The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1906-10-06

When we read the speech made by
the President at the dedication of the
new State Capitol of Pennsylvania we
are led to wonder If he didn't feel like
getting of to one side and indulging
in one of the broad grins for which
he ia noted. He had much to say about
civic honesty, the square deal. and
proper use OF public moneys, and other
platitudes which are always to be found
in his public addresses. His address
was a virtual endorsement of the meth
DDS used in connection with the build
ing of the new capitol. After reading
the speech we turn to the following
editorial in a Pennsylvania newspaper.
The Pittsburg Sun (omitting the capt.
tails used by The SUM, which evidently
knows and prints the facts:
In spite Of guilty attempts by gang
agencies to cover It up. the crime Of
blacker and fouler with each thrust Of
the probe.
A more unwarranted and unblushing
inroad on the imperial revenues Of "a
never made.
A crew of political pirates under the
Republican flag chooses to make a par
tisan issue out of matter Of common
honesty and common decency. Here is
bare recital of the facts of their
fragrant grating.
ing Of State Capitol az cost not to
exceed $4.50O.00O. OF this sum $780,
900 went into foundations, and the Cap
itol ce ean onn ol!s, has yet unexpended
nounced with much trumpeting, will be
returned to the State Treasury.
Claiming to act under law the in
expressly forbid what they did. the
board of public buildings and grounds,
General AM and IL the Treasurer; have spent
ting a structure which was to cost less
than half this to build. And this gi-
gantic raid on the Treasury wasn't re
vealed until Treasurer Berry went into
the details of the deal.
Among the things charged against
this commission are:
It let contracts SO. worded that only
was wanted.
1t bought chandeliers by the pound,
desks desks by BY the cubic foot, art work in
perficial foot. Such dealings are un-
known to the trade.
II spent half as much as the whole
one item Of lighting fixtures.
In defiance Of the letter and spirit of
the law restricting them to furnishing
ana repairs. parquetry floors were laid
over the new hardwood ones already
down, and to cap the wastefulness this
parquetry was covered with costly car
pets. The commission put on things.
glass and marble. 1t put in mantels
also as furniture.
The commission bought safes, desks,
ming cabinets and furniture of ali
kinds on the most lavish scale, although
the state has now on hand much of
such material that might well be used.
he The r purchases sses; It is alleged. have
contractors of the most riotously ex-
travagant designs
Until an impartial jury of experts,
aiming to to-, bring out the truth. reports
100000 is evidently worse than ham
wasted. 1t was taken out of the Treas
ury by henchmen Of the Republican
gang The law under which these
worthless acted is of Republican ma
shine thi Legislature The defenders of
ms inns snameiess raid on the peoples
funds are the present Penrose ticket.
Most. or all. of these disgraceful acts
had been made public before the Presi-
dent went to Harrisburg, and he knew
by the Penrose gang as an endorse
ment of their proceedings; a sort of
coat of whitewash to hide their black
ness. But Roosevelt is backing the
Penrose gang of hooters. bribers and
blackmailers in the present State cam
paign, giving them the benefit of his
endorsement against the reform ticket
led by Emory. There are several good
reasons why good men should hope for
the defeat of the regular" Republican
ticket in that State, and not the least
of these reasons is that such defeat
would be a rebuke to Roosevelt for
lending his support 10 such a crowd.