Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-10-13
BERRY'S STORY OF
CAPITOL BUILDING
Pennsylvania State Treasurer Alleges
Gross Extravaganza.
CRITICIZES THE CONTRACTS

CRlTlClZES THE CONTRACTS
Bellefonte. Pa. Oct. 1.-THE reform
meeting here was well attended con.
,iderins the inclement weather. Col.
anel j. l.. Spangler presided and in.
troduced Emery as the first speaker.
MIR. Emery confined himself entirely
to the assumption of legislative power
by the governor. referring especially
to the way in which appropriations to
the charitable institutions of the state
were cut down and $4,000 900 paid for
furnishings of the new capitol Emery
was followed with brief speeches by
Greasy and Black. after which State
Treasurer Berry was introduced. and
for the first time told the public In de-
tail OF the alleged extravagant expen-
diture OF money in connection with
finishing the capitol building. He said
In part:
There has existed for many years IN
Pennsylvania a thoroughly organized sys.
tenn OF exploitation. consisting OF preda.
band OF corrupt and venal politicians on
the other. which has maintained its su
prcmncy by ENORMOUSLY appealing to the
political prejudice Of the Virtuous citizens
Of the state and buying tho purchascable
rif-raff who maintain the dens OF vice
and crime In the large cities. and use
them as a haven for repcaters to poll the
phantom vote.
So drastic was the lesson administers
nat fstlI no 81.
governor. who during the campaign dc.
clared that there were no ills In Penn.
sylvnna that needed correction" called
AN extra session of the Legislature to cor.
rect the Ills that did not exist and with
fear and trembling the legislature passed
a series OF long demanded laws which the
gang candidates are pointing to with
pride and citing as reason for their
election. when as a matter OF fact the
presence Of these laws on the statute
books and the necessity for their enforce
men should not BE- elected
4 splendid sentiment of civic virtue has
been aroused. gnodly crop IS sown. ar
earnest Of tho fruit is ours. but II We are
to reap the real harvest We need ncw
hands In the fields and am certain that
unless the people have lost all sense OF
wisdom ana Justice the entire fusior
Ithet VIII bt elected titlH ldli.
mot a Laughing Matter"
As an illustration Of the way in which
men whose motives one would hesitate tc
question are lead along IN questionable
dealings. | Will tell you a story II Is
by no means a laughing matter yet Il Is
n Capitol story have been accused
Of injecting u into the campaign for 20
litica effect aud ia fact II was so in
fngtaH hut df1 MT IN Dtratap M
to carefully and deliberately devised
plan the dcdicatory ceremonies on Oc
toher 9Th were arranged to deceive the
people OF the state, hy paradine tn,
splendid and luxurously furnished capt
tol building ms having been built for less
than Si.~n0o0. ana thus by an unparallcloe
example of honest and economical pub
iic work, 70 re-ostahlish the Gang. the
machine and the system in the confidence
OF the people
$4,000 For Parquet Floor.
They had well nigh succeeded ana would
have had no troubl, whatever had Mr.
Plummer been elected state treasurer
No whisper Of anything to the contrary
would have been heard. Among the first
duties Of the new treasurer was to puSs
upon the bids submitted upon tho pub
lished schedule for supplies for the
board OF public grounds and buildings OF
which he g. member. Being entirely
unfamiliar with the details 81 the sub.
iect there was but one item that ut.
tractcd his attention. and that was FOL
the best rarouetry flooring. and the
only bid was nt 20 cents per foot; nc
quantity " specified hut an objection
was Immediately made To- the price liz
was assured that the material was of
special iuterlocking type and the i'm.
preston given that the floor was an al.
ternating rubber and wood blocks and
reluctantly signed the contract Some
weeks aftcrWnrh force OF men appear.
ed with a carload Of tongued and grooVtd
oak hlocks ana u barrel Of glue. they
worked about three weeks putting down
this floor. aud the contractor rendered
hill for S90Na This opened the eyes OF
the treasurer. but finding that contract
had been made. the bill was paid This
was manifostly part OF the capitol
building and an Investigation OF the law
revealed the fact that the board was
prohibited from spending money on the
capitol building. \ further investigation
showed that several millions Of dollars
had been spent IN the same way. and We
thought Il our duty to enlighten the pub
lie as to what was going on w did
this as soon rs We We're certain of our
ground We have asked the opinion OF the
attorney general on the matter ana will
decline 10 pay any more bills of that kind
Contract For Wood Floors Waived.
The item % wood floors was in the or.
iginai contract but was waived on a con.
sideration ~ slice, and this lioor substitute.
ed AT 4 cost OF sl6s. 40 paid by the board
OF public grounds aud buildings The
extent to which this system has been car.
ried on in defiance ~ law is revealed by
the following table Of items taken from
the statement Of the governor and "a,
auditor general. every item Of which IS
specified IN whole or IN part in the orig-
nal contract:
Modelling and sculpture with patterns
1851 .600 wainscoting (woOdl SSsg aiU:
wainScoting. (marblel. S2ss. 100 e: dccorat-
ing (colors. gold and aluminium. S57g
4I2.96, glass. mosaic. S2S, $50 20. floors
wood and ccmcnD. $50. $50. bronze lamp
standards. ki2s. $50 ~: vaults aud safes.
s6600o completing lighting system s7i..