The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-11
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Special Correspondence.

Harrisburg, Pa, April s, 1907.
There are indications of quarrel
among the capital grafters and if
that expectation is fulfilled, the rest
will be easy. when rogues fall
out honest mel come by their own, "
is proverbial, and the moment that
Architect Huston undertook to shift
the blame upon Governor Penny
packer, close observers began look
ing for the finish. There is some
plausibility in Hustons observa.
ton. Pennypacker did have a lo'
to say in the Board of Public Build
ings and Grounds and the alacrity
and enthusiasm with which he
served the machine on every oc-
casion has prepared the public mind
10 accept such solution of the
problem. But Superintendent OF
Public Buildings and Grounds
Shumaker is out with a statement
that Huston IS the real culprit. 1t
was the architect, Mr.. Shumaker
declares, who made a monkey OF
the old man"
Pennypacker is curious mix
ture of weakness and intriguing
force. With the ambition of Caesar
Pr has the vanity if not the mental
in6rmities of the imbecile. AS
Governor he imagined that he was
above the law. When the consti-
tuition interfered with any of his
purposes he simply brushed the
constitution away. An act of as.
sembly was of no consequence to
him if it ran counter to his desires.
Yet he maintained always an ap.
pearance of the greatest respect for
law and morals He actually made
intelligent people believe that he
was the most lawabiding executive
the State had ever had and that the
least infraction of the principles of
common honesty would shock him
immensely. AS a matter OF fact,
however, in practice he was little
better than a pervert. If he knew
the difference between right and
wrong he paid no attention to it.
PICKING OUT THE SCAPE GOAT.
What influences Shumaker to
shield Pennypacker at the expense
Of Huston is, of course, a matter of
conjecture. That there will be a
scape-goat is already apparent,
however, and no doubt most of the
machine managers would rather
sacrifice the Architect than the
veteran lawyer. But Shoemaker
IS not himself immune ard in his
zeal to save Pennypacker he takes
his chances Of being iaculpated
himself. No doubt it is true, as
he alleges that the Board of Public
Buildings and Grounds relieved him
Of muca responsibility by confer
ring his powers on Huston. But
the duties of the Office he occupied
are fixed by act of assembly and
resolution of the Board of Public
Buildings and Grounds will not re.
woke an act of the Legislature, and
IN resenting for his sign OF unfriend-
liness Huston may turn the attack
upon Shumaker and make things
exceedingly hot.
In fact there have been whispers
.nculpating Shumaker and by a
little coddling the suspicious might
,e converted into facts. Shumaker
admits the receipt Of a very hand
ome Christmas present from Con-
tractor Sanderson and it has been
minated that good deal of the
iurniture in his palatial Johnstown
-esidence looks like that which is
n was in the capitol. With such
tfoundation to build on talented
architect like Huston could soon
.rect vast structure of suspicion
ind scandal and it is not quite GER
ain that he will not do so. Besd-
S Pennypacker has notified the
,robers that he is willing to tell all
.e knows about the looting and no.
ody knows what that implies. He
ertainly knows lot and as self
reservation is the first law OF ma
ure, he may make some sacrifices
/ friendships to guarantee his own
afety.
TONE AND HARRIS TALKING WAR.
Former Governor Stone and
.ormer State Treasurer Harris are
tlso talking war talk" at each
Ither. During the early stages Of
the capitol construction work both
those gentlemen were members of
The Board OF Public Buildings and
Grounds and during their admins
rration Of the affairs of the Board