The Washington times., 1906-10-02
PennSylVania'S New Scandal.


Pennsylvania is once more plunged
into a discussion Of scandals in State
expenditures. II is in connection
with the furnishing of the new
State capitol building at Harris
burg. The charge is made that
after one contract had been made,
providing, as was supposed, for the
erection and N the main for the
furnishing of the structure, some
thing like S9,OOO.OOO was spent on
additional furnishings, and that of
this a very large part was utterly
wasted.
The sensational disclosures are
peculiarly unfortunate for the Re-
publican organization in the State
because they come at a time which
gives a spectacular setting to them.
The new capitol is to be dedicated
on Thursday of this week with great
state and ceremony, and President
Roosevelt has promised to attend.
The building is without doubt one
of the finest public structures in
America. In the matter of time re-
Quired for its construction, and of
colossal expense involved, it stands
as rival to those two other mag
nifcent monuments 10 jobbery, the
New York capitol at Albany and the
Philadelphia city hall.
1t seems that the contractors who
provided the furniture for the build
ing sold such things as desks, tele-
phone booths, etc, by the cubic
foot. a rule whose outworkng led
to some marvellous results and some
gratifying profits to the contract
ors. Thus there are desks OF iron
, and steel. finished in imitation of
mahogany. that cost S546-25 each
without the tops or marble bases.
These were sold at $3.50 per cubic
foot, the State paying for the cubic
feet devoted 10 space for the legs
and feet of tie official using 1t just
the same as for the structural parts.
More wonderful still is a tele-
phone booth-a very ordinary one,
of steel and glass. 1t was paid for
at about S12 per cubic foot. Near
" all the feet were occupied by air
space inside, but the same S12 was
paid for them; total cost of the
booth, about $4,000!
Metallic casec and electric fixtures
for the building are said TO have
cost S4,OOO,O0O, a sum that originally
was expected to provide a finished
capitol Over S1,5OO,OOO was paid for
fireproof cases, and 100000 for
bronze work in the treasury de-
partment and the house and senate
libraries.
The board of public grounds and
buildings took upon itself the re-
sponsibility for spending these
S9,OO0,OOO in furnishing a S4.OOO,OOO
structure. At the head OF this com
mission is Governor Pennypacker.
Big bronze doors ornamented with
the faces Of prominent politicians
of the keystone Organization
'merely types, not intended at all
TO be representations Of particular
- persons" explains Architect Hus-
ton-have attracted especial atten-
tion and giver a turn Of humor to
the Investigations now beginning.
State Treasurer Berry, elected last
wear as a fusionist, Is not immor-
talized in any of the bronze work,
and he is making a vigorous protest
against the extravagances. Gov
ernor PennyPacker win say moth
ing, and the Republican leaders are
making promises of a thorough in
vestigation by the next Legislature.
Their opponents protest that the
only way to get a real investigation
is to turn out the Republicans from
control.
Keystone politics viii not lack for
interest from this time to election.