San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-19
.LANHAM CLAIMS
POLITICS BACK
Of ROAD ROW
Highway Commission Head
Denies Charges Involved
in Harris Suit.

AUSTIN, Sept 19.-Despite the
Act that temporary injunction is
impending in the district court of
Harris county prohibiting the Texas
Highway Commission from making
any further payments to the Sherman
Youmans Construction Co., holders Of
maintenance and other highway con-
tracts, the belief was expressed here
today by Frank V. Lanham, chairman
of the Highway Commission. that the
suit would be denied on final hearing.
Chairman Lanham takes this view
and at the same time gives expression
TO his idea Of the entire affair. He
stated today that in his opinion poll
tics was behind the whole thing.
BLAMES POLITICS
The entire hubub that has gone
up over the state, and particularly
the Houston court proceedings. is
nothing more or less than a political
move to injure the administration and
to draw the Highway Commission and
its membership into contempt" Ian
ham said.
Chairman Lanham arrived in Aus
tin Friday and on going to his office
saw Kemp reading the minutes OF the
commission. According to kemp's ver-
sion, and not denied BY Lanham, the
latter requested Eugene T. Smith, Sec
retary of the commission, to take the
minutes away from Kemp and told
Smith to tell Kemp that the less he
was seen around the Highway depart
ment the better.
BAR KEMP
This action on the part Of Lanham
followed closely on the heels Of Com
missioners Joe Burkett and John IL.
Beckett Sr., giving their consent TO
Kemp to inquire into the minutes Of
the commission all that he pleased.
This he had been doing for two days
before Chairman Lanham directed
that he be not allowed to see the mill
utos any longer.
Lanham was asked regarding his
refusal of the minutes to Kemp. He
made no statement other than 10 nod
acquiescingly to tkG statement that lit
is understood that you have refused
Kemp the minutes and that you or
dered him TO stay away from the
highway department.
The topic was then turned to the
Harris County injunction suit. Ian
ham said. Il could show you lots OF
things that will convince you that
there Is nothing wrong with the COM
missions dealings with the Sherman
Youmans company. Politics is behind
the whole affair."" He then stated
that the preceding highway commits
sion paid to another contracting firm
in Houston S164,000 last year for
maintenance work and that the Sher'
man. Youmans bid for $6O.OO0 for the
maintenance work this year was all
that had been let.
Lanham also showed that certain
work was done last year on a cost plus
Is per cent basis and explained that
the present commission was letting
like contracts on cost plus 10 per
cent basis.
Lanham was asked about his con-
nection with construction companies
and offered this explanation
Il will have TO go back a little
ways to show you my position.
went broke in 1917. I was caught
with the soaring war prices for ma
terials. I was at that time doing
some paving work in Cleburne. l
finished the job and was broke. My
wife had a little savings account OF
little more than $1,000. took the
$1,000 and organized the Texas Road
company.
Friends of mine loaned me their
assistance in the organization of this
company. ! went to work and fought
about for several years and then in
1920 filed an amendment to my char
ter and increased the capital stock to
100000. Two years later this was
increased to S150,000 with S50,OOO
surplus.
when was appointed highway
commissioner / disposed of my hold
ings of approximately 100000.
haven't received all of this money yet
hut l will as the payments are coming
In regularly. When / sold out made
the purchasers sign an agreement that
they would not directly, or indirectly
submit bids on state highway jobs
This agreement has been kept. an
not, and have not since / became
cnulTHdH Oh lHc highway COhlllSSiV'
been connected directly, or indirectly
with a construction company. an
out of that business for good"
At the time Kemp was again denied
the inspection Of the minutes of thu
commission he was trying to find out
how many maintenance contracts hat
been let to the American Road com
pany. At the time he was shut of
he had found that on April Z thu
commission had let contracts for Il
counties to this company. On Apri
% contracts were let to the American
Construction company for mainte
nance work in 80 counties. Some o.
this maintenance work is to be don't
on more than one highway.