Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-10-25
Ferguson, Moody Huyl
CHARGES IN Road War
Jim Charges Accord with
Contractor Over Fund
Held in Escrow
(Bv, the Associated Press.o

AUSTIN, Tex. Oct. 24.-James E.
Ferguson, former governor and Dan
Moody, attorney general, principal
spokesman in the highway controversy,
resorted today to vituperative person
alities in issuing charges and counter
charges. Indications were that some
of the major issues would be lost sight
of, as these two monopolized attention
Ferguson hurled a number of ques-
tions at the attorney general challeng
ing him to show why the American
Road company. placed $436,000 in es-
crow, unless the company had an
agreement with Mr.. Moody. The for
mer governor expressed hope that Mr..
Moody and his new found friends, the
American Road company, will be able
to tell US all about what is going on. ;"
Moody, in denying he had entered an
agreement with the Highway construc-
tion company, characerized Ferguson's
questions as Insulting and insinuat-
ing" He said the money had been re-
turned upon his demand and that the
funds had been brought back to Texas,
so as to be under jurisdiction of Texas
courts.
Il didn't need to ask anybody to
know that it was my duty to get that
money back in Texas if ! could.
didn't ask jim Ferguson, because
don't imagine he would have helped me
if I had asked him." Moody said, re-
ferring to the $436,0OO.
Burkett Enters Row
Joe Burkett, member of the highway
commission, returning from an inspec-
tion of the 200 miles of asphalt topped
highways in West Texas that are under
his immediate supervision, declared if
Moody could show him that 80 cents
a square yard, for the topping on this
stretch of highway was exorbitant, he
would take every possible means to
have the contracts held by the Hoff-
man Construction company cancelled.
Mr.. Burkett said he had recently in
spected about 200 miles of asphalt top
ped roads on the Bankhead highway
leading west from Sweetwater and
found them in first class condition He
declared the people along the road
were of the opinion that the topping
would have been justified even at so
cents square yard, since had the work
been delayed six months, the road
would have been ruined.
The commissioner said he felt the
attorney general should present his
findings on the situation to the COM
mission in order that litigation might
be avoided.
Mr.. Ferguson was asked to comment
on the charge of the attorney general
that he had written the letter sent by
Governor Miriam A. Ferguson to the
highway department on suspension Of
payments to contracts on surfacing
contracts and said:
Jim Raps Moody
Moody is trying to shift the issue.
The letter was written and signed by
the governor of this state and it is her
official action, but as Moody has nam
ed me, ! am going to lend him little
assistance to keep the record straight.
In the letter of the governor to the
highway commission she (stated that
she was informed that the attorney
general had entered into private
agreement with the American Road
company. Attorney General Moody de-
MED that he had entered into any
dSTccIHtHC OF CoHIIdCL WITH tHt <AHcil-
can Road company like that suggested
in the governors letter. If anybody
doubts that this was his statement let
them go and get the paper and read
it. But 10, what change over night.
This mornings paper carries the state
ment that $436,000 cash and securities
had been placed in escrow in Dallas
bank by the American Road company
subject to the joint order of Attorney
General Moody and the president of
that company and that suits for can
collation. of all surfacing contracts
Continued on Page Two)