Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-10-13
BERRY STARTS
CAPITOL PROBE
Pennsylvania Treasurer Holds Up
Payments On the Work.
LETTER TO ATTORNEY GENERAL

Harrisburg. Pa. Oct 10. = State
Treasurer Berry sent TO Attorney Cen
sral Carson a letter asking for advice
as to the legality OF certain work done
on the new state capitol by the board
Of public grounds and buildings. COM
posed OF Governor Pennypseker. Audi
tor General Snyder and the state
treasurer. The letter in part follows:
- careful examination OF the speci-
ications under which the capitol was
built and the items OF expenditure
made by the board Of public grounds
and buildings. ccnvinces me that the
board has expended approximately a.
100000 for work that was specified as
. part OF the building. either in dupli-
cation OF In addition TO the work spec
fled.
II am. therefore, OF the opinion that
this expenditure has been illegally
made. In the ordinary course OF bust
ness on warrants duly attested, and in
ignorance OF the real status OF the
case. I have paid approximately 3142.-
Az 10 George F. Payne q Co. for par
quetry flooring. and desire your on
elAl advice as TO whether this pay
ment and others OF similar character
made by my predecessors are illegal.
and IL so. what steps. X any, can be
taken to recover same. AS now ad-
viSed. I shall decline to make further
payments on that work
Mr.. Berry sent with his letter n Ia
BILE OF items which were paid for by
the board and which. he claims, were
specified in the original contract Of
the capitol commission with Payne
& Co.
Mr.. Berry also brought this matter
TO the attention OF his colleagues at
the meeting OF the board Governor
Pennypacker replied that the board
had a certificate from Joseph NJ. Hus-
ton. OF Philadelphia. architect OF the
capitol. that nothing had been paid
for By the board which the com mission
had paid for out OF the original ap-
preparation OF $4,000 The board
declined TO answer certain questions
by Mr.. Berry as 20 It's right to con-
tract for certain work done by the
board on the capitol. on the ground
that this was purely a legal question.
which should be determined by the
attorney general.
Governor Pennypacker and Auditor
General Snyder sent the following let.
ter 20 George w. Ochs. OF the Phila.
delphia Ledger: Charles Emory Smith,
OF the Philadelphia Press. and Charles
II. Heusds. Of the Philadelphia In
ouirer:
I'VE observe that the newspapers
are interested. and very properly in.
terested. in learning the facts concern.
ing the cost OF the capitol, which was
SO auspiciOusly dedicated on Thursday
last We therefore request you TO come
IN person to the ONCE of the governor
In the capitol. on Wednesday, October
IL. at D. m. when and where there
will be shown to you the minutes o.
the board OF public grounds and build.
ings. the advertisements. schedules
plans, bids. receipted bills and what
ever original papers relating to the
subicct you may wish to examine. The
architect viii be present TO give all
needed explanations. This invitation is
not at all Intended TO supersede a de
tailed investigation which those in au
thority may hereafter desire 70 make
But in order that men OF responsibility
such as yourselves, may have the op
portunity now TO see the methods pur
sued by the board, and To inform the
0ublic"