The Omaha morning bee., 1925-01-15
Made
aby Bryan in Coal,
A Johnson Charges
Former Governor Bitterly
4 Attacked for Alleged r.
4 regularities While in
Office.


glneer. Johnson's statement on the
bryan charges follows in part:
.,.,'I challenged Charley Bryan to ap-
pear before a committee appointed by
this legislature and prove that there
has been any change in classification
resulting in an overcharge to con-
tractors.
hN"The ex-governor made a charge, is
months before retiring from office,
stating That there was a steal of
s155. 900 on the Cherry county project
due to changes in classification
i'.."If your honorable body will call
Bryan before you l viii prove to you
that two months before making this
charge he had received a notice from
the federal highway department in
forming him that the federal depart
ment had approved this project. and
requested him to file the necessary
would pay its share of the cost. So.
in substance. his charge was a plain
misstatement of facts.
iil'' Federal Investigation.
'fiff l. hO CASoNCliiOI That d
federal investigation shows there
We're several overpayments to con-
tractors. Bryan had the federal high
way department make an investiga.
tion early in 1924 thinking he would
get something to use during the cam.
paign.
"This Investigation was completed
in July, last year. and a report made.
He had six months in which to ad-
lust this matter if there was any.
thing wrong, but, not getting what
he wanted, he has filed a false charge
with the attorney general. knowing
that no action could be maintained,
and at the next election he hoped to
be in a position to claim that the
attorney general had not properly per.
formed his duty"
johnson in his statement relative
to Bryan breaking the corrupt prac.
tices act does not go into details. lie
tells the legislature that If 1t will
hold an investigation he has affi
davits to prove his charges.
,,i"What is more, everything I know
not contained in the charges filed
with the legislature" Johnson said TO
newspaper men. II have not shot my
ehtire load. I will, however, IL an in
vestigation Is called, and IL Governor
Bryan will consent to appear before
an investigation committee. This
makes my third effort to get him be.
fore committee of investigation. Two
Unsuccessful attempts were made at
the last session Of the legislature"
Il,l Cites Coal Invoices.
In making his. charges that Bryan
firofited many thousands of dollars
from the sale Of coal Johnson does go
into considerable and startling details
He says, in part: 81 believe IL a com.
Inittee should go into the operation OF
this coal company 1t will find that
Bryan has made great many thou.
sands Of dollars profit in addition to
the 25 cents per ton he was supposed
10 have made. Ny statement is made
by men who claim to have seen in.
Voices showing that Bryan was
making an additional so cents to 81
per ton. II the people of Lincoln will
take the car numbers of coal bought
by Charley Bryan when he was with
the city and trace the origin of the
cars they will find that large amount
~ coal that was sold and paid for as
Franklin county, Illinois. coal was
cheaper grade of coal, that the city
paid considerably more than the list
price on the coal and the coal was
purchased without receiving competi-
tive bids
johnson also took a slap at Bryans
oharges concerning a reduction in
gasoline. He says:
1.-THE truth is the previous admin
istfation installed the gasoline stor-
age plant. If you will examine the
records you will find that we always
purchased our gasoline so per cent
below filling station prices. The truth
MS, Bryan was not able to sell gasoline
rs low as it has been sold in Omaha