bryan Figures.
Shoemaker was then asked If he
would check up the figures issued
yesterday by the governor. in which
he claims there would be A deficit Of
1926 900 If the Cherry county project
is allowed
THAT will be done" Shoemaker
| agreed. and Engineer Cochran de-
clared his willingness 10 help in the
investigation.
| Shoemaker resented intimations by
Cochran that his department was
solely to blame for the delay in pay
ments by the federal government. and
asked the state engineer:
| Did you ever tell our Mr.. Welton
at Lincoln that If he kept up the
progress vouchers it would be all
right to let the finals 90 down."
II have said so in some specific
| case said Cochran.
Had Understanding.
Think that accounts in part for
some OF the delay" was Schoe-
makers rejoinder and his statement
was approved by Engineer Welton.
who declared he had a tactic agree
ment with Cochran Of that nature.
Secretary Of Finance Hall testified
that the money in from the federal
government is being used 70 pay the
claims in chronological order.
Johnson declared. in reply. that the
same system had been used under
the old administration and his re-
mark drew a quick retort from Hall.
They did not" said the secre-
tary Of finance. The sort Of pro
rated it 10 various contractors"
Cochran admitted. when he submit
ted the report that Governor Bryan
gave out yesterday. that advance
Il WIN AANAA AIt4A AAi-At vi 4S6a HAN-NNAN
by engineers who were being paid
out Of funds Of the old hiennium.
Not Giving Anything Out.
Attorney Raft. later In the after
noon. asked the state ENGINEER; aft
er everything is in where are we So
ing 10 stande' Cochran replied that
there would be a deficit as subsian-
| tally sfafaa in hse ,,nraar.
| Have YOU anything 10 suggest as
to how these contractors can get their
money. them"
| I'm not suggesting anything =
Cochran laughingly replied
The committee Announced tonight
that the hearing will be continued TO.
morrow and it is understood that ore
Of the topics FOR Wednesday Will Re
the advisahility OF asking Governor
Bryan TO appear.
Bryan Declines Offer.
The committee today received a Ions
statement from the fovernor In which
he maintained that he had no place
at the hearing and that. as chief ex.
ecutlve 81 the state. he VAS making
an exhaustive investigation 81 Ger
tain road matters"
i In report submitted % the corr
mitiee former State Engineer Geo :
+. johnson declares that the gov
ernor could have reduced the amount.
Of any project. had he sincerely be-
heved there would he a deficit. with
out violating any contract or with
cut any recourse on the part Of the
contractors
He cannot oiai mignorance Of thI.
provision In all the rad contracts. :
said Johnson. because he has chang.
led, in some way, practically every con.
tract. As a matter ~ fact sonle con
.rurn g. rsxe >ire. tniumu lNsaA