Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1926-10-19

ASKEDTOAID
ADCAMPAICN
Forum Expected To
Educate Rural Peo-
pie on Need OF Inn
proved Highways


AUSTIN. Texas. Oct. 19.-lPI-The
governors husband. James r. Fergu-
a0n.' was pictured today I'm the role
OF diligent published BY q witness
before the Texas legislative COM
mittee investigating state depart
ments.
G. Kelly. highway contractor OF San
Antonio, said ne was solicited I'm
writing by Mr.. Ferguson to con-
tribute toward a good roads adver-
tising program conducted in the
Ferguson Forum. N weekly paper
published by Ferguson at Temple
Kelly testified that he agreed In
1925 to pay $500 toward this adver-
tising proposition Of the Forum be-
cause he thought il would place him
in the good graces or the governor
"A personal letter, asking him 20
advertise, was received from Fergu-
son. he said. To the best Of his recol-
lection the letter was written on Tex
~ highwayd apartment stationery
He said an agent OF the former gov
ernOr delivered the letter with the
statement that Kelly was expected to
pay $500.
Kelly testified that the contribu-
tion was TO be paid in monthly in
stallments for which Nv was 10 be-
billed. After he paid 5000, the bills
ceased coming. and he paid no more,
he said.
AT the time, he agreed to pay the
$500. the advertising camFaign seemed
legitimate enough, because OF his i'm
preston was that the campaign was
designed to educate the people Of
rural sections 10 the need for good
reads.
~Now, don't think II looked just
right for the husband OF the governor
TO ask contractors TO advertise in his
paper." Kelly said.
I'm treply TO questions from At
torneys, Kelly said, II don't know
that ] would call it q species OF
graft"
At the time he contracted to ad-
vertise he had a contract i'm Frio
county awarded in February. 1926
apd Ne now has n contract in Uvalde
ctunty awarded in July, 1926 Both
were awarded on competitive bids.
AUSTIN. Texas. Oct. 19.-tF1-
State Senator R. =. Bowers or l-ald-
well told the house investigating
committee today he was paid n fee
of 81 900 by the Franklin Construc-
tion company 10 resist any attempt
of Attorney General Dan Moody 60
cancel it, highway maintenance con-
tracts for Burleson and Lee coun-
ties. Bowers is an attorney.
He said he had aided the Franklin
company to obtain the
contracts for Burleson
and Lee. a. well as the Washington
company in getting the
contract for Somerville county, and
the Old River Construction company
for Robertson. Braz0s, Madison and
Waller counties.
Bowers tsated owners or these
companies were his friends, the coun-
ties involved i'm his district, and that
Ne was paid no fee Of any sort for
before the highway COM
mission mi interest or the companies
He said he had represented az in
tervals over 25 years L. W. Hensley
OF the Franklin Construction COM
pany. but that nv was employed only
after Moody ahd asked the highway
20 cancel maintenance
contracts not let on competitive. bid
ding. and after the Burleson county
court had complained
10 the commission about maintenance
in that county.
The resolution creating the inves-
tigating committee, provided the
committee should investigate the nc
tivities vi members OF the legislature
before state departments.