Evening star., 1926-10-19
FERGUSON DENIES
S7,9)D FEE CHARGE
Ex-Governor. of Texas Ac-
cused of Asking Sum to
Award Road Contract.
By the Associated Press.

oy thC ASsOSAdsCd 1861
AUSTIN, Tex, October 19.-With
the November election regarded as
routine matter as far as major State
offices are concerned, Democratic
party leaders today centered their
attention on the investigation or
charges by a legislative committee
that James E. Ferguson, husband OF
Gov. Miriam A. Ferguson. received
money in connection with the award
ing Of highway contracts during MS
wife's administration.
Charges of Irregularities in highway
affairs, a major issue in Texas poll
tics since Ferguson was ousted as
governor several years ago, furnished
the basis of one Of tine hardest fought
campaigns in the States history. when
Mrs. Ferguson was defeated for re-
nomination for governor by Attorney
General Dan Moody in a run-off pr1-
mary.
Asserts $500 Was Asked.
With the Democratic nomination
considered equivalent to electlon'
party leaders carried the highway
fight into the special legislative ses-
sion called last month by Mrs. Fer
guson to validate $190,000,0O0 Of State
road bonds, declared invalid by the
United States Supreme Court. In her
proclamation calling the special ses-
sion, Gov. Ferguson invited the legls-
lators to Investigate any State de-
partments they might desire. The
legislature adopted a. new road BOND
measure and before adjournment last
week appointed the committee which
yesterday began it's hearings OF the
charges Of acceptance OF bribes py
former Gov. Ferguson.
Testifying before the committee yes
terday, ]. D. Winder. road contractor
of Bellesville, Tex, declared ferguson
told him he could have maintenance
contracts in five counties II Winder
would pay him $500.
"Hiehway contractors generally
understood" Winder testified, that
it would cost them 10 per cent OF the
contract to get county maintenance
contract"
The witness then detailed his al
legged dealings with Ferguson in which
he said he refused to pay $1,000 IN
return for a $75,118 contract.
Gift of $3.50 Alleged.
w. G. Hill, Austin, an accountant,
testified he paid $3.50 to Eugene Smith,
former secretary Of the highway COM
mission, as a gift to induce the COM
mission to pay a $500 auditing bill.
Smith. who now is chairman of the
highway commission, denied Hills
charges.
Ferguson in a statement last night
declared he did not know Winder. He
characterized the allegations as "po-
litical falsehood" and claimed that
"every member Of the committee is
a bitter partisan against me personal
ly, as we'll as against the administra-
ton"
AS the highway investigation
started yesterday. Gov. Ferguson
pardoned Murray Jackson, one OF sew
eral men convicted by Moody in a
Ku Klux Klan flogging case three
years ago. 1t was Moody's vigorous
prosecution of the case that brought
him Statewide attention. Moody, then
a county attorney, was elected at
torney general two years ago.
Jackson had served one year or a
five-year term in connection with an
attack ON r. W. Burleson, kinsman
of former Postmaster General Albert
Sidney Burleson The victim of the
attack was f1ogged and tarred and
feathered by masked men. Gov. Fer
guson, who declared the klan was
responsible for her defeat, said she
wanted to "see justice done" regard
less Of what organization jackson
was affiliated with.