Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-04-06
HUGE PROFITS ON
CAPITOL WORK
Contractor Made Over 400 Per Cent
on Furnishings.
SAMPLES OF HIS OvERCHARGES

Harrisburg. Pa. March %. - The
enormous profits OF John II. Sanderson
& Co, OF Philadelphia. contractor for
the furnishings Of the new capitol.
were disclosed in detail at the sessions
or the capitol investigating commits
sion. The sub-contractors for the fur.
niture and interior woodwork supplied
by Sanderson upon his contract with
the board OF public grounds and build.
ingc testified TO the prices they were
paid by the contractor.
Their testimony showed that some OF
the work was done through Payne &
Co., contractors for the construction
or the building. as sub-contractors for
Sanderson. who supplied all the fur.
nishings except the metallic fling
cases. After the sub-contractors had
been called and testified 10 the prices
they received from Sanderson or Payne
the official records we're produced by
James Cameron. auditor for the com.
mission. TO show what Sanderson re.
ceived for the furnishings.
No attempt was made to show that
the schedule upon which Sandorson
was awarded the capitol furnishing
contract was so arranged as TO make
intelligent bidding impossible. This
has already been brought out by the
testimony OF several bidders. who said
they could get no information from
Architect Joseph NJ Huston upon
which TO make an intelligent bid.
II was shown that the state paid
Sandorson S9f.20S for the woodwork
the grand reception room. for which
the sub-contractor was paid s16.OS9. 40.
Sanderson collected from the state
$62.fS6.40 FOR the woodwork in tho
senate postoace. telegraph room and
other rooms about the senate cham
Der for which the sub-contractor was
paid S6l45.
The testimony also showed that the
state paid Sanderson S3256SO for
mahogany case IN the senate barber
shop for which the sub-contrHtor re
ceived only S325. Sandcrson collected
Sl6l9.20 for q mahogany bootblack
stand in the senate lavatory which
was supplied 90 him by a sub-con-
tractor for $50. exclusive OF two chairs.
which cost $25 each. and the foot rests.
the cost OF which did not exceed S25.
For IS mahogany clothes trees san
derson collected $3.50 each and paid
the sub-coHtracto who supplied them
Sl2 each. For 81 umbrella stands the
contractor received from the state
$3.50 each and paid the sub-contractor
$l4 each. For a desk in the lieutenant
governors room Sanderson collected
S3iS.60 and paid the sub-contractor
$3.50. The auditors report shows that
147 additional clothes trees were fur
nished by Sanderson at $216O each
and 100 additional umbrella stands az
S39.S0 each
The commission made a futile at
tempt TO show by Stephen DeK0nsen-
ko. Of New York. that there was col
fusion between Architect Huston and
John II. Sanderson. Mr.. DeKonsenko is
connected with the Sterling Bronze
company, which absorbed the Pennsyl-
vania Bronze compeny, organized by
Sanderson to supply him with the
electrical fixtures Tor the capitol after
the latter concern had completed its
contract
The witness admitted that three
months before Sanderscn was given
the contract ne prepared designs for
certain chandeliers in the building
and that he expected 90 get haIf OF the
contract lie denied having told Har-
vey VI. Watts. managing editor of the
Philadelphia Press. in the presence of
a witness at the University Clun. Phil
adelphia. some time ago that there
was collua-on between Huston and
S2nderson and that he, DeKonsenko
was to set the entire scb-contract with
Sanderson for the chandeliers. ana
that the entire job would be worth
$4,000
he said that after he had furnished
designs to Sandorson for the cbapda
Hers he went south for his health. and
was then asked by Mr.. Scarlet attor.
hey Tor the commission, II he had not
told Mr.. Watts that his designs were
returned 60 him and that Huston stole
his ideas. Nir. Konsenko replied In
the negative before MIR. Scarlet could
finish his question.
wait 4 minute" said the attor-
ney sarcastically. you might as well
deny It al in toto" Then Mr.. Scarlet
asked the witness IL be did not say 10
Mr.. Watts that Huston and Sanderson
agreed together that the best thing 70
DO was to organize a company to exc
cute the contract for the electrical fix.
lures. Mr.. DeKonsenl5o replied that
he probably said the best way to nan
die a big contract OF this kind was TO
form a separate company.
The witness also denied having TOLD
MT. Watts that the specifications were
purpcsely. vague ea1 OF such 9 ca>rac